Bible Commentaries
2 Kings 21

Introduction

Overview

2 Kings 21:1, Manasseh’s reign; 2 Kings 21:3, His great idolatry; 2 Kings 21:10, His wickedness causes prophecies against Judah; 2 Kings 21:17, Amon succeeds him; 2 Kings 21:19, Amon’s wicked reign; 2 Kings 21:23, He being slain by his servants, and those murderers slain by the people, Josiah is made king.

Verse 1

am 3306-3361, bc 698-643

was twelve: 2 Kings 20:21, 1 Chronicles 3:13, 2 Chronicles 32:33, 2 Chronicles 33:1-9, Matthew 1:10, Manasses

Hephzibah: Proverbs 5:19, Isaiah 62:4, *marg.

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 8:3 - his sons 2 Kings 22:1 - eight years old 2 Chronicles 33:22 - as did Manasseh

Verse 2

And he did: 2 Kings 21:7, 2 Kings 21:16, 2 Kings 16:2-4, 2 Kings 22:17, 2 Chronicles 33:2-4

after the abominations: Leviticus 18:25-29, Deuteronomy 12:31, 2 Chronicles 36:14, Ezekiel 16:51

Reciprocal: Leviticus 18:27 - General Deuteronomy 4:25 - do evil 1 Kings 11:7 - build an high 1 Kings 21:20 - to work 1 Kings 21:26 - according to 2 Kings 15:28 - evil 2 Kings 16:3 - according 2 Kings 17:8 - walked 2 Kings 21:20 - as his father 2 Kings 23:32 - General 2 Kings 24:3 - for the sins Isaiah 66:4 - they did Ezekiel 11:12 - but Ezekiel 22:3 - and maketh Revelation 17:4 - abominations

Verse 3

the high places: 2 Kings 18:4, 2 Kings 18:22, 2 Chronicles 32:12, 2 Chronicles 34:3

he reared: 2 Kings 10:18-20, 1 Kings 16:31-33, 1 Kings 18:21, 1 Kings 18:26

a grove: Rather, as we have before remarked, Asherah or Astarte. So Castel defines Asherah to be Simulacrum ligneum Astarte dicatum; "A wooden image dedicated to Astarte."

Ahab: 2 Kings 8:18, 2 Kings 8:27, Micah 6:16

and worshipped: 2 Kings 17:16, 2 Kings 23:4, Deuteronomy 4:19, Deuteronomy 17:3, 2 Chronicles 33:3-5, Job 31:26

Reciprocal: Genesis 2:1 - host Deuteronomy 16:21 - General 1 Kings 11:7 - build an high 1 Kings 14:9 - to provoke 1 Kings 14:23 - groves 1 Kings 16:33 - made a grove 2 Kings 23:5 - all the host 2 Kings 23:24 - the workers Jeremiah 8:2 - and all Jeremiah 23:27 - as Ezekiel 16:15 - and playedst Ezekiel 16:24 - thou hast Hosea 2:13 - the days Acts 7:42 - the host

Verse 4

he built: 2 Kings 16:10-16, Jeremiah 32:34

In Jerusalem: Exodus 20:24, Deuteronomy 12:5, 2 Samuel 7:13, 1 Kings 8:29, 1 Kings 9:3, Psalms 78:68, Psalms 78:69, Psalms 132:13, Psalms 132:14

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 11:13 - for Jerusalem's 2 Kings 21:7 - In this house 2 Kings 23:5 - all the host 2 Kings 23:27 - My name 2 Chronicles 7:16 - my name 2 Chronicles 33:4 - he built Jeremiah 7:10 - which is called Jeremiah 7:30 - they Jeremiah 11:13 - up altars Jeremiah 19:4 - estranged Jeremiah 32:31 - this city Ezekiel 5:11 - thou hast Ezekiel 7:20 - but Ezekiel 23:38 - they have Ezekiel 23:39 - thus Ezekiel 43:8 - setting 2 Corinthians 6:16 - what

Verse 5

in the two courts: 2 Kings 23:4, 2 Kings 23:6, 1 Kings 6:36, 1 Kings 7:12, 2 Chronicles 33:5, 2 Chronicles 33:15, Ezekiel 40:28, Ezekiel 40:32, Ezekiel 40:37, Ezekiel 40:47, Ezekiel 42:3, Ezekiel 43:5, Ezekiel 44:19

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 23:12 - which Manasseh 2 Chronicles 33:4 - he built Jeremiah 8:2 - and all Jeremiah 11:13 - up altars Jeremiah 19:4 - estranged Ezekiel 8:7 - General 2 Corinthians 6:16 - what

Verse 6

am 3321, bc 683

he made: 2 Kings 16:3, 2 Kings 17:17, Leviticus 18:21, Leviticus 20:2, Leviticus 20:3, 2 Chronicles 28:3, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Micah 6:7

observed times: Leviticus 19:26, Leviticus 19:31, Deuteronomy 18:10-14

familiar: 1 Chronicles 10:13, Isaiah 8:19, Isaiah 19:3, Acts 16:16

wrought: 2 Kings 24:3, 2 Kings 24:4, Genesis 13:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 44:5 - divineth 1 Samuel 2:17 - before 2 Kings 3:2 - wrought 2 Kings 14:24 - in the sight 2 Kings 17:11 - to provoke 2 Kings 23:10 - might make 2 Kings 23:19 - to provoke the Lord 2 Kings 23:24 - the workers Psalms 51:4 - evil Psalms 106:37 - they sacrificed Isaiah 66:4 - they did Jeremiah 7:6 - and shed Jeremiah 19:4 - filled Ezekiel 16:21 - to pass Ezekiel 20:26 - in that Ezekiel 23:37 - have also Daniel 4:17 - the basest Acts 7:43 - ye took

Verse 7

am 3306-3327, bc 698-677

he set: 2 Kings 23:6, 2 Chronicles 33:7, 2 Chronicles 33:15

In this house: 2 Kings 21:4, 2 Kings 23:27, 2 Samuel 7:13, 1 Kings 8:29, 1 Kings 8:44, 1 Kings 9:3, 1 Kings 9:7, 2 Chronicles 7:12, 2 Chronicles 7:16, 2 Chronicles 7:20, Nehemiah 1:9, Psalms 74:2, Psalms 78:68, Psalms 78:69, Psalms 132:13, Psalms 132:14, Jeremiah 32:34

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 21:2 - And he did 2 Kings 21:16 - beside his sin 2 Kings 23:4 - to bring Jeremiah 7:30 - they Jeremiah 19:4 - estranged Ezekiel 5:11 - thou hast Ezekiel 7:20 - but Ezekiel 8:3 - the image Ezekiel 23:38 - they have

Verse 8

will I make: 2 Kings 18:11, 2 Samuel 7:10, 1 Chronicles 17:9, 2 Chronicles 33:8

only if they: Leviticus 26:3-13, Deuteronomy 5:28, Deuteronomy 5:29, Deuteronomy 28:1-14, Joshua 23:11-13, Psalms 37:3, Psalms 81:11-16, Isaiah 1:19, Jeremiah 7:3-7, Jeremiah 7:23, Jeremiah 17:20-27, Ezekiel 22:2-16, Ezekiel 33:25-29

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 5:32 - observe 2 Chronicles 7:16 - my name 2 Chronicles 33:7 - in the house

Verse 9

they hearkened: 2 Chronicles 36:16, Ezra 9:10, Ezra 9:11, Nehemiah 9:26, Nehemiah 9:29, Nehemiah 9:30, Psalms 81:10, Daniel 9:6, Daniel 9:10, Daniel 9:11, Luke 13:34, John 15:22, James 4:17

seduced: 1 Kings 14:16, 2 Chronicles 33:9, Psalms 12:8, Proverbs 29:12, Hosea 5:11, Revelation 2:20

more evil: Ezekiel 16:47, Ezekiel 16:51, Ezekiel 16:52

Reciprocal: Exodus 32:21 - General 2 Kings 21:11 - above all 2 Chronicles 33:2 - like unto Job 34:30 - General Ezekiel 5:7 - neither have done Ezekiel 13:10 - seduced Ezekiel 16:29 - in the land Ezekiel 16:44 - As is

Verse 10

2 Chronicles 33:10, 2 Chronicles 36:15, Nehemiah 9:26, Nehemiah 9:30, Matthew 23:34-37, In the following verses the doom of Judah and Jerusalem is passed, and it is a heavy doom. The prophets were sent in the first place to teach them the knowledge of God, to remind them of their duty, and direct them in it: if they succeeded not in that, their next work was to reprove them for their sins, and to set them in view before them, that they might repent and reform, and return to their duty: if in this they prevailed not, their next work was to foretell the judgments of God, that the terror of them might awaken to repentance those who would not be made sensible of the obligations of his love; or else that the execution of them, in their season, might be a demonstration of the divine mission of the prophets who foretold them. They were made judges to those who would not hear and receive them as teachers. - Henry.

Verse 11

Because: 2 Kings 23:26, 2 Kings 23:27, 2 Kings 24:3, 2 Kings 24:4, Jeremiah 15:4

above all: 2 Kings 21:9, 1 Kings 21:26, Ezekiel 16:3, Ezekiel 16:45

made Judah: 2 Kings 21:9, 1 Kings 14:16, 1 Kings 15:30, 1 Kings 16:19

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 14:22 - all 1 Kings 15:26 - in his sin 2 Kings 16:3 - according 2 Kings 21:16 - beside his sin 1 Chronicles 1:14 - Amorite 2 Chronicles 21:11 - caused Nehemiah 9:26 - wrought Jeremiah 32:35 - to cause Ezekiel 16:28 - General Ezekiel 18:12 - hath committed

Verse 12

I am bringing: 2 Kings 22:16, Daniel 9:12, Micah 3:12

whosoever: 1 Samuel 3:11, Isaiah 28:16, Jeremiah 19:3, Amos 3:2, Matthew 24:21, Matthew 24:22, Luke 23:28, Luke 23:29, Revelation 6:15-17

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 24:2 - according 2 Chronicles 34:24 - I will bring Ezra 5:12 - But after Psalms 10:15 - seek Psalms 79:1 - the heathen Isaiah 28:19 - and it Ezekiel 7:5 - General Ezekiel 21:7 - For the

Verse 13

I will stretch: This metaphor is taken from the custom of using a line in measuring land, and in dividing portions of it among several persons. Samaria was taken, pillaged, and ruined, and its inhabitants carried into captivity: Jerusalem shall have the same measure. 2 Kings 17:6, Isaiah 10:22, Isaiah 28:17, Isaiah 34:11, Lamentations 2:8, Ezekiel 23:31-34, Amos 7:7, Amos 7:8, Zechariah 1:16

the plummet: 2 Kings 10:11, 1 Kings 21:21-24

I will wipe: I will empty Jerusalem of all its wealth and inhabitants, as truly as a dish turned up and wiped is emptied of its contents. 1 Kings 14:10, Isaiah 14:23, Jeremiah 25:9, Ezekiel 24:10, Ezekiel 24:11, Revelation 18:21-23

wiping it, and turning it upside down: Heb. he wipeth and turneth it upon the face thereof

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 8:18 - the house 2 Kings 22:16 - Behold 2 Kings 23:27 - I will remove Isaiah 24:1 - turneth it upside down Jeremiah 19:3 - his ears Jeremiah 44:2 - a desolation Ezekiel 7:5 - General Zephaniah 1:4 - stretch

Verse 14

And I will: Deuteronomy 31:17, 2 Chronicles 15:2, Psalms 37:28, Psalms 89:38-45, Jeremiah 12:7, Jeremiah 23:33, Lamentations 5:20, Amos 5:2

the remnant: 2 Kings 19:4, 2 Kings 19:30, 2 Kings 19:31, 2 Kings 24:2, 2 Chronicles 36:16, 2 Chronicles 36:17, Jeremiah 23:33

deliver: Leviticus 26:17, Leviticus 26:36-38, Deuteronomy 4:26, Deuteronomy 4:27, Deuteronomy 28:25, Deuteronomy 28:31-33, Deuteronomy 28:48, Judges 2:14, Judges 2:15, Nehemiah 9:27-37, Psalms 71:1-7, Psalms 106:40-43, Isaiah 10:6, Lamentations 1:5, Lamentations 1:10

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 4:25 - do evil 1 Samuel 12:22 - the Lord Jeremiah 44:27 - shall be

Verse 15

since the day: Deuteronomy 9:21, Deuteronomy 31:27, Deuteronomy 31:29, Judges 2:11-13, Psalms 106:34-40, Ezekiel 16:15-22, Ezekiel 20:4, Ezekiel 20:13, Ezekiel 20:21, Ezekiel 20:30, Ezekiel 23:3, Ezekiel 23:8-21, Daniel 9:5-11

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 25:7 - that ye

Verse 16

Manasseh: 2 Kings 24:3, 2 Kings 24:4, Numbers 35:33, Deuteronomy 21:8, Deuteronomy 21:9, Jeremiah 2:34, Jeremiah 7:6, Jeremiah 15:4, Jeremiah 19:4, Matthew 23:30, Matthew 23:31, Matthew 27:6, Luke 13:34, Hebrews 11:37

one end to another: Heb. mouth to mouth

beside his sin: 2 Kings 21:7, 2 Kings 21:11, Exodus 32:21, 1 Kings 14:15, 1 Kings 14:16, 2 Chronicles 33:9

Reciprocal: Exodus 20:13 - General Deuteronomy 19:10 - General 2 Kings 21:2 - And he did Ezra 9:11 - one end to another Psalms 10:8 - sitteth Psalms 106:38 - shed Proverbs 28:15 - so Jeremiah 32:31 - this city Jeremiah 51:5 - though Ezekiel 7:23 - for Ezekiel 8:17 - for Ezekiel 9:9 - and the land Ezekiel 11:6 - General Ezekiel 16:47 - thou wast Ezekiel 22:2 - bloody city Ezekiel 22:4 - that thou Ezekiel 24:6 - Woe Ezekiel 34:3 - ye kill Matthew 23:35 - upon Luke 3:20 - General

Verse 17

the rest: 2 Kings 20:20, 2 Kings 20:21, 2 Chronicles 33:1-20

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 21:25 - General

Verse 18

am 3361, bc 643

and was buried: 2 Chronicles 21:20, 2 Chronicles 24:16, 2 Chronicles 24:25, 2 Chronicles 28:27, 2 Chronicles 32:33, 2 Chronicles 33:20, Jeremiah 22:19

Reciprocal: Genesis 23:20 - for a Genesis 50:13 - the cave 1 Kings 2:34 - buried 1 Kings 11:43 - slept 2 Kings 16:20 - buried 2 Kings 20:21 - slept 2 Kings 21:26 - in the garden

Verse 19

am 3361-3363, bc 643-641

Amon: 1 Chronicles 3:14, 2 Chronicles 33:21-23, Matthew 1:10

two years: 2 Kings 15:23, 1 Kings 15:25, 1 Kings 16:8, 1 Kings 22:51

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 33:20 - Amon

Verse 20

as his father: 2 Kings 21:2-7, Numbers 32:14, 2 Chronicles 33:22, 2 Chronicles 33:23, Matthew 23:32, Acts 7:51

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 3:2 - wrought Psalms 78:38 - did not

Verse 21

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 23:12 - which Manasseh 2 Kings 23:32 - General

Verse 22

2 Kings 22:17, Deuteronomy 32:15, 1 Kings 11:33, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Jeremiah 2:13, Jonah 2:8

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 23:12 - which Manasseh 2 Kings 23:32 - General Ezekiel 11:12 - General Acts 22:14 - The God

Verse 23

am 3363, bc 641, 2 Kings 12:20, 2 Kings 14:19, 2 Kings 15:25, 2 Kings 15:30, 1 Kings 15:27, 1 Kings 16:9, 2 Chronicles 33:24, 2 Chronicles 33:25

Reciprocal: Esther 2:21 - and sought

Verse 24

the people of the land slew: 2 Kings 14:5

made Josiah: 2 Kings 11:17, 2 Kings 14:21, 1 Samuel 11:15, 2 Samuel 5:3, 1 Kings 12:1, 1 Kings 12:20, 2 Chronicles 22:1, 2 Chronicles 26:1, 2 Chronicles 33:25

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 23:30 - the people

Verse 25

2 Kings 21:17, 2 Kings 20:20

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 35:27 - deeds Jeremiah 1:2 - in the days

Verse 26

in the garden: 2 Kings 21:18

Josiah: 1 Kings 13:5, Matthew 1:10

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 11:43 - buried 2 Kings 16:20 - buried Jeremiah 1:2 - in the days