2 Kings 21

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hephzibah.

At the tender age of twelve, Manasseh ascended the throne, ruling Jerusalem for an impressive fifty-five years. His mother, the loving Hephzibah, watched over him.

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

He acted wickedly, following the sinful ways of those God had banished, deeply disappointing the Lord.

For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

Despite his father Hezekiah's efforts to destroy them, he rebuilt the sacred shrines. He erected altars for Baal, following in the misguided footsteps of King Ahab of Israel. He worshipped and served the celestial bodies, betraying his faith.

And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.

He even built pagan altars in God's house, the very house of which God had declared, "My name will reside in Jerusalem."

And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

With great passion, he constructed sacred platforms in the two courtyards of God's house, dedicated to every celestial being.

And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

He made his own son pass through the fire as a sacrifice, dabbled in dark magic, and consorted with spirits and sorcerers. His actions, steeped in evil, deeply angered the Lord.

And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

He placed a carved idol in the sacred house, against God's command to David and Solomon. God had chosen this house and Jerusalem from all of Israel to bear His name eternally.

Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.

I won't force the people of Israel to leave the land I gave their ancestors. They just need to follow my commands and the laws given by my servant Moses.

But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.

Despite warnings, they didn't listen. Manasseh led them astray, causing them to commit even greater sins than the nations God had wiped out before the children of Israel.

And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying,

The Lord passionately communicated through His faithful prophets, declaring,

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:

Because King Manasseh of Judah has committed such terrible sins, even worse than those of the Amorites before him, and has led Judah into 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.

Thus declares the Lord God of Israel, I am about to unleash such a disaster on Jerusalem and Judah, that anyone who hears of it will shudder in fear.

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.

I will measure Jerusalem with the same standard as Samaria, and the same fate as Ahab's house awaits it. I will wipe Jerusalem out as one wipes 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;

I will abandon the survivors of my own people, handing them over to their foes. They will become plunder and spoil for 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.

They've consistently done wrong, angering me ever since their ancestors left Egypt, continuing to 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.

Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem with it from one end to the other. On top of that, his sin led Judah astray, doing what was evil in the Lord's sight.

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?

Isn't all of Manasseh's deeds, including his sins, recorded in the historical records of Judah's kings?

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.

Manasseh passed away, resting peacefully with his ancestors. His final resting place was in the tranquil garden of his own home, in the garden of Uzza. His son, Amon, took over the throne, continuing his legacy.

Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.

At the tender age of 22, Amon ascended to the throne, ruling Jerusalem for a brief two years. His mother, Meshullemeth, a woman of strength and grace, was the cherished daughter of Haruz from Jotbah.

And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did.

He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following his father Manasseh's footsteps.

And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them:

He followed his father's footsteps, faithfully serving and adoring the same idols his father did.

And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD.

He turned his back on the God of his ancestors, choosing not to follow His path.

And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house.

Amon's own staff plotted against him, tragically ending his life within the walls of his home.

And the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

The locals, filled with rage, eliminated all who plotted against King Amon. Then, with hope in their hearts, they crowned his son Josiah as their new king.

Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

Aren't all of Amon's deeds, good or bad, recorded in Judah's royal history book?

And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.

He was laid to rest in his tomb in Uzza's garden, and his son Josiah took his place as king.