Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 21:1-9

How delightful were our meditations on the last reign! How many pleasing views had we of Sion in its glory (that is, in its purity and in its triumphs), of the king in his beauty! (for Isa. 33:17 refers to Hezekiah), and (as it follows there, 2 Kgs. 21:20) Jerusalem was a quiet habitation because a city of righteousness, Isa. 1:26. But now we have melancholy work upon our hands, unpleasant ground to travel, and cannot but drive heavily. How has the gold become dim and the most fine gold... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 21:1

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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 21:2

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord ,.... Was guilty of idolatry: after the abomination of the Heathen, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel : the old Canaanites; he committed idolatry in imitation of them, and as the Phoenicians now did before the children of Israel: the old Canaanites; he committed idolatry in imitation of them, and as the Phoenicians now did. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 21:3

For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed ,.... The temples and altars upon them, see 2 Kings 18:4 , and he reared up altars for Baal ; in the high places he rebuilt: and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel : which was either an idol itself, or a shade of trees where idols were placed; or rather Asherah, rendered "a grove", is the same with Astarte, the goddess of the Zidonians, the figure of which he made and worshipped; for groves were not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 21:2

After the abominations of the heathen - He exactly copied the conduct of those nations which God had cast out of that land. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 21:3

Made a grove - He made Asherah, the Babylonian Melitta or Roman Venus. See 2 Kings 17:10 , and the observations at the end of that chapter; and see here on 2 Kings 21:7 ; (note). Worshipped all the host of heaven - All the stars and planets, but particularly the sun and the moon. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 21:1

Manasaeh was twelve years old. Manasseh was thus not born till three years after Hezekiah's dangerous illness, or till the year B.C. 710. Hezekiah may have given him the name in the spirit in which Joseph gave it to his firstborn ( Genesis 41:51 ), because God, in at last blessing him with a son, had "made him forget" his dangerous illness, with the griefs and regrets that accompanied it. "Manasseh" means "Forgetting." When he began to reign —in B.C. 698 or 697, the seventh or eighth... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 21:1-16

Manasseh's wicked reign. Two thoughts are brought before us by the reign of Manasseh. They are a striking contrast to one another. I. THE POWER OF SIN . 1. We see how sin perpetuates itself . The deeds of Manasseh were just a repetition of the worst deeds of his predecessors. "He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen." He built up again the high places. He made altars for Baal. He worshipped all the host of heaven. He made... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 21:1-16

The reaction under Manasseh. Light and dark alternate strangely in the later history of Judah. Overlooking the brief reign of Amon, Hezekiah alternates with Ahaz, and Josiah with Manasseh. The good kings are very good, the bad kings very bad. The climax of wickedness is reached in Manasseh. He had a good father, as Hezekiah had a wicked one, yet he outstripped in daring ungodliness all the kings before and after him. I. HIS PRECOCITY IN EVIL . 1. His tendencies were evil . ... read more

Group of Brands