Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 33

Verse 12

2 Chronicles 33:12. When he was in affliction, he besought the Lord, &c.— The Jews have a tradition, that while Manasseh was at Babylon, by the direction of his conqueror, he was put in a large brazen vessel, full of holes, and set near a great fire; that, in his extremity, he had recourse to all those false deities to whom he had offered so many sacrifices, but received no relief from them; that, remembering what he had heard his good father Hezekiah say, namely, "When thou art in tribulation, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee." Deu 4:30-31 he was thereupon immediately delivered, and in a moment translated to his kingdom. This is no less a fiction than that miraculous flame, which the author of the imperfect comment upon St. Matthew speaks of, that encompassed Manasseh on a sudden as he was praying to God, and, having melted his chains asunder, set him at liberty. In all probability, it was Saos-duchin, the successor of Esar-haddon, who, some years after his captivity, released Manasseh out of prison. Bishop Hall remarks, from this verse, the truth of that saying of the prophet, Affliction giveth understanding. If the cross bear us not to heaven, says he, nothing can. What use were there of the grain, but for the edge of the sickle wherewith it is cut down, the stroke of the flail wherewith it is threshed, the weight and attrition of the mill wherewith it is crushed, the fire of the oven wherewith it is baked? Say now, Manasseh, with that grandfather of thine, It is good for me that I have been afflicted: thine iron was more precious to thee than thy gold; thy jail was a more happy lodging to thee than thy palace; Babylon was a better school to thee than Jerusalem. How foolish are we, to frown upon our afflictions! These, how severe soever, are our best friends: they are not, indeed, for our pleasure, but for our profit; their issue makes them worthy of a welcome. What should we care how bitter that potion is that brings us health?

Verse 13

2 Chronicles 33:13. And prayed unto him— We have a prayer which, it is pretended, he made in prison. The church does not receive it as canonical; but it has a place among the apocryphal pieces, and in our collection stands before the book of Maccabees. The Greek church has received it into its book of prayers; and it is there sometimes used as a devout form, and as containing nothing deserving of censure.

Verse 17

2 Chronicles 33:17. Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still, &c.— Rabbi Kimchi observes very well here, that though Manasseh's repentance might have been sincere, yet it was attended with a melancholy circumstance that ought to sound in the car of every one invested with power. His example and authority easily seduced his people to idolatry; but his royal mandate was unable to reclaim them.

REFLECTIONS.—1st, Manasseh's wicked beginning was before observed, 2 Kings 21:0. He was idolatrous, profane, abandoned to every evil, and strove as if to root out the name of the Lord, that it should be no more had in remembrance: hardened against reproof, and not content to be vile himself, compelling his people to worse abominations than ever the heathen committed. Note; (1.) The work of reformation is with difficulty accomplished, the establishment of wickedness readily complied with. (2.) Could many good fathers return from their graves, their hearts would break to see the abominations of their ungodly children. (3.) God leaves not the worst without some checks of conscience, or reproofs from his word; but they rush determinedly on their ruin.

2nd, Though God bears long and is kind, he will make inquisition at last.
1. The king of Babylon, now the conqueror of Assyria, advances, and, having borne down all before him, drags forth the wicked Manasseh from a thicket of thorns, whither he had fled to hide himself, and, binding him in fetters, carries him captive to Babylon. Now Hezekiah's treasures were given for a prey, and the people received the just scourge of their faithless apostacy.
2. What all the former warnings could not effect, this heavy affliction brought about. In his misery, Manasseh thought upon God, and with deep humiliation cried for mercy. Happy prison! How infinitely better to him, than the defiled palaces of Zion. Note; (1.) Sanctified afflictions are among the greatest mercies. (2.) They who remember in trouble their own evil ways, will feel the bitterness of them, and groan being burdened. (3.) There is no case so desperate as to exclude hope, while there is access to the throne of grace.

3. God had compassion upon him, and inclined the heart of the king of Babylon to pity and restore him to his lost dignity. Note; (1.) The vilest of sinners need not despair when Manasseh is pardoned. (2.) When our misery drives us to God, he will not refuse to help us. (3.) The prayer of penitence never yet ascended without receiving the answer of peace.

4. Made wise by past experience, he now knew that the Lord alone was God, whose rod he had felt, and whose mercy he had tasted: therefore, with detestation of his former abominations, every idol is destroyed out of God's house; his ruined altar is repaired: his sacrifices and service are restored, and the people brought back from their idolatry. The high places, indeed, were not taken away; but though on them they still sacrificed, it was to the Lord Jehovah only. Note; (1.) Where the heart is truly converted, there will be a through change in the conduct. (2.) The worship of God is among the first concerns of the awakened soul. (3.) When we are brought to a sense of our sins, we shall zealously labour to recover those whom we have seduced, or emboldened to transgress, by our own ill examples.

5. In consequence of his unfeigned repentance, God strengthened him in his kingdom, Jerusalem was fortified, and the cities of Judah garrisoned. Without God, all defences are vain: if he be with us, his name is a strong tower; the righteous fleeth unto it, and are safe.

6. Manasseh no more revolted from God. The sun, which rose so eclipsed, set with splendour. Accounts of his wickedness and repentance were preserved in the books of the kings of Israel, and the writings of the seers, who had spoken to him in the name of the Lord. He rejected their message indeed at first, but afterwards acknowledged his guilt and shame, and wished its memory to be perpetuated as a warning to others. He was buried privately, probably at his own desire as a mark of humiliation, and left his throne to his ungodly son and successor Amon. Note; (1.) Though God has forgiven our sin, to our last hour we had need remember, and be confounded at the review of it. (2.) They who are true penitents are most willing to take shame to themselves for their sins.

3rdly, Amon copied the worst of his father's wicked ways. The images which Manasseh had cast out, and should have destroyed, he restored. More madly attached to his idols, than even his unhappy father had been, and incorrigible in his sin, he never, like him, repented. Short was his career of impiety: in two years he fell by a conspiracy of his own servants, and left the kingdom to the last good king of Judah. Note; (1.) Final impenitence seals up the soul under eternal ruin. (2.) That which is evil, is much easier copied than what is good. (3.) It is a mercy to a land when wicked magistrates are quickly cut off from it.