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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

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

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

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

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