2 Kings Chapter 21
Manasseh Rules in Judah
1 Manasseh was 12 and ruled for 55 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Hephzibah. 2 He did evil like nations Yahveh originally expelled. 3 He rebuilt the high places Hezekiah had destroyed, erected altars for Baal, and set up an Asherah pole like Ahab, king of Israel, had done. He worshiped and served the host of heaven, 4 built altars in Yahveh’s Temple where Yahveh had said, “I’ll identify myself with Jerusalem.” 5 He built altars for the host of heaven in the two courts of Yahveh’s Temple. 6 He burned his son as an offering, practiced witchcraft, used sorcery, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did so much evil and made Yahveh angry. 7 He put a carved image of Asherah in the Temple where Yahveh told David and his son Solomon,
“Forever I’ll identify with this Temple and with Jerusalem, which I’ve chosen from the tribes of Israel. 8 I won’t make Israel wander anymore from the country I gave their ancestors—if only they’ll observe the whole Law that I’ve commanded them through Moses.” 2 Kg 21:1-8
9 But they didn’t listen, and Manasseh seduced them to sin more than the nations Yahveh originally destroyed in front of them.
10 Now Yahveh spoke through his prophets,
11 “Manasseh has done more disgusting things than the Amorites before him, and got Judah to sin with his idols. 12 So I’m bringing such catastrophe on Jerusalem and Judah that both ears will ring of whoever hears it. 13 I’ll stretch over Jerusalem Samaria’s measuring line and Ahab’s plumb bob. I’ll wipe Jerusalem like someone wipes a dish and turns it upside down. 14 I’ll abandon the remnant of my permanent possession and deliver them to their enemies to become plunder and spoil. 15 They’ve done evil and made me angry ever since I brought their ancestors out of Egypt.”
16 Besides the sin he got Judah to do, Manasseh filled Jerusalem with innocent blood from one end to the other. 17 The rest of his acts and sins are recorded in The Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. 18 He died and they buried him in the garden by his palace, Uzza’s garden. His son Amon became king. 2 Kg 21:9-18
Amon Rules in Judah
19 Amon was 22 and ruled for 2 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Meshullemeth Bat-Haruz from Jotbah. 20 He did evil like Manasseh, 21 followed his ways, served the idols he’d worshiped, 22 and forsook Yahveh God of his ancestors. 23 Amon’s officials plotted against him and assassinated him in his palace. 24 The common people killed his assassins and made his son Josiah king. 25 The rest of the acts of Amon are recorded in The Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. 26 They buried him in Uzza’s garden. 2 Kg 21:19-26