2 Chronicles 33: Mercy Reaches the Worst
Manasseh fills Judah with evil, but in exile he humbles himself and is restored, while his son Amon sins on and refuses to repent.
2 Chronicles 33 (WEB)
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
2 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, after the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars for the Baals, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served them.
4 He built altars in Yahweh’s house, of which Yahweh said, “My name shall be in Jerusalem forever.”
5 He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of Yahweh’s house.
6 He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and practiced sorcery, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger.
7 He set the engraved image of the idol, which he had made, in God’s house, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name forever:
8 neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from off the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all the law and the statutes and the ordinances given by Moses.”
9 Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did more evil than the nations whom Yahweh destroyed before the children of Israel did.
10 Yahweh spoke to Manasseh, and to his people; but they gave no heed.
11 Therefore Yahweh brought on them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
12 When he was in distress, he begged Yahweh his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
13 He prayed to him; and he was entreated by him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Yahweh was God.
14 Now after this he built an outer wall to the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate; and he encircled Ophel with it, and raised it up to a very great height: and he put valiant captains in all the fortified cities of Judah.
15 He took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of Yahweh’s house, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of Yahweh’s house, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
16 He built up the altar of Yahweh, and offered sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving on it, and commanded Judah to serve Yahweh, the God of Israel.
17 Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only to Yahweh their God.
18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, behold, they are written among the acts of the kings of Israel.
19 His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him, and all his sin and his trespass, and the places in which he built high places, and set up the Asherah poles and the engraved images, before he humbled himself: behold, they are written in the history of Hozai.
20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his place.
21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.
22 He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as did Manasseh his father; and Amon sacrificed to all the engraved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them.
23 He didn’t humble himself before Yahweh, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and more.
24 His servants conspired against him, and put him to death in his own house.
25 But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.
2 Chronicles 33 (KJV)
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
4 Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
8 Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
9 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.
10 And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
11 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.
12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.
14 Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.
15 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
16 And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.
17 Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the Lord their God only.
18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.
19 His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.
20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
21 Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.
22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;
23 And humbled not himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
24 And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.
25 But 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.
2 Chronicles 33 (ASV)
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem.
2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, after the abominations of the nations whom Jehovah cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars for the Baalim, and made Asheroth, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
4 And he built altars in the house of Jehovah, whereof Jehovah said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of Jehovah.
6 He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he practised augury, and used enchantments, and practised sorcery, and dealt with them that had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.
7 And he set the graven image of the idol, which he had made, in the house of God, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
8 neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from off the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all the law and the statutes and the ordinances given by Moses.
9 And Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did evil more than did the nations whom Jehovah destroyed before the children of Israel.
10 And Jehovah spake to Manasseh, and to his people; but they gave no heed.
11 Wherefore Jehovah brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
12 And when he was in distress, he besought Jehovah his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
13 And he prayed unto him; and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Jehovah he was God.
14 Now after this he built an outer wall to the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate; and he compassed Ophel about with it, and raised it up to a very great height: and he put valiant captains in all the fortified cities of Judah.
15 And he took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of the house of Jehovah, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of Jehovah, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
16 And he built up the altar of Jehovah, and offered thereon sacrifices of peace-offerings and of thanksgiving, and commanded Judah to serve Jehovah, the God of Israel.
17 Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only unto Jehovah their God.
18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel, behold, they are written among the acts of the kings of Israel.
19 His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him, and all his sin and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up the Asherim and the graven images, before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the history of Hozai.
20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
21 Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.
22 And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as did Manasseh his father; and Amon sacrificed unto all the graven images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them.
23 And he humbled not himself before Jehovah, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and more.
24 And his servants conspired against him, and put him to death in his own house.
25 But 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.
Summary
Manasseh, son of faithful Hezekiah, becomes Judah's longest-reigning and most wicked king. He rebuilds the high places his father destroyed, raises altars to the Baals and the host of heaven even inside the temple, makes his children pass through the fire, practices sorcery, and sets up a carved idol in the house where God promised to put his name forever. He seduces Judah into doing more evil than the nations God had destroyed, and they will not listen to the Lord. So God brings the Assyrian army, which takes Manasseh with hooks and chains to Babylon. There, in his distress, he humbles himself greatly before the God of his fathers and prays, and astonishingly God is moved by his plea and brings him back to Jerusalem and his kingdom. Then Manasseh knows that Yahweh is God. He removes the foreign gods and idols, rebuilds the Lord's altar, offers peace and thank offerings, and commands Judah to serve the Lord. After his death his son Amon reigns, repeating his father's idolatry but, unlike Manasseh, refusing to humble himself; he only trespasses more and is assassinated, and the people of the land make young Josiah king. Manasseh's stunning conversion shows that no one is beyond the reach of God's mercy when they truly repent.
Main Characters
- Manasseh — Judah's most wicked king, who fills the land with idolatry, is taken captive to Babylon, humbles himself in distress, and is restored by God's mercy.
- Amon — Manasseh's son who repeats his father's idolatry but, unlike him, refuses to humble himself, trespasses more and more, and is killed by his servants.
- The people of the land — Those who execute Amon's assassins and make young Josiah king in his place, preserving the line of David.
Key Verse
2 Chronicles 33:12 (WEB)
When he was in distress, he begged Yahweh his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
Lessons Learned
- No sinner is beyond the reach of God's mercy when they genuinely humble themselves and repent.
- God can use even captivity and distress to bring a hardened heart to its knees.
- True repentance bears fruit, undoing past evil and rebuilding what was torn down.
- The contrast with Amon shows that the issue is not the depth of sin but the willingness to humble ourselves.
- Even the worst can be reached by grace. Manasseh, who led Judah into unmatched evil, “humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers” (2 Chronicles 33:12, WEB), and God received him.
- God answers genuine repentance. “He was entreated by him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 33:13, WEB). The Lord delights to forgive the returning.
- Real repentance changes how we live. Manasseh “took away the foreign gods… and commanded Judah to serve Yahweh” (2 Chronicles 33:15-16, WEB). Forgiveness bears visible fruit.
- Refusing to humble ourselves is fatal. Amon “didn’t humble himself before Yahweh, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself” (2 Chronicles 33:23, WEB), and was destroyed.
- How extreme is Manasseh's evil, and why does that make his later repentance so remarkable?
- What role does his distress in Babylon play in bringing Manasseh to humble himself?
- How do Manasseh's actions after his return show that his repentance was genuine?
- Why is the contrast between Manasseh and his son Amon so instructive?
- Is there someone you have written off as beyond God's reach, and how does Manasseh's story challenge that?
- Manasseh is portrayed as Judah's worst king, leading the nation into evil beyond the pagan nations, which makes his restoration a stunning display of mercy. If grace can reach him, it can reach anyone. Help the group feel both the horror of his sin and the wonder of his forgiveness.
- It was in captivity and distress that Manasseh finally humbled himself and begged God. The Lord often uses hardship to break a proud heart open. Note tenderly that God's discipline is aimed at restoration, not mere punishment.
- After returning, Manasseh removed the idols, rebuilt the Lord's altar, and commanded Judah to serve God. Genuine repentance produces a changed life, not just a changed feeling. Invite the group to consider what fruit accompanies true turning.
- Manasseh sinned greatly yet humbled himself, while Amon sinned and refused to humble himself; the difference was repentance, not the size of the sin. God's mercy meets the humble, whoever they are. This is a searching reminder that pride, not the past, is what shuts us out.
- This is a gentle personal-application question. Invite members to name, even silently, someone they have given up on, and to let Manasseh's story rekindle hope and prayer. As leader, point to the cross, where mercy was poured out even for enemies of God.