Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign in Jerusalem. He ruled for fifty-five years, bringing evil into the Lord's sight by following the detestable practices of the nations that the Lord had driven out before his people.

He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had torn down and erected altars to Baal, constructed sacred poles, and worshiped all the heavenly host, serving them. Manasseh even built altars in the house of the Lord, where God had said his name would be forever in Jerusalem. He also set up more altars in the two courts of the temple for all the host of heaven.

Manasseh's wickedness only grew. He caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of Ben Hinnom and practiced divination, sorcery, and consulted with mediums and spiritists. The Lord had warned against such practices, but Manasseh refused to listen.

He set a carved idol he made in the temple of God, which was a direct contradiction to God's promise to David and Solomon that his name would be forever in Jerusalem and among Israel. Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, causing them to sin even more than the nations God had destroyed before the children of Israel.

The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they refused to listen. The consequences of their disobedience soon became clear as the captains of the Assyrian army came against them, taking Manasseh captive and binding him with chains. They carried him away to Babylon, where he was forced to confront his sin.

In that dark moment, Manasseh humbled himself before God, praying for forgiveness and deliverance. The Lord heard his prayer and brought him back to Jerusalem, restoring him to his throne. Manasseh knew then that the Lord is God.

After this experience, Manasseh rebuilt an outer wall around the city on the west side of Gihon in the valley, extending from the fish gate to Ophel with a very high wall. He placed military leaders in all the fortified cities of Judah and removed the idols and altars he had built, repairing the altar of the Lord.

Manasseh even commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel alone, offering sacrifices on the repaired altar as an act of thanksgiving. Although the people still offered some sacrifices in high places, they did so only to the Lord their God.

The rest of Manasseh's story is recorded in the book of the kings of Israel: his prayer to God and the messages from the seers who spoke on behalf of the Lord God of Israel are a testament to his ultimate repentance.

Manasseh died and was buried in his own house, but his legacy lived on through his son Amon. Amon followed in his father's footsteps, doing evil in the sight of the Lord just as Manasseh had done. He even sacrificed to and served all the idols that Manasseh had made.

Amon refused to humble himself before God like his father had, instead continuing to sin more and more. His servants eventually conspired against him and killed him in his own house. The people of the land punished those who had murdered King Amon and made his son Josiah king in his place.