Today’s Verse is largely why I wanted to study (with you all) the life of Manasseh. Wicked Kings were common in those days long ago, as are wicked world rulers yet in our age. Manasseh in that sense was certainly not much of an exception!

But here is a wicked King … who repented!

And whom God forgave!

It’s 2nd Chronicles 33:13. “And (Manasseh) prayed unto Him (the Lord): and He was intreated of Him, and (God) heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD He was God.” Wow!

Manasseh, in his misery, finally “prayed” unto the Lord. The verb is “palal,” meaning “to intervene, to intercede, to beg, to mediate.” The word is translated “pray” 74 of its 84 occurrences in Scripture. He made “supplication,” a word that basically means “to seek peace!”

And once the humbled King prayed, God “was intreated.” The Hebrew verb here is “athar,” in the passive voice. God being “influenced” by this man’s praying! I studied this word and it simply means “to treat” a person a certain way! One dictionary says it means “to make peace with a person!” Propitiation!

But God did even more!

He “heard” (in Hebrew “shama,” that is … “to listen carefully, attentively, with the view of doing something about the request) Manasseh’s “supplication!” This noun, “techinah,” is rare. Only 25 times in  the Old Testament does it appear. It means “a request for favor, for grace, for mercy!”

Wow again!

But then there is even more, done by God for this (I thought) reprobate.

God … “brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom.”

Released from a foreign prison!

Permitted to go “home!”

With God’s Power being the catalyst to make it all happen!

The verb “brought again” is “shub,” suggesting a complete “turnaround!” It presents the classic idea of “repentance!” A clear change of direction.

No longer incarcerated in Babylon … but reigning in Jerusalem!

It’s like the man has been made anew!

A fresh opportunity at life!

Then our Verse ends with a beautiful conclusion on Manasseh’s part. “Then Manasseh knew that the LORD He was God.”

“Then” … as if he had not really (personally, in his heart) ever seen this fact before that very moment! As in: “I once was blind, but now I see!”

The verb “knew” is “yada,” and can easily mean a “close, intimate” knowledge. It is personal now. In New Testament language, “Manasseh just got saved!”

He believed.

Assuredly.

“Lord” is “Jehovah.”

And “God” is the word “Elohiym.”

He is the soul-saving Deity!

I stand amazed today … at the verse we’ve studied.

God’s forgiving Grace is astounding.

Nearly ineffable … a term meaning “cannot be described, beyond words!”

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Yesterday we saw Manasseh the wicked King of Judah being taken into “captivity.” By a foreign power! Deported from his own Land, from the Holy Land.

Then what happened?

It is surprising!

“And when he (Manasseh) was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.” 2nd Chronicles 33:12

I wish he could have sought the Lord long ago! How many lives would that have saved. Remember, he had shed much blood in his Country. “Moreover Manasseh shed INNOCENT BLOOD very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.” 2nd Kings 21:16

But still … “And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God.”

Let’s study that noun “affliction.” Spelled “tzsrar” (Hebrew), it means “to be in a narrow place,” uncomfortably so. In an adversarial sense, too. “Tzsrar” is translated “enemy” 14 times and “besieged” 2 times in the King James Bible. Then it’s “in distress” 7 more times. Then “in pain” (pangs) 2 times.

And the verb “sought” (actually “besought” here) is “challah.” Look at these lexicon definitions for the word: “to be or become weak, be or become sick, be or become diseased, be or become grieved, be or become sorry.” Wow!

Furthermore, here are the definition the King James translators utilized for “challah:” (often called “usage” by scholars.) “sick” 34 times, “beseech” (as here) 6 times, “be weak” 4 times, “be grievous” 4 times, “be diseased” 3 times, “be wounded” 3 times , “pray” 3 times, “intreat” 3 times, “to be sorry” 1 times, “make suit” 1 time, “make supplication” 1 time, and “to travail” 1 times. And it’s only located 75 times in the whole Bible! And it’s a Piel stem verb in Hebrew, meaning he besought the Lord INTENSELY, ENERGETICALLY, WITH ALL THE SINCERITY HE POSSESSED!

Then (for today’s Lesson) Manasseh did one more thing, “humbled himself” (before God)! “And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and HUMBLED HIMSELF GREATLY before the God of his fathers.” 2nd Chronicles 33:12

This is “kana” in Hebrew, meaning “to be brought low.” In the passive voice of course, “he humbled himself.” This verb is rare in the Bible, found only 36 times in the Old Testament’s 929 chapters! I just noticed where it is once translated “to be in subjection.”

But let’s do remember what the New Testament says about humbling oneself. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10, for example.

What a change, if it’s sincere.

The most wicked King to ever sit on Judah’s Throne … seeking the Lord God and humbling himself!

That’s a turnaround.

That kind of behavior smacks of repentance!

But there’s more, a lot more to come.

A King is about to be revived!

Lord willing, another Article tomorrow morning.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

It seems that King Manasseh should have known what was coming!

He had sinned against God for years. To the point of unashamedly placing heathen idols around the City of Jerusalem, even in the House of the Lord.

So, 2nd Chronicles 33:11 relates: “Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.”

By “them” the Holy Spirit simply means both the King (Manasseh) and his people. Yes, generally … “As goes a leader, so goes his constituency.”

The Text does not say the Assyrians “attacked” Israel, Judah. But rather, the “Lord” authored the whole invasion! “The Lord brought the enemy upon them!”

So … “This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:23

The verb “brought” is spelled “bo” in Hebrew, using 3 consonants and a single vowel. It means (both) “to come” and “to go,” depending on the context in which it is located. And in this setting God Himself “causes” the Assyrians to fall upon the Jews, again because of their sin!

It actually sounds like the Lord did the “coming,” just with an enemy army in tow! I believe that picture is validated by the grammar here, too!

The “captains” of the Assyrian host involve their chief military “brass” anyway. The noun “sar” means (in the Old Testament) “prince” (208 times), “chief” (33 times), “ruler” (33 more times), “governor” (6 times), “general” (1 time only), plus a few miscellaneous parallel terms.

The noun “host” (spelled “tzsaba”) implies the whole “army.” Yes, when God is said to be the “Lord of Hosts” … He is the Commander in Chief of Heaven’s ARMIES!

And the Assyrians did what to King Manasseh?

They “took” him, “lakad.” It means “to capture, to seize.”

They deported the King, under arrest!

Imprisoned him.

The noun “thorns” means ” that which pierces.” This may mean … they put a “hook” in his nose! Actually, literally chaining him to an ox-cart or a military escort, making him walk (perhaps humiliatingly naked) all the way to Babylon! A distance of a little over 500 miles, by the way!

Wow!

“Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.”

Being “bound with fetters,” means “leg shackles” likely. “Fetters” is the literal Hebrew word for “steel, brass,” and is even translated “chain” 3 times.

The verb “carried” means “to make walk!”

No chariot ride!

To Babylon?

I would have suspected “Nineveh!”

Yet the Bible must stand as correct, in every single circumstance.

This suggests that the attacking army may have ben a coalition of Babylonian-Assyrian fighters. (Remember Daniel chapter 2 and the “world rulers” depicted there. The Babylonians were at the top! Right after the not-mentioned Egyptians who indeed preceded the Assyrians.)

The first “deportation” of Jews to Babylon (for the “70 years” of captivity) occurred in 606 BC, if you need a time frame. Manasseh’s dates are just a few decades prior to the first “official” harvesting of Jews to that foreign Country.

Yes, sin has consequences.

Ask the shackled Manasseh today.

Sin is still “binding” people, I might add.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

The Chronicler’s account is much briefer than that of the writer of the Book of Kings. Concerning King Manasseh and his “relationship” with God, particularly God “speaking” to him. Let me show you what I mean.

“And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.” 2nd Chronicles 33:10, King James Version. Then, the following verse: “Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.”

Now the “parallel” account. “And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying ….” 2nd Kings 21:10, whereupon then comes a detailed report of the “chastisement” God send His people for their sins. “Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down. And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies; because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day. Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.” Wow, 2nd Kings 21:11-16.

I am flooded with thoughts!

First of all, Chronicles merely tells us “God spoke.” As in “the Lord spoke to Manasseh.”

But Kings tells us “how” He did so. “The Lord spoke by His Servants the Prophets.” Including the great Isaiah, if we have our dates right!

Folks, that “string of words” (God’s “servants the prophets”) occurs 19 times in the Bible, if I’ve counted correctly this morning. In the Old Testament 17 times, and in the New Testament 2 more times. The noun “servants” is “ebed” in Hebrew, meaning “slave!” It’s derived from a root verb meaning “to work.” Thank God for the Prophets!

Second, look how “brief” Chronicles records the misdeeds (wicked sins) of Manasseh! When compared to Kings anyway. One verse as compared to six verses! Chronicles again, a verse we shall study tomorrow. “Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.” 2 Chronicles 33:11

What a difference! I am again convinced that the prevailing emphasis in Chronicles is GRACE, while the point in Kings is SIN and RIGHTEOUSNESS. God is both, kind and holy!

Third, Chronicles (and only Chronicles) mentions the (astounding) fact that Manasseh “repented” of his multitudes of sins … once he was in prison. And not of word of any such thing from Kings! Again, I’m going “ahead” to show you: “And when Manasseh was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unto him (the Lord): and he was intreated of him, and (God) heard his supplication.” Thrilling, in ways!

Yet the Book of Kings next says of the Monarch: “Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.” No “sign” of any remorse, just the terrible damage he did all those many years. What an illustration of the “consequences” of sin, of its “wages.” All the way to his “death!”

Lastly today, in Chronicles we are told the obvious, but still told nonetheless. About the people NOT LISTENING to the warnings from God. “And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: BUT THEY WOULD NOT HEARKEN.”

I guess the writer of Kings figured we would automatically see that the people did not obey the Prophets! Plus, he wants to show us how God defends his Uprightness and requires obedience from the Jews, His own.

These things being said, I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR GOD’S GRACE. Aren’t you? And for Scripture like 1st John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

A King’s turning back to God, sorrowfully at that. Such an act is rare in any history book, and (looks like) barely made it into the Bible! It’s like a gigantic diamond shining in a dark, damp coal mine! A jewel in the rough! Light in darkness! “Christ receiveth sinful men!”

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

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