2 Kings 21:3-5

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 21:3

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 21:4

And he built altars in the house of the Lord ,.... In the holy place, as distinct from the courts in the next verse; and these were sacred to the idols of the Gentiles: of which the Lord said, in Jerusalem will I put my name ; in the temple there, devoted to his service, called by his name, and where his name was called upon, see Deuteronomy 12:5 and to erect altars to idols here must be very abominable to him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 21:5

And he built altars for all the host of heaven ,.... Sun, moon, and stars: in the two courts of the house of the Lord ; in the court of the priests, and in the court of the people; and all this must be supposed to be done, not as soon as he began to reign, but when he was grown up to man's estate, and had children, as the next verse shows; unless it can be thought that those nobles in Judah, who liked not the reformation made by Hezekiah, took the advantage of his youth, and advised him... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 21:4

Built altars - He placed idolatrous altars even in the temple. 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

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