kings of israel & judah manasseh (slideshare)

Laindon Bible Class22 April 2009

Humble repentance

[only mentioned in Chronicles]

Abhorrent wickedness

[Judah’s most evil king?]

Born to King Hezekiah during the 15 year extension to his life

Perhaps this is reflected in Manasseh’s name (“causing to forget”, “to cause to forget”), Hezekiah’s illness having been put away

Manasseh came to the throne at just 12 years of age*

He had the longest reign of any King of Israel or Judah (yet the scriptural account of him is short)

First King of Judah** to experience entire reign with no northern Kingdom of Israel (which came to an end during the reign of Hezekiah, around 709 BC)

** i.e. After division of Kingdom into two parts: southern kingdom of Judah and northern kingdom of Israel

* Was probably a period of co-regency at end of Hezekiah’s life and prior to Manasseh’s 12th year (to fit with years up to accession of Jehoiachin)

Manasseh and the Lord Jesus Christ

Manasseh actually undid his Father’s acts...

No less than 12 specific acts of wrongdoing / sin mentioned, a horrific catalogue (note: “my name”)

As per one commentator ’The Nero of Palestine’

No vestige to remain, dish to be emptied fully out

The next verses in the 2 Kings account cover the death of King Manasseh (and the accession of his son Amon)...

Is there anything else to say about our subject?

Humble repentance

[only mentioned in Chronicles]

Abhorrent wickedness

[Judah’s most evil king?]

12And when he was in affliction, he , and

before the God of his fathers,13And : and he was , and

, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom.

.

1Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzi-bah.2 And

, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.

According to Jewish tradition Manasseh taken captive in the 22nd year of reign

“Among the thorns” is in NKJV “with hooks”

“King of Assyria” but “Babylon” (?) Esarhaddon (681 – 669 BC) rebuilt and elevated this city, having put down the Chaldeans

Deferral of punishment (Divine longsuffering)

Compare with God’s longsuffering in our own day and age... ()

Not buried alongside the pre-eminent kings:

A lower form of burial, perhaps linking with his former acts

Son Amon the 5th shortest of the reigns of a King of Judah (just 2 years)

Faithfulness is not by blood line (Hezekiah > Manasseh > Amon > Josiah)

When acts of idolatry are performed these are against God’s own name

If not differentiating one’s self from the heathen then will be punished like them

Some seeming asymmetries in scripture can in themselves contain patterns (Kings vs. Chron.)

God is very merciful and provides ample time