2 Chronicles 33:25 Komentář

In this chapter we have the history of the reign, I. Of Manasseh, who reigned long. 1. His wretched apostasy from God, and revolt to idolatry and all wickedness (Ch2 33:1-10). 2. His happy return to God in his affliction; his repentance (Ch2 33:11-13), his reformation (Ch2 33:15-17), and prosperity (Ch2 33:14), with the conclusion of his reign (Ch2 33:18-20). II. Of Amon, who reigned very wickedly (Ch2 33:21-23), and soon ended his days unhappily (Ch2 33:24, Ch2 33:25).

INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 33 This chapter gives an account of the reign of Manasseh, of his idolatries and impieties, Ch2 33:1, of his captivity, humiliation, repentance, and reformation, Ch2 33:11 of his last end, death, and burial, Ch2 33:18 and of the wicked reign of Amon his son, and of his death by his servants, Ch2 33:21.

Manasseh reigns fifty-five years, and restores idolatry, pollutes the temple, and practises all kinds of abominations, Ch2 33:1-9. He and the people are warned in vain, Ch2 33:10. He is delivered into the hands of the Assyrians, bound with fetters, and carried to Babylon, Ch2 33:11. He humbles himself, and is restored, Ch2 33:12, Ch2 33:13. He destroys idolatry, and restores the worship of God, Ch2 33:14-16. The people keep the high places, but sacrifice to the Lord on them, Ch2 33:17. His acts, prayer, and death, Ch2 33:18-20. His son Amon succeeds him; and after a wicked idolatrous reign of two years, is slain by his own servants in his own house, Ch2 33:21-24. The people rise up, and slay his murderers, and make Josiah his son king in his stead, Ch2 33:25.

The people of the land slew all them - His murder was not a popular act, for the people slew the regicides. They were as prone to idolatry as their king was. We may rest satisfied that idolatry was accompanied with great licentiousness and sensual gratifications else it never, as a mere religious system, could have had any sway in the world. For an explanation of the term groves, Ch2 23:3, see the observations at the end of Kg2 21:26 (note). I have referred to the prayer attributed to Manasseh, and found in what is called the Apocrypha, just before the first book of Maccabees. It was anciently used as a form of confession in the Christian Church, and is still as such received by the Greek Church. It is as follows: - "O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed, who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof; who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name; whom all men fear, and tremble before thy power; for the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and thine angry threatening towards sinners is insupportable; but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable; for thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion, long-suffering, very merciful, and repentest of the evils of men. Thou, O Lord, according to thy great goodness, hast promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against thee, and of thine infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved. Thou, therefore, O Lord, that art the God of the just, has not appointed repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner: for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea. My transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied; my transgressions are multiplied; and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of mine iniquities. I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot lift up mine head, neither have any release; for I have provoked thy wrath, and done evil before thee. I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments. I have set up abominations, and have multiplied offenses. Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities: wherefore I humbly beseech thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not in mine iniquities. Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving evil for me; neither condemn me into the lower parts of the earth. For thou art the God, the God of them that repent; and in me thou wilt show all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy. Therefore I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life: for all the powers of the heavens do praise thee, and thine is the glory for ever and ever. - Amen." The above translation, which is that in our common Bibles, might be mended; but the piece is scarcely worth the pains.

MANASSEH'S WICKED REIGN. (Ch2 33:1-10) Manasseh . . . did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord--(See on 2Ki. 21:1-16).