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THE MESSAGE

2 Kings 21:1

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king. He ruled for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah. In God 's judgment he was a bad king—an evil king. He reintroduced all the moral rot and spiritual corruption that had been scoured from the country when God dispossessed the pagan nations in favor of the children of Israel. He rebuilt all the sex-and-religion shrines that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he built altars and phallic images for the sex god Baal and sex goddess Asherah, exactly what Ahaz king of Israel had done. He worshiped the cosmic powers, taking orders from the constellations. He even built these pagan altars in The Temple of God , the very Jerusalem Temple dedicated exclusively by God 's decree ("in Jerusalem I place my Name") to God 's Name. And he built shrines to the cosmic powers and placed them in both courtyards of The Temple of God . He burned his own son in a sacrificial offering. He practiced black magic and fortunetelling. He held séances and consulted spirits from the underworld. Much evil—in God 's judgment, a career in evil. And God was angry.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Hephzi-Bah;   Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Manasseh;   Rulers;   Thompson Chain Reference - Israel;   Israel-The Jews;   Kings of Israel;   Manasseh;   Young Men;   Young People;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Kings;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Hephzibah;   Manasseh;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Baal;   Judah, tribe and kingdom;   Manasseh, king of judah;   Zephaniah;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Amos, Theology of;   Ethics;   Gods and Goddesses, Pagan;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Hephzibah;   Manasseh;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Hephzibah;   Manasseh (2);   Holman Bible Dictionary - Hephzibah;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Lord;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Chronicles, I;   Hephzi-Bah;   Israel;   Manasseh;   Text, Versions, and Languages of Ot;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Hephzibah ;   Manasseh ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Hephzibah;   Moloch;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Manasseh;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Heph'zi-Bah;   Manas'seh;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Manasseh;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Hephzibah;   Hezekiah (2);   Host of Heaven;   Manasseh (3);   Names, Proper;   Queen Mother;   Relationships, Family;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Manasseh;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.
Hebrew Names Version
Menashsheh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-five years in Yerushalayim: and his mother's name was Heftzi-Bah.
King James Version
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzibah.
English Standard Version
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.
New Century Version
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he was king fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.
New English Translation
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother was Hephzibah.
Amplified Bible
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.
New American Standard Bible
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hephzibah.
World English Bible
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Hephzibah.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Manasseh was twelue yeere olde when he began to reigne, and reigned fiftie and fiue yeere in Ierusalem: his mothers name also was Hephzi-bah.
Legacy Standard Bible
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hephzibah.
Berean Standard Bible
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother's name was Hephzibah.
Contemporary English Version
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled fifty-five years from Jerusalem. His mother was Hephzibah.
Complete Jewish Bible
M'nasheh was twelve years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for fifty-five years in Yerushalayim. His mother's name was Heftzibah.
Darby Translation
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hephzibah.
Easy-to-Read Version
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to rule. He ruled 55 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.
George Lamsa Translation
MANASSEH was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. And his mothers name was Hephzibah.
Good News Translation
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled in Jerusalem for fifty-five years. His mother was Hephzibah.
Lexham English Bible
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. The name of his mother was Hephzibah.
Literal Translation
Manasseh was a son of twelve years when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty five years in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother was Hephzibah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Manasses was twolue yeare olde, whan he was made kinge, and reigned fyue and fyftye yeare at Ierusalem. His mothers name was Hephziba.
American Standard Version
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned five and fifty years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Hephzibah.
Bible in Basic English
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king; for fifty-five years he was ruling in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hephzi-bah.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Manasse was twelue yeres old when he began to raigne, and raigned fyftie and fyue yeres in Hierusale: his mothers name also was Hephziba.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned five and fifty years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hephzi-bah.
King James Version (1611)
Manasseh was twelue yeres olde when hee beganne to reigne, and reigned fiftie and fiue yeeres in Ierusalem: and his mothers name was Hephzibah.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Manasses was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Apsiba.
English Revised Version
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned five and fifty years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Hephzi–bah.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Manasses was of twelue yeer, whanne he bigan to regne, and he regnyde fyue and fifti yeer in Jerusalem; the name of his modir was Asiba.
Update Bible Version
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned five and fifty years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Hephzibah.
Webster's Bible Translation
Manasseh [was] twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Hephzi-bah.
New King James Version
2 Chronicles 33:1-20">[xr] Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.
New Living Translation
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother was Hephzibah.
New Life Bible
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king. And he ruled fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.
New Revised Standard
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Twelve years old, was Manasseh when he began to reign, and, fifty-five years, reigned he in Jerusalem, - and the name of his mother was Hephzibah.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Manasses was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned five and fifty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Haphsiba.
Revised Standard Version
Manas'seh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Heph'zibah.
Young's Literal Translation
A son of twelve years [is] Manasseh in his reigning, and fifty and five years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother [is] Hephzi-Bah;
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hephzibah.

Contextual Overview

1Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king. He ruled for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah. In God 's judgment he was a bad king—an evil king. He reintroduced all the moral rot and spiritual corruption that had been scoured from the country when God dispossessed the pagan nations in favor of the children of Israel. He rebuilt all the sex-and-religion shrines that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he built altars and phallic images for the sex god Baal and sex goddess Asherah, exactly what Ahaz king of Israel had done. He worshiped the cosmic powers, taking orders from the constellations. He even built these pagan altars in The Temple of God , the very Jerusalem Temple dedicated exclusively by God 's decree ("in Jerusalem I place my Name") to God 's Name. And he built shrines to the cosmic powers and placed them in both courtyards of The Temple of God . He burned his own son in a sacrificial offering. He practiced black magic and fortunetelling. He held séances and consulted spirits from the underworld. Much evil—in God 's judgment, a career in evil. And God was angry. 7As a last straw he placed the carved image of the sex goddess Asherah in The Temple of God , a flagrant and provocative violation of God 's well-known statement to both David and Solomon, "In this Temple and in this city Jerusalem, my choice out of all the tribes of Israel, I place my Name—exclusively and forever. Never again will I let my people Israel wander off from this land I gave to their ancestors. But here's the condition: They must keep everything I've commanded in the instructions my servant Moses passed on to them." 9 But the people didn't listen. Manasseh led them off the beaten path into practices of evil even exceeding the evil of the pagan nations that God had earlier destroyed.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 3306-3361, bc 698-643

was twelve: 2 Kings 20:21, 1 Chronicles 3:13, 2 Chronicles 32:33, 2 Chronicles 33:1-9, Matthew 1:10, Manasses

Hephzibah: Proverbs 5:19, Isaiah 62:4, *marg.

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 8:3 - his sons 2 Kings 22:1 - eight years old 2 Chronicles 33:22 - as did Manasseh

Cross-References

Genesis 17:19
But God said, "That's not what I mean. Your wife, Sarah, will have a baby, a son. Name him Isaac (Laughter). I'll establish my covenant with him and his descendants, a covenant that lasts forever.
Genesis 18:10
One of them said, "I'm coming back about this time next year. When I arrive, your wife Sarah will have a son." Sarah was listening at the tent opening, just behind the man.
Genesis 21:17
Meanwhile, God heard the boy crying. The angel of God called from Heaven to Hagar, "What's wrong, Hagar? Don't be afraid. God has heard the boy and knows the fix he's in. Up now; go get the boy. Hold him tight. I'm going to make of him a great nation."
Genesis 21:20
God was on the boy's side as he grew up. He lived out in the desert and became a skilled archer. He lived in the Paran wilderness. And his mother got him a wife from Egypt.
Genesis 50:24
At the end, Joseph said to his brothers, "I am ready to die. God will most certainly pay you a visit and take you out of this land and back to the land he so solemnly promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
Exodus 3:16
"Now be on your way. Gather the leaders of Israel. Tell them, ‘ God , the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, appeared to me, saying, "I've looked into what's being done to you in Egypt, and I've determined to get you out of the affliction of Egypt and take you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, a land brimming over with milk and honey."'
Ruth 1:6
One day she got herself together, she and her two daughters-in-law, to leave the country of Moab and set out for home; she had heard that God had been pleased to visit his people and give them food. And so she started out from the place she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law with her, on the road back to the land of Judah.
1 Samuel 2:21
God was most especially kind to Hannah. She had three more sons and two daughters! The boy Samuel stayed at the sanctuary and grew up with God .
Psalms 12:6
God's words are pure words, Pure silver words refined seven times In the fires of his word-kiln, Pure on earth as well as in heaven. God , keep us safe from their lies, From the wicked who stalk us with lies, From the wicked who collect honors For their wonderful lies.
Psalms 106:4
Remember me, God , when you enjoy your people; include me when you save them; I want to see your chosen succeed, celebrate with your celebrating nation, join the Hallelujahs of your pride and joy!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign,.... So that he was born three years after Hezekiah's recovery from his sickness, and in the seventeenth year of his reign:

and reigned fifty five years in Jerusalem: among which must be reckoned the time of his captivity in Babylon; his reign was the longest of any of the kings of Judah: and his mother's name was Hephzibah; the name the church goes by, and signifies, "my delight or pleasure is in her", Isaiah 62:4, no doubt she was a good woman, or Hezekiah would not have made choice of her for a wife; it is a tradition of the Jews a, that she was the daughter of Isaiah, whose name, they say, is not mentioned, because so wicked a king was unworthy of such a grandfather.

a Hieron. Trad. Heb. in lib. Paralipom. fol. 86. F.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Manasseh was twelve years old - Manasseh, therefore, was not born at the time of Hezekiah’s dangerous illness; and it is probable that Hezekiah had at that time no son to succeed him. According to Josephus, this was the principal cause of his grief.

Hephzibah - Jewish tradition makes Hephzibah, Hezekiah’s wife, the daughter of Isaiah; but this is scarcely probable. She was, however, no doubt, known to the prophet, and it may well have been in special compliment to her that Isaiah introduced her name Isaiah 62:4 as one that Jerusalem would bear after her restoration to God’s favor. The name means, “My delight (is) in her.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XXI

Manasseh succeeds his father Hezekiah, reigns fifty-five years,

and fills Jerusalem and the whole land with abominable idolatry

and murder, 1-9.

God denounces the heaviest judgments against him and the land,

10-15.

Manasseh's acts and death, 16-18.

Amon his son succeeds him, and reigns two years; is equally

profligate with his father; is slain by his servants, and

buried in the garden of Uzza; and Josiah his son reigns in his

stead, 19-26.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXI

Verse 2 Kings 21:1. Manasseh was twelve years old — He was born about three years after his father's miraculous cure; he was carried captive to Babylon, repented, was restored to his kingdom, put down idolatry, and died at the age of sixty-seven years. See 2 Chronicles 33:1-20.


 
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