King Manasseh
King Manasseh, who reigned over Judah for 55 years (697–642 BCE), is one of the most complex figures in biblical history.
His reign was marked by extreme wickedness, leading Judah into deep idolatry, yet, in the latter years of his life, God mercifully granted him repentance. His story serves as a profound display of both human sinfulness and divine grace.
Manasseh was the son of the righteous King Hezekiah, yet he completely reversed his father’s reforms and led Judah into its darkest spiritual decline. 2 Kings 21:2-6 describes the extent of his wickedness:
He rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah had destroyed.
He erected altars to Baal and worshiped the stars.
He placed idols inside the Temple, the very place where God’s name was to dwell.
He practiced witchcraft, divination, and sorcery, all of which were explicitly condemned by God (Deut. 18:10-12).
Worst of all, he sacrificed his own son in the fire, imitating the detestable practices of the Canaanites (2 Kings 21:6).
His sins were so severe that God declared judgment on Judah, saying He would bring such disaster that “the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle” (2 Kings 21:12). This foreshadowed the future Babylonian exile, which was ultimately a result of Judah’s persistent rebellion.
Despite his great wickedness, God sovereignly intervened in Manasseh’s life. According to 2 Chronicles 33:10-13, the Assyrians captured Manasseh, shackled him, and took him to Babylon. In his distress, he humbled himself before God and prayed for mercy. In an extraordinary act of divine grace, God heard his prayer, forgave him, and restored him to his throne in Jerusalem.
After his restoration, Manasseh removed the idols, repaired the altar of the Lord, and commanded Judah to worship Yahweh (2 Chron. 33:15-16). However, the damage had already been done, and Judah’s people did not fully return to covenant faithfulness. His son Amon followed in his early wicked ways, showing that while Manasseh repented, his earlier sins had lasting consequences.