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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 21:16

Shed innocent blood very much - Like the deities he worshipped, he was fierce and cruel; an unprincipled, merciless tyrant: he slew innocent people and God's prophets. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 21:1-18

THE REIGN OF MANASSEH . Hezekiah's good and glorious reign was followed by one of exactly the opposite character. His son and successor, Manasseh, reversed Hezekiah's entire religious policy, and returned to the wicked practices of his grandfather Ahaz. In verses 3-9 and verse 16 his various abominations are enumerated, while in verses 10-15 God's sentence is pronounced upon them. The account of his reign terminates with a brief summary (verses 17, 18). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 21:1-18

The lesson of Manasseh's life, that it is far easier to do than to undo evil. Manasseh, carried away by the impetuosity of youth, and under the advice of evil counselors, threw himself into a movement the direct opposite of that instituted by his father, and in a short time completely changed in all respects the whole religion of the kingdom. His idea, so far as we can trace it, seems to have been a welcoming of heathen and idolatrous creeds and rites of all kinds and from all quarters,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 21:1-18

Manasseh; or, the material and moral in human life. "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. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord," etc. "Manasseh" says Keil, "having begun to reign at an early age, did not choose his father's ways, but set up the idolatry of his grandfather Ahaz again, since the godless party in the nation, all whose chief priests, and (false) prophets stood,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 21:10-18

Prophetic denunciations. In all that he had done, Manasseh had not only sinned himself, but had "seduced" others to sin (verse 9). Persons in high positions have this great influence. They are the natural social leaders, and their example tells powerfully for good or evil. The prophets, however, though as it proved at the risk of their lives, did not fail to warn him. It was no doubt their faithful denunciations, and the terrible evils they predicted, which brought down upon them the king's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 21:11

Because Manasseh King of Judah hath done these abominations (comp. verse 2), and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him (comp. verse 9). The "Amorites" are put here (as in Genesis 15:16 ; 1 Kings 21:26 ; and Amos 2:9 , Amos 2:10 ) for the Canaanitish nations generally. Next to the Hittites, they were the most important of the seven nations. And hath made Judah also to sin with his idols (see the comment on verse 9). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 21:12

Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle. "As a sharp discordant note," says Bahr, "pains one's ears, so the news of this harsh punishment shall give pain to all who hear of it." The phrase is one never uttered by any other lips than those of Jehovah ( 1 Samuel 3:11 ; Jeremiah 19:3 ). "It denotes" (Keil) "such a judgment as has never been heard of before, and excites... read more

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