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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 33:11-20

We have seen Manasseh by his wickedness undoing the good that his father had done; here we have him by repentance undoing the evil that he himself had done. It is strange that this was not so much as mentioned in the book of Kings, nor does any thing appear there to the contrary but that he persisted and perished in his son. But perhaps the reason was because the design of that history was to show the wickedness of the nation which brought destruction upon them; and this repentance of Manasseh... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 33:12

And when he was in affliction ,.... In prison; however, in fetters; according to the Targum, the Chaldeans made an instrument of brass with holes in it, and put him in it, and fire about it, something like the brasen bull of Perillus; and the above Arabian writer F11 Abulph. & Suidas, ib. (Hist. Dynast. Dyn. 3. p. 67.) calls it a tower of brass: he besought the Lord his God ; by prayer and supplication: and humbled himself greatly before the Lord God of his fathers ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 33:13

And prayed unto him ,.... To have mercy on him, and forgive him his sins: and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication ; and granted his request, showed favour to him, and forgave him his sins: and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom ; so wrought upon the heart of the king of Assyria, as to give him his liberty, and restore him to his dominions; it is very probable his captivity was not long; for, being soon brought by his affliction to a sense and confession... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 33:14

Now after this he built a wall without the city of David ,.... Which perhaps had been broken down by the Assyrian army, when it came and took him; Vitringa F12 Comment. in Jesaiam, c. 22. 9. thinks this is the wall of the pool of Siloah, Nehemiah 3:15 which seems to be the first and oldest wall, as Josephus F13 De Bello Jud. l. 5. c. 4. sect. 9. ; for that turning to the north bent towards the pool of Siloam; an Arabic writer F14 Abulpharag. Hist. Dynast. Dyn. 3. p. 67. ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 33:15

And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the Lord ,.... Which he had set there, 2 Chronicles 33:7 . and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem ; see 2 Chronicles 33:4 , and cast them out of the city ; perhaps into the brook Kidron; all this he did to show the sincerity of his repentance for his idolatry, and his abhorrence of it. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 33:16

And he repaired the altar of the Lord ,.... Which was fallen to ruin, being neglected and disused in his times of idolatry: or, according to the Keri, or marginal reading, and so the Targum, "he built it"; which perhaps he had before pulled down and destroyed: and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings ; to the Lord, for bringing him out of captivity, and restoring him to his kingdom; and especially for converting him from his idolatries, giving him repentance for them,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 33:17

Nevertheless, the people did sacrifice still in the high places ,.... Not in those that were built for idols, at least did not sacrifice to them; for it follows: yet unto the Lord their God only ; the Targum is,"to the name of the Word of the Lord their God.' read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 33:12

And when he was in affliction - Here is a very large addition in the Chaldee: "For the Chaldeans made a brazen mule, pierced full of small holes, and put him within it, and kindled fires all around it; and when he was in this misery, he sought help of all the idols which he had made, but obtained none, for their were of no use. He therefore repented, and prayed before the Lord his God, and was greatly humbled in the sight of the Lord God of his fathers." read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 33:13

And prayed unto him - "While he was thus praying, all the presiding angels went away to the gates of prayer in heaven; and shut all the gates of prayer, and all the windows and apertures in heaven, lest that his prayer should be heard. Immediately the compassions of the Creator of the world were moved, whose right hand is stretched out to receive sinners, who are converted to his fear, and break their hearts' concupiscence by repentance. He made therefore a window and opening in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 33:14

He built a wall - This was probably a weak place that he fortified; or a part of the wall which the Assyrians had broken down, which he now rebuilt. read more

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