Ver. 1. Manasseh was twelve years old.] He was born three years after his father’s great recovery, (2 Kings 20:6) and about twenty-four years after the ruin of the kingdom of Israel, (2 Kings 18:2,10) till at length Ephraim was utterly broken from being a people; (Isaiah 7:8 Ezra 4:2,10) much about the time that Manasseh was taken among the thorns, and carried captive to Babylon. (2 Chronicles 33:11) And reigned.] Hence some conclude that he was not long a prisoner, because no reckoning is made of his captivity, but he is said nevertheless to have reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. Fifty and five years.] This is the longest reign we read of in the holy history. Length of days is no true rule of God’s favour. And his mother’s name was Hephzibah.] Who was daughter to the prophet Isaiah, say the Hebrews; but that is uncertain. She was a good woman, likely, because Hezekiah’s wife: and therefore Manasseh’s sin was the greater, because he came of so godly parents. See Isaiah 62:4.
Ver. 2. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord.] Drawn thereunto, likely, by his young courtiers and evil counsellors: as young lapwings are apt to be snatched up by every buzzard. Little did good Hezekiah—when he was so loath to die because he had no son to succeed him—think, what a son he should leave behind him. The Rabbis fable, that Isaiah, coming on a time to visit Hezekiah, told him that his son Manasseh there present should prove a great persecutor of the prophets, and of himself in particular: and that hereupon Hezekiah would have slain Manasseh, but that the prophet held and hindered him.
Ver. 3. He built up again the high places, &c.] Which he, perhaps, was persuaded to believe to be the old religion, and therefore by all means to be restored. The Papist’s plea: τα γαρ καινα κενα.. And he reared up altars for Baal.] Like his grandfather Ahaz, (2 Chronicles 28:2) into whom Manasseh degenerateth; as if there had been no intervention of a Hezekiah. So we have seen the kernel of a well-fruited plant degenerate into that crab or willow which gave the original to his stock. And made a grove.] Ahab-like, from whom, by wicked Athaliah, he was lineally descended. Sic partus sequitur ventrem. And worshipped all the host of heaven.] Forgetting what had been done for his father by that host, when the sun, for his sake, went ten degrees backward: and so making good the import of his name Manasseh, which signifieth Forgetfulness.
Ver. 4. And he built altars in the house of the Lord.] Ahaz-like. (2 Kings 16:18) See on 2 Kings 21:3.
Ver. 5. In the two courts of the house of the Lord.] Both in the priests’ court, and in the people’s also, poured he forth his whoredoms: as being acted and agitated by a spirit of fornication, an impetus to idolatry. He was worse than his contemporary Numa, king of Romans, who filled the people’s heads with all sorts of superstitions, and so increased the number of the gods, that he left no room for himself to be placed amongst them, as Augustine saith wittily. De Civ. Dei, lib. xviii, cap. 24.
Ver. 6. And he made his son to pass through the fire.] Yea, more than one of his children. (2 Chronicles 21:6) See 2 Kings 16:3. And observed times.] Vacabat arti ariolandi et auguriis, he was both a soothsayer and a sorcerer. By the position of stars and flying of birds, he took upon him to divine and to foretell future contingents. And dealt with familiar spirits.] He ordained that there should always be somebody possessed with such a kind of spirit as should give answers instead of an oracle. To provoke him to anger.] Deliberately, as it were, and on set purpose, to vex the Lord. Diod.
Ver. 7. And he set a graven image of the grove, &c:] An image with a carved grove about it, (2 Kings 23:6) that not God in the temple, but the devil in the grove, might there be worshipped.
Ver. 8. According to all that I have commanded them,] viz., In the moral law: of which God might say, as once Joseph did to his brethren in another case, “Behold, your eyes see that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you,” (Genesis 45:12) and as Paul to Philemon, (Philemon 1:19) “I,” the Lord, “have written it with mine own hand.” And according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded.] The ceremonial and judicial laws.
Ver. 9. But they hearkened not.] Nothing is more stupid than idolaters; they have ears but hear not, &c. To do more evil than did the nations.] Whom they out-sinned: and were therefore worse than heathens, because they should have been better.
Ver. 10. And the Lord spake by his servants the prophets.] Isaiah, Hosea, Joel, Nahum, Micah, &c, one or other of whom Manasseh martyred every day, saith Josephus. Isaiah he sawed asunder with a wooden saw, &c. Lib. x. cap. 4.
Ver. 11. Above all that the Amorites did.] Noluit solita peccare, et puduit eum non esse impudentem. Such a profligate wicked person was Julian the apostate called by some Idolian: and Pope John XII, of whom Luitprand writeth that he ordained ministers in a stable, drank a health to the devil, called to Jove, Venus, and other heathen deities for help at his dice playing, died in his harlot’s embracings, being struck to death by the devil, &c. Senec. Basil., lib. vi cap. 7.
Ver. 12. Therefore thus saith the Lord.] God loveth to signify beforehand, saith the historian, and he therefore threateneth that he may not punish, saith a father. Both his ears shall tingle.] He shall fall into a swoon through horror and dolor. See 1 Samuel 3:11.
Ver. 13. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line.] A metaphor from carpenters, who with line and plummet do use to measure and mark out the wood that they intend to hew off or plane. See Isaiah 34:11. I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish.] Gabatam, a porridge dish, Simili ab arte magirica. Well might God say, “I have also spoken by the prophets, I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes by the ministry of the prophets.” (Hosea 12:10) Wiping it, and turning it upside down.] So I “overturn, overturn, overturn” this whole state. (Ezekiel 21:27)
Ver. 14. And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance.] Which is now unto me “as a speckled bird: the birds round about are against her,” &c. (Jeremiah 12:9) And deliver them into the hand of their enemies.] When God once forsaketh a people, all evils come rushing in upon them, as by a sluice. Saul’s doleful complaint was, “God hath forsaken me, and the Philistines are upon me.” (1 Samuel 28:15) See Hosea 9:12. [See Trapp on “Ho 9:12”]
Ver. 15. Since the day that their fathers, &c.] This hath been their custom from their youth. See it all along (Ezekiel 20)
Ver. 16. Moreover, Manasseh shed innocent blood very much.] This tiger laid hold with his teeth on all the excellent spirits of his time, as one well saith of Tiberius Stimulatus est ab insurgente diabolo, saith an ancient, He was spurred on by that old man-slayer the devil, to murder the prophets and other godly people that disliked his sinful courses. Epiphanius saith that the prophet Isaiah suffered death under him; and the Rabbis tell us why: sc., because (1.) He said he had seen the Lord upon his throne; (Isaiah 6:1) and, (2.) Because he called the great ones of Judah princes of Sodom and rulers of Gomorrah. (Isaiah 1:10) More likely it was for his bold inveighing against the sins of both the king and people, calling them [as Isaiah 57:3] witches’ children, and a bastardly brood; as “Esaias was very bold,” saith St Paul. (Romans 10:20) Till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another.] A metaphor from vessels brim full: or from a flood that overfloweth all. And now “how was the faithful city become a harlot! it was full of judgment,” sc., in good Hezekiah’s days “righteonsness lodged in it, but now murderers,” Manasseh and his bloody assassins. (Isaiah 1:21) Besides his sin.] His idolatry, whereto he first persuaded the people, and afterwards compelled them: so did Julian. Author imperfecti operis Hom. i. in Mat. Jerome, in Isa. i.
Ver. 17. And his sin that he sinned.] Those prodigies of sins afore mentioned, and hardly to be matched in any man, unless it were Nero, that bloody monster: after all which, Manasseh is a convert. Affliction tamed this wild ass, and stopped him in his career; yea, brought him home to God. The viper, when he is lashed, casteth up his poison; the traitor, when he is racked, telleth the truth, which else he had never uttered, &c.
Ver. 18. And was buried in the garden of his own house.] By his own appointment likely, in his last will and testament, as holding himself unworthy, for his former abominations, to be buried in the sepulchres of the kings of Judah. This holy “indignation” and “revenge” is that poor piece of satisfaction which we can give to divine justice. The old interpreter rendereth απολογιαν, (2 Corinthians 7:11) satisfaction. It may be he meant, saith Mr Bradford, martyr, a new life, to make amends thereby to the congregation offended. In the garden of Uzzah.] That had formerly belonged to Uzzah, or that was planted in the place where Uzzah was smitten for touching the ark. (2 Samuel 6:7) Some think that Uzzah is here put for Uzziah, that leprous king, who was here buried, (2 Chronicles 26:23) and Manasseh would be buried with him. Ex testamento ut credibile est, &c. -Jun. Serm. of Rep., p. 14.
Ver. 19. And he reigned two years in Jerusalem.] He was soon cut off for his great wickedness. Some grievous sinners God soon punisheth, lest his providence—but not all, lest his patience and promise of judgment—should be called into question. Glycas saith that Amon hardened himself in sin by his father’s example, who took his swing in sin, and yet at length repented. So, thought he, will I do; wherefore he was soon sent out of the world for his presumption, dying in his sins, as 2 Chronicles 33:23. August.
Ver. 20. As his father Manasseh did.] He imitated him in his sins, but not in his repentance. I have sinned with Peter, but not repented with Peter, said Stephen Gardiner, dying in despair. Amon humbled not himself as his father did, but increased the guilt. (2 Chronicles 33:23) The Hebrews say that unto all other his sins he added this, that he burnt the books of the law.
Ver. 21. And served the idols.] It was a fault in Manasseh that he had not burnt them.
Ver. 22. And he forsook the Lord.] Though he had been better taught by his father, who had repented, likely, before Amon was born.
Ver. 23. And the servants of Amon conspired.] Probably these had corrupted him as another Joash. (2 Kings 12:20,21)
Ver. 24. Made Josiah…king.] This was a blessed change; Josiah came as a fresh spring after a sharp winter.
Ver. 26. And he was buried.] But not lamented, as his son Josiah afterwards was by all the people.