Our Text today, part of the inspired biography of King Manasseh of Judah, sadly states: “So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.” 2nd Chronicles 33:9
The main verb used here, “made to err,” translates “taah” in Hebrew. It means “to go astray, to wander, to stagger.” In the King James Bible it is rendered “to be seduced” 3 times, “to be deceived” 1 time and to be taken “out of the way” 2 more times! It’s also a Hiphil stem verb, suggesting causation. “Manasseh caused Judah to go astray.”
The noun “inhabitants” means the permanent residents of the City, those who “remain” there. Abiding in her midst, not transients or visitors. The citizenry of Judah!
The expression “to do worse” is “asah ra” in Hebrew. It blends the verb “asah” meaning “to do, to make, to construct, to fashion, to accomplish” plus the noun “ra,” the normal word for “sin” in their vocabulary. He (Manasseh) created sin for them to pursue! As in “a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations.” Proverbs 6:18, a “pioneer,” a “pacesetter” in the area of evil!
Worse than the “heathen?”
Yes, with “goy” meaning the non-Jewish world. The filthy gentiles! The people God dove out of Canaan … as Joshua led the armies of Israel into the “Promised land.”
The verb “destroyed” is “shamad,” meaning “exterminated.” Also “overthrown.”
“Before” the children of Israel … is literally “in front of the faces” of the Children of Israel! The people of Judah, their forefathers anyway, had seen (as eyewitnesses) God’s judgment, God’s wrath fall upon the wicked of that earlier day! And yet … now their great, great, great grandchildren were following the steps of the abominably wicked!
Apparently Gods people, due to “drift, slippage, backsliding,” were then worse than the rank heathen used to be!
Wow!
And who led them into such a morass of iniquity?
Their King.
Proverbs 29:2 comes to mind. “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” This says a lot!
I’m thinking God will hold that leader responsible, too.
Proverbs 6:18 says God “hates” … “feet that be swift in running to mischief.” What about those feet that lead others in their steps?
It sounds like God keeps pretty good “records,” doesn’t it? “So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.”
God, help us (nationally) today!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell