21 Manasseh was 12 years old when he became king. He ruled as king in Jerusalem for 55 years. His mother's name was Hephzibah. 2 Manasseh did things that the Lord said were evil. He did the same terrible sins that the other nations in Canaan had done. Those were the nations that the Lord had chased out so that the Israelites could live there. 3 Manasseh built again the altars on the hills that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He built altars for people to worship Baal. He also made an Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done. He bent down low to worship all the stars in the sky. 4 He built altars in the Lord 's temple. [ a ] The Lord had said about his temple, ‘That is my home in Jerusalem where people will worship me.’
5 Manasseh built altars to give honour to the stars, in both yards of the Lord 's temple. 6 He burnt his own son with fire as a sacrifice. He used magic and false gods to find out what would happen in the future. He took advice from magicians and people who talked to the spirits of dead people. He did many things that the Lord said were very evil. This made the Lord very angry.
7 Manasseh used wood to make an image of the false god, Asherah. He put this idol in the Lord 's temple. The Lord had said this about his temple to King David and to his son King Solomon: ‘My people will worship me in my temple here in Jerusalem. That is the place that I have chosen to be my home for ever. I have chosen it from among all the tribes of Israel. 8 I will never cause the Israelite people to leave this land that I gave to their ancestors. But they must be careful to obey all my commands and all my Law that my servant Moses gave to them.’
9 But the people did not obey the Lord . Manasseh caused them to turn away from God. The Israelites did more evil things than the people who lived in Canaan before them. The Lord had destroyed those nations so that the Israelites could live there.
10 So the Lord used his servants, the prophets, to say this: 11 ‘Manasseh, the king of Judah, has done terrible sins. He has done more evil things than the Amorites did, who lived in Canaan before him. He has caused the people of Judah to do wrong things as they worship his idols. 12 So the Lord , Israel's God, says this: “I will cause great trouble to happen in Jerusalem and in all the kingdom of Judah. Everyone who hears the news about it will be very surprised. 13 I will judge Jerusalem and I will punish the people, as I punished Samaria and the family of King Ahab. [ b ] I will remove the people from Jerusalem, like someone who washes the dirt from both sides of a plate.
14 I will no longer help those of my own people who still remain. I will put them under the power of their enemies. All their enemies will rob them. They will take all their valuable things for themselves. 15 My people have done things that I say are evil. They have made me very angry. They have continued to do that since their ancestors came out from Egypt, until today.” ’
16 Also, Manasseh murdered many people who had not done anything wrong. Their blood was in all the streets of Jerusalem! He caused the people in Judah to do bad things too. He caused them to do things that the Lord said were evil.
17 The other things that happened while Manasseh was king are written in a book. The book is called ‘The history of Judah's kings’. It tells about the things that Manasseh did, including all his terrible sins. 18 Manasseh died and they buried him in the garden of his palace. It is called Uzza's garden. His son Amon became king after him.
19 Amon was 22 years old when he became king. He ruled as king in Jerusalem for two years. His mother's name was Meshullemeth. She was the daughter of Haruz, who came from Jotbah. 20 Amon did things that the Lord said were evil, as his father Manasseh had done. 21 He lived in the same bad way as his father did. He bent down low to worship the useless idols that his father had worshipped. 22 He turned away from the Lord , the God that his ancestors worshipped. He did not obey the Lord 's teaching.
23 Amon's officers decided to kill him. They killed him in his palace. 24 Then the people of Judah punished all Amon's murderers with death. They chose his son Josiah to be king after him.
25 The other things that Amon did are written in a book. The book is called ‘The history of Judah's kings’ 26 People buried him in his grave in Uzza's garden. His son Josiah became king after him.
21 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to rule. He ruled 55 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.
2 Manasseh did what the Lord said was wrong. He did the terrible things the other nations did. (And the Lord forced those nations to leave their country when the Israelites came.) 3 Manasseh rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He also built altars for Baal and made an Asherah pole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. Manasseh worshiped and served the stars of heaven. 4 He built altars to honor false gods in the Lord ’s Temple. (This is the place the Lord was talking about when he said, “I will put my name in Jerusalem.”) 5 Manasseh built altars for the stars of heaven in the two courtyards of the Lord ’s Temple. 6 He sacrificed his own son and burned him on the altar. [ a ] He used different ways of trying to know the future. He visited mediums and wizards.
Manasseh did more and more things that the Lord saw as evil, which made the Lord angry. 7 Manasseh made a carved statue of Asherah. He put this statue in the Temple. The Lord had said to David and to David’s son Solomon about this Temple: “I have chosen Jerusalem from all the cities in Israel. I will put my name in the Temple in Jerusalem forever. 8 I will not cause the Israelites to leave the land that I gave to their ancestors. I will let the people stay in their land if they obey everything I commanded them and all the teachings that my servant Moses gave them.” 9 But the people did not listen to God. Manasseh did more evil things than all the nations that lived in Canaan before Israel came. And the Lord destroyed those nations when the Israelites came to take their land.
10 The Lord used his servants the prophets to say this: 11 “King Manasseh of Judah has done these hated things and has done more evil than the Amorites before him. He also has caused Judah to sin because of his idols. 12 So the Lord , the God of Israel, says, ‘Look! I will bring so much trouble against Jerusalem and Judah that anyone who hears about it will be shocked. [ b ] 13 I will stretch the measuring line of Samaria [ c ] and the plumb line [ d ] of Ahab’s family over Jerusalem. A man wipes a dish, and then he turns it upside down. I will do that to Jerusalem. 14 There will still be a few of my people left, but I will leave them. I will give them to their enemies. Their enemies will take them as prisoners—they will be like the valuable things soldiers take in war. 15 This is because my people did what I said was wrong. They have made me angry with them since the day their ancestors came up out of Egypt. 16 And Manasseh killed many innocent people. He filled Jerusalem from one end to another with blood. And all these sins are in addition to the sins that caused Judah to sin. Manasseh caused Judah to do what the Lord said was wrong.’”
17 All the things that Manasseh did, including the sins that he committed, are written in the book, The History of the Kings of Judah . 18 Manasseh died and was buried with his ancestors. He was buried in the garden at his house. It was called the “Garden of Uzza.” His son Amon became the new king after him.
19 Amon was 22 years old when he began to rule. He ruled two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz from Jotbah.
20 Amon did what the Lord said was wrong, just as his father Manasseh had done. 21 Amon lived just as his father had lived. He worshiped and served the same idols his father had worshiped. 22 Amon left the Lord , the God of his ancestors, and did not live the way the Lord wanted.
23 Amon’s servants made plans against him and killed him in his palace. 24 The common people killed all the officers who made plans against King Amon. Then the people made Amon’s son Josiah the new king after him.
25 The other things that Amon did are written in the book, The History of the Kings of Judah . 26 Amon was buried in his grave at the Garden of Uzza. His son Josiah became the new king.
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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 And he built altars in the house of the Lord , of which the Lord said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord .
6 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.
7 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:
8 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.
9 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.
10 And the Lord spake by his servants the prophets, saying,
11 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:
12 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.
13 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.
14 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;
15 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.
16 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 .
17 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?
18 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.
19 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.
20 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord , as his father Manasseh did.
21 And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them:
22 And he forsook the Lord God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the Lord .
23 And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house.
24 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.
25 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?
26 And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.
21 ( A ) Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hephzibah. 2 ( B ) He did evil in the sight of the Lord , ( C ) in accordance with the abominations of the nations whom the Lord [ a ] dispossessed before the sons of Israel. 3 For ( D ) he rebuilt the high places which his father Hezekiah had destroyed; and ( E ) he erected altars for Baal and made an [ b ] Asherah, just as Ahab king of Israel had done, and he ( F ) worshiped all the heavenly [ c ] lights and served them. 4 And ( G ) he built altars in the house of the Lord , of which the Lord had said, “ ( H ) In Jerusalem I will put My name.” 5 He built altars for ( I ) all the heavenly [ d ] lights in ( J ) the two courtyards of the house of the Lord . 6 And ( K ) he made his son pass through the fire, ( L ) interpreted signs, practiced divination, and used mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the Lord , provoking Him to anger. 7 Then ( M ) he put the carved image of Asherah that he had made in the house of which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, “ ( N ) In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever. 8 And I ( O ) will not make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will take care to act in accordance with everything that I have commanded them, and with all the Law that My servant Moses commanded them.” 9 But they did not listen, and Manasseh ( P ) encouraged them to do evil, more than the nations whom the Lord eliminated from the presence of the sons of Israel.
10 Now the Lord spoke through His servants the prophets, saying, 11 “ ( Q ) Since Manasseh king of Judah has committed these abominations, ( R ) having done more evil than all that the Amorites did who were before him, and ( S ) has also misled Judah into sin ( T ) with his idols, 12 therefore this is what the Lord , the God of Israel says: ‘Behold, I am bringing such a disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that whoever hears about it, ( U ) both of his ears will ring. 13 ( V ) I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem clean just as one wipes a bowl, wiping it and turning it upside down. 14 And I will abandon the remnant of My inheritance and hand them over to their enemies, and they will become as plunder and spoils to all their enemies, 15 because they have done evil in My sight, and have been provoking Me to anger since the day their fathers came from Egypt, even to this day.’”
16 ( W ) Furthermore, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem [ e ] from one end to another, besides his sin ( X ) into which he misled Judah, in doing evil in the sight of the Lord . 17 ( Y ) Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh and all that he did, and his sin which he [ f ] committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 18 ( Z ) And Manasseh [ g ] lay down with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his own house, ( AA ) in the garden of Uzza, and his son Amon became king in his place.
19 ( AB ) Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned for two years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. 20 He did evil in the sight of the Lord , ( AC ) just as his father Manasseh had done. 21 For he walked [ h ] entirely in the way that his father had walked, and served the idols that his father had served, and worshiped them. 22 So ( AD ) he abandoned the Lord , the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the Lord . 23 And ( AE ) the servants of Amon conspired against him and killed the king in his own house. 24 Then ( AF ) the people of the land [ i ] killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and the people of the land made his son Josiah king in his place. 25 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? 26 He was buried in his grave ( AG ) in the garden of Uzza, and his son Josiah became king in his place.
21 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. ( C ) 2 He did evil ( D ) in the eyes of the Lord , following the detestable practices ( E ) of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 3 He rebuilt the high places ( F ) his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal ( G ) and made an Asherah pole, ( H ) as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts ( I ) and worshiped them. 4 He built altars ( J ) in the temple of the Lord , of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put my Name.” ( K ) 5 In the two courts ( L ) of the temple of the Lord , he built altars to all the starry hosts. 6 He sacrificed his own son ( M ) in the fire, practiced divination, ( N ) sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. ( O ) He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord , arousing ( P ) his anger.
7 He took the carved Asherah pole ( Q ) he had made and put it in the temple, ( R ) of which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name ( S ) forever. 8 I will not again ( T ) make the feet of the Israelites wander from the land I gave their ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them and will keep the whole Law that my servant Moses ( U ) gave them.” 9 But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil ( V ) than the nations ( W ) the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.
10 The Lord said through his servants the prophets: 11 “Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil ( X ) than the Amorites ( Y ) who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols. ( Z ) 12 Therefore this is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster ( AA ) on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. ( AB ) 13 I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line ( AC ) used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe ( AD ) out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. 14 I will forsake ( AE ) the remnant ( AF ) of my inheritance and give them into the hands of enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their enemies; 15 they have done evil ( AG ) in my eyes and have aroused ( AH ) my anger from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day.”
16 Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood ( AI ) that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah ( AJ ) to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord .
17 As for the other events of Manasseh’s reign, and all he did, including the sin he committed, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 18 Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried in his palace garden, ( AK ) the garden of Uzza. And Amon his son succeeded him as king.
19 Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz; she was from Jotbah. 20 He did evil ( AM ) in the eyes of the Lord , as his father Manasseh had done. 21 He followed completely the ways of his father, worshiping the idols his father had worshiped, and bowing down to them. 22 He forsook ( AN ) the Lord , the God of his ancestors, and did not walk ( AO ) in obedience to him.
23 Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated ( AP ) the king in his palace. 24 Then the people of the land killed ( AQ ) all who had plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah ( AR ) his son king in his place.
25 As for the other events of Amon’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 26 He was buried in his tomb in the garden ( AS ) of Uzza. And Josiah his son succeeded him as king.
