Difference between revisions of "Manasseh King of Judah"
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| − | King '''Manasseh''' ([[Hebrew]] '''מְנַשֶּׁה''', I cause to forget, or [[Greece|Greek]] '''Μανασσῆς''') (710-r. 698-643 BC according to [[James Ussher|Ussher]],<ref name=Ussher>[[James Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World]]'', [[Larry Pierce]], ed., Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2003 (ISBN 0890513600), pghh. 671, 683-684, 698, 700, 708, 717</ref><ref name=WebBible>[http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/manasseh.html Manasseh] at the [http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/home.html WebBible Encyclopedia]; retrieved May 26, 2007.</ref> or 709-vr. 697-r. 686-642 BC according to [[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]]<ref name=Wood>Leon J. Wood, ''A Survey of Israel's History'', rev. ed. David O'Brien, Grand Rapids, MI: Academie Books, 1986 (ISBN 031034770X), pp. 309-310</ref><ref name=Orr>Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor, [http://www.studylight.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T5760 Entry for 'MANASSEH (3)' by John Franklin Genung], International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1915.</ref><ref name=Bartleby>[http://www.bartleby.com/65/ma/Manasseh.html Manasseh], Columbia Encyclopedia, | + | King '''Manasseh''' ([[Hebrew]] '''מְנַשֶּׁה''', I cause to forget, or [[Greece|Greek]] '''Μανασσῆς''') (710-r. 698-643 BC according to [[James Ussher|Ussher]],<ref name=Ussher>[[James Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World]]'', [[Larry Pierce]], ed., Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2003 (ISBN 0890513600), pghh. 671, 683-684, 698, 700, 708, 717</ref><ref name=WebBible>[http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/manasseh.html Manasseh] at the [http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/home.html WebBible Encyclopedia]; retrieved May 26, 2007.</ref> or 709-vr. 697-r. 686-642 BC according to [[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]]<ref name=Wood>Leon J. Wood, ''A Survey of Israel's History'', rev. ed. David O'Brien, Grand Rapids, MI: Academie Books, 1986 (ISBN 031034770X), pp. 309-310</ref><ref name=Orr>Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor, [http://www.studylight.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T5760 Entry for 'MANASSEH (3)' by John Franklin Genung], International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1915.</ref><ref name=Bartleby>[http://www.bartleby.com/65/ma/Manasseh.html Manasseh], Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed., 2001-5</ref>) was the thirteenth king of the [[Southern Kingdom]] of [[Israel]] in direct line of descent. He was arguably the worst king that the [[Southern Kingdom]] ever had, for he undid all of the work that his father [[Hezekiah]] had done.<ref name=Kings>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=21|verses=1-19|version=NASB}}</ref> And yet, as the Chronicler records, he repented of his sin and was more faithful from then on—but never in the way that his father was.<ref name=Chronicler>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=33|verses=1-20|version=NASB}}</ref> |
| − | == Early | + | == Early life == |
Manasseh was born in 710 BC or 709 BC, the son of [[Hezekiah]] and [[Hephzibah]]. In Ussher's chronology, Manasseh was a child of Hezekiah's "extended life," for he was born three years after Hezekiah was miraculously cured of a life-threatening illness that might, from the brief description given by the [[prophet]] [[Isaiah (prophet)|Isaiah]], have been [[cancer]].<ref name=Ussher/> Thiele, however, assumes that Manasseh was born eight years ''before'' Hezekiah fell ill.<ref name=Wood/> | Manasseh was born in 710 BC or 709 BC, the son of [[Hezekiah]] and [[Hephzibah]]. In Ussher's chronology, Manasseh was a child of Hezekiah's "extended life," for he was born three years after Hezekiah was miraculously cured of a life-threatening illness that might, from the brief description given by the [[prophet]] [[Isaiah (prophet)|Isaiah]], have been [[cancer]].<ref name=Ussher/> Thiele, however, assumes that Manasseh was born eight years ''before'' Hezekiah fell ill.<ref name=Wood/> | ||
== Accession and Alleged Viceroyalty == | == Accession and Alleged Viceroyalty == | ||
| − | The [[Bible]] says that Manasseh succeeded to the throne of the [[Southern Kingdom]] when he was twelve years old.<ref name=Kings/><ref name=Chronicler/><ref name=Spurgeon>Spurgeon, The Rev. Charles H., [http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0105.htm Manasseh], Sermon 105, November 30, 1856. Retrieved May 26, 2007. Also copied [http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols1-3/chs105.pdf here] (requires PDF reader)</ref | + | The [[Bible]] says that Manasseh succeeded to the throne of the [[Southern Kingdom]] when he was twelve years old.<ref name=WebBible/><ref name=Kings/><ref name=Chronicler/><ref name=Spurgeon>Spurgeon, The Rev. Charles H., [http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0105.htm Manasseh], Sermon 105, November 30, 1856. Retrieved May 26, 2007. Also copied [http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols1-3/chs105.pdf here] (requires PDF reader)</ref> [[James Ussher]] and [[Edwin R. Thiele]] are only a year apart in deciding when this took place. But whereas Ussher assumed that Manasseh became sole ruler at twelve,<ref name=Ussher/> Thiele insists that Manasseh became [[viceroy]] under his father [[Hezekiah]] in 697 BC, and that Hezekiah died eleven years later.<ref name=Wood/><ref name=Pierce>[[Larry Pierce]], [http://www.answersingenesis.org/tj/v15/i1/chronology.asp Evidentialism–the Bible and Assyrian chronology] ''TJ'' 15(1):62–68 April 2001</ref> For the full particulars of why Thiele assumed this, see [[Hezekiah#Marriage and a son|here]] and [[Hezekiah#Chronological Problems|here]]. |
== A Wicked Reign == | == A Wicked Reign == | ||
| − | The [[Bible]] describes Manasseh in the worst light of all the kings of the [[Southern Kingdom]].<ref name=Spurgeon/><ref name=CCM>David Holt Boshert, Jr., and David Ettinger, [http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/kings/manasseh.htm Manasseh King of Judah], Christ-Centered Mall. Retrieved May 26, 2007</ref> He rebuilt all the [[high place]]s that his father [[Hezekiah]] had made such an effort to destroy.<ref name=Spurgeon/> He built altars to [[Baal]] everywhere, even in the [[Temple of Jerusalem]] itself.<ref name=Spurgeon/> He carved an [[Asherah]] pole and also carved an image that he set up in the Temple.<ref name=Spurgeon/> Like his grandfather [[Jehoahaz I|Ahaz]],<ref name=Wood/> he burnt some of his own children alive as human sacrifices. He dabbled in [[astrology]], enchantment, witchcraft, and | + | The [[Bible]] describes Manasseh in the worst light of all the kings of the [[Southern Kingdom]].<ref name=Spurgeon/><ref name=CCM>David Holt Boshert, Jr., and David Ettinger, [http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/kings/manasseh.htm Manasseh King of Judah], Christ-Centered Mall. Retrieved May 26, 2007</ref> He rebuilt all the [[high place]]s that his father [[Hezekiah]] had made such an effort to destroy.<ref name=Spurgeon/> He built altars to [[Baal]] everywhere, even in the [[Temple of Jerusalem]] itself.<ref name=Spurgeon/> He carved an [[Asherah]] pole and also carved an image that he set up in the Temple.<ref name=Spurgeon/> Like his grandfather [[Jehoahaz I|Ahaz]],<ref name=Wood/> he burnt some of his own children alive as human sacrifices. He dabbled in [[astrology]], enchantment, witchcraft, and wizardry—all the black arts that previous kings of the [[House of David]] had abolished.<ref name=Kings/><ref name=Chronicler/> |
Worse yet, he executed those who opposed him in these [[sin]]s.<ref name=Orr/> Allegedly this includes [[Isaiah (prophet)|Isaiah]], whom he is said to have executed by sawing him in sagittal section between two wooden planks.<ref name=Spurgeon/> | Worse yet, he executed those who opposed him in these [[sin]]s.<ref name=Orr/> Allegedly this includes [[Isaiah (prophet)|Isaiah]], whom he is said to have executed by sawing him in sagittal section between two wooden planks.<ref name=Spurgeon/> | ||
== Divine Punishment == | == Divine Punishment == | ||
| − | King [[Esarhaddon]] of [[Assyria]] was at the time also king of [[Babylonia]], the only ruler of Assyria ever to hold this dual distinction.<ref name=Ussher/> In this time, Esarhaddon captured Manasseh and brought him in | + | King [[Esarhaddon]] of [[Assyria]] was at the time also king of [[Babylonia]], the only ruler of Assyria ever to hold this dual distinction.<ref name=Ussher/> In this time, Esarhaddon captured Manasseh and brought him in chains—and with a hook through his jaw, as was Assyrian custom<ref name=WebBible/>—to [[Babylon]]. The Bible does not say specifically when this happened, but [[James Ussher]] placed it in the twenty-second year of Manasseh's reign—which was also sixty-five years after [[Isaiah (prophet)|Isaiah]] had advised [[Jehoahaz I|Ahaz]] that a day would come in which the tribe of [[Ephraim (tribe)|Ephraim]] would cease to be a distinct people. Esarhaddon, according to Ussher, conducted the final mass relocation of people to and from Ephraimite country, and captured Manasseh at the same time. Under Ussher's chronology, this took place in 676 BC. (However, the WebBible Encyclopedia states that this happened in 681 BC.<ref name=WebBible/>) |
| − | Only the Chronicler<ref name=Chronicler/> mentions this captivity. The Chronicler also gives this detail: that Manasseh prayed earnestly to [[God]] for forgiveness and reinstatement. (The [[Apocrypha]] contains an alleged text of the Prayer of Manasseh.<ref name=Kirby>Kirby, Peter. "[http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/manasseh.html Prayer of Manasseh]." ''Early Christian Writings''. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2007</ref | + | Only the Chronicler<ref name=Chronicler/> mentions this captivity. The Chronicler also gives this detail: that Manasseh prayed earnestly to [[God]] for forgiveness and reinstatement. (The [[Apocrypha]] contains an alleged text of the Prayer of Manasseh.<ref name=Bartleby/><ref name=Kirby>Kirby, Peter. "[http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/manasseh.html Prayer of Manasseh]." ''Early Christian Writings''. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2007</ref>) God heard his prayer and restored him to his kingdom. |
== Repentance == | == Repentance == | ||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
== Extrabibilical Evidence and Disputed Synchrony with Assyria == | == Extrabibilical Evidence and Disputed Synchrony with Assyria == | ||
| − | The two kings that various sources cite as the king who captured Manasseh are [[Esarhaddon]] and [[Assur-bani-pal]].<ref name=Orr/> [[Esarhaddon]] boasts in his inscriptions that Manasseh was one of twenty-two vassal kings who paid him tribute in the form of building materials.<ref name=Wood/><ref name=BibleHistory>Authors unknown. "[http://www.biblehistory.net/newsletter/manasseh.htm Manasseh King of Judah]." ''Bible History Newsletter'', 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2007.</ref> Another inscription has Esarhaddon boasting of rebuilding [[Babylon]], and this is the reconciliation of how [[James Ussher|Ussher]] could identify a king of [[Assyria]] as a king of [[Babylon]].<ref name=Ussher/> However, Wood states that [[Assur-bani-pal]] put down a revolt of several vassal states south of Assyria proper from 652-648 | + | The two kings that various sources cite as the king who captured Manasseh are [[Esarhaddon]] and [[Assur-bani-pal]].<ref name=Orr/> [[Esarhaddon]] boasts in his inscriptions that Manasseh was one of twenty-two vassal kings who paid him tribute in the form of building materials.<ref name=Wood/><ref name=BibleHistory>Authors unknown. "[http://www.biblehistory.net/newsletter/manasseh.htm Manasseh King of Judah]." ''Bible History Newsletter'', 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2007.</ref> Another inscription has Esarhaddon boasting of rebuilding [[Babylon]], and this is the reconciliation of how [[James Ussher|Ussher]] could identify a king of [[Assyria]] as a king of [[Babylon]].<ref name=Ussher/> However, Wood states that [[Assur-bani-pal]] put down a revolt of several vassal states south of Assyria proper from 652-648 BC—which would accord with the [[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]] chronology.<ref name=Wood/> |
== Dual-user Provenance == | == Dual-user Provenance == | ||
| Line 35: | Line 35: | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| − | == See | + | == See also == |
* [[Hezekiah]] | * [[Hezekiah]] | ||
* [[Amon]] | * [[Amon]] | ||
Revision as of 21:23, July 12, 2016
King Manasseh (Hebrew מְנַשֶּׁה, I cause to forget, or Greek Μανασσῆς) (710-r. 698-643 BC according to Ussher,[1][2] or 709-vr. 697-r. 686-642 BC according to Thiele[3][4][5]) was the thirteenth king of the Southern Kingdom of Israel in direct line of descent. He was arguably the worst king that the Southern Kingdom ever had, for he undid all of the work that his father Hezekiah had done.[6] And yet, as the Chronicler records, he repented of his sin and was more faithful from then on—but never in the way that his father was.[7]
Early life
Manasseh was born in 710 BC or 709 BC, the son of Hezekiah and Hephzibah. In Ussher's chronology, Manasseh was a child of Hezekiah's "extended life," for he was born three years after Hezekiah was miraculously cured of a life-threatening illness that might, from the brief description given by the prophet Isaiah, have been cancer.[1] Thiele, however, assumes that Manasseh was born eight years before Hezekiah fell ill.[3]
Accession and Alleged Viceroyalty
The Bible says that Manasseh succeeded to the throne of the Southern Kingdom when he was twelve years old.[2][6][7][8] James Ussher and Edwin R. Thiele are only a year apart in deciding when this took place. But whereas Ussher assumed that Manasseh became sole ruler at twelve,[1] Thiele insists that Manasseh became viceroy under his father Hezekiah in 697 BC, and that Hezekiah died eleven years later.[3][9] For the full particulars of why Thiele assumed this, see here and here.
A Wicked Reign
The Bible describes Manasseh in the worst light of all the kings of the Southern Kingdom.[8][10] He rebuilt all the high places that his father Hezekiah had made such an effort to destroy.[8] He built altars to Baal everywhere, even in the Temple of Jerusalem itself.[8] He carved an Asherah pole and also carved an image that he set up in the Temple.[8] Like his grandfather Ahaz,[3] he burnt some of his own children alive as human sacrifices. He dabbled in astrology, enchantment, witchcraft, and wizardry—all the black arts that previous kings of the House of David had abolished.[6][7]
Worse yet, he executed those who opposed him in these sins.[4] Allegedly this includes Isaiah, whom he is said to have executed by sawing him in sagittal section between two wooden planks.[8]
Divine Punishment
King Esarhaddon of Assyria was at the time also king of Babylonia, the only ruler of Assyria ever to hold this dual distinction.[1] In this time, Esarhaddon captured Manasseh and brought him in chains—and with a hook through his jaw, as was Assyrian custom[2]—to Babylon. The Bible does not say specifically when this happened, but James Ussher placed it in the twenty-second year of Manasseh's reign—which was also sixty-five years after Isaiah had advised Ahaz that a day would come in which the tribe of Ephraim would cease to be a distinct people. Esarhaddon, according to Ussher, conducted the final mass relocation of people to and from Ephraimite country, and captured Manasseh at the same time. Under Ussher's chronology, this took place in 676 BC. (However, the WebBible Encyclopedia states that this happened in 681 BC.[2])
Only the Chronicler[7] mentions this captivity. The Chronicler also gives this detail: that Manasseh prayed earnestly to God for forgiveness and reinstatement. (The Apocrypha contains an alleged text of the Prayer of Manasseh.[5][11]) God heard his prayer and restored him to his kingdom.
Repentance
Manasseh reigned for another thirty-three years. But now he removed all the altars he had made, and the images (including the carved image in the Temple), and the Asherah pole, and repaired the main altar of the Temple and offered proper sacrifices on it. He also added to the fortifications in and around Jerusalem.[2] He did not remove the high places, but an interesting change took place: those who used the high places, did so to worship God and not to worship Baal in any of his forms, nor any other pagan god.[7] This, however, was not according to God's desire.
Marriage and a son
In the thirty-third year of his reign (either 665 or 664 BC), Manasseh married a woman named Meshullemeth and by her had a son named Amon, his eventual successor.
Death and Succession
Manasseh died at the age of sixty-seven, and was buried in a private tomb. So evil had he been that he was not even deemed worthy to be buried in the same city as the other kings of the Southern Kingdom. His son Amon succeeded him, but only briefly.[2]
Extrabibilical Evidence and Disputed Synchrony with Assyria
The two kings that various sources cite as the king who captured Manasseh are Esarhaddon and Assur-bani-pal.[4] Esarhaddon boasts in his inscriptions that Manasseh was one of twenty-two vassal kings who paid him tribute in the form of building materials.[3][12] Another inscription has Esarhaddon boasting of rebuilding Babylon, and this is the reconciliation of how Ussher could identify a king of Assyria as a king of Babylon.[1] However, Wood states that Assur-bani-pal put down a revolt of several vassal states south of Assyria proper from 652-648 BC—which would accord with the Thiele chronology.[3]
Dual-user Provenance
This is a dual submission of a work of sole authorship. I am the same person as User:Temlakos on CreationWiki and this article is based on this version of the CreationWiki article, which is entirely my work.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 James Ussher, The Annals of the World, Larry Pierce, ed., Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2003 (ISBN 0890513600), pghh. 671, 683-684, 698, 700, 708, 717
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Manasseh at the WebBible Encyclopedia; retrieved May 26, 2007.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Leon J. Wood, A Survey of Israel's History, rev. ed. David O'Brien, Grand Rapids, MI: Academie Books, 1986 (ISBN 031034770X), pp. 309-310
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor, Entry for 'MANASSEH (3)' by John Franklin Genung, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1915.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Manasseh, Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed., 2001-5
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 II_Kings 21:1-19 (NASB)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 II_Chronicles 33:1-20 (NASB)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Spurgeon, The Rev. Charles H., Manasseh, Sermon 105, November 30, 1856. Retrieved May 26, 2007. Also copied here (requires PDF reader)
- ↑ Larry Pierce, Evidentialism–the Bible and Assyrian chronology TJ 15(1):62–68 April 2001
- ↑ David Holt Boshert, Jr., and David Ettinger, Manasseh King of Judah, Christ-Centered Mall. Retrieved May 26, 2007
- ↑ Kirby, Peter. "Prayer of Manasseh." Early Christian Writings. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2007
- ↑ Authors unknown. "Manasseh King of Judah." Bible History Newsletter, 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2007.