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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, 6<sup>th</sup> 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 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/>
== 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><ref name=WebBible/> [[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 ==
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/>
== 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 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><ref name=Bartleby/>) 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]].<ref name=WebBible/> He did not remove the [[high place]]s, 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.<ref name=Chronicler/> 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.<ref name=WebBible/>
== 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 BC--which would accord with the [[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]] chronology.<ref name=Wood/>
== 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 [http://creationwiki.org/index.php?title=Manasseh_King_of_Judah&oldid=98170 this version] of the CreationWiki article, which is entirely my work.
== References ==
<references/>
== See Also ==
* [[Hezekiah]]
* [[Amon]]
* [[Esarhaddon]]
* [[Isaiah (prophet)|Isaiah]]
* [[Southern Kingdom]]
* [[Biblical chronology dispute]]
[[Category:Biblical persons]]
== 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/>
== 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><ref name=WebBible/> [[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 ==
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/>
== 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 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><ref name=Bartleby/>) 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]].<ref name=WebBible/> He did not remove the [[high place]]s, 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.<ref name=Chronicler/> 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.<ref name=WebBible/>
== 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 BC--which would accord with the [[Edwin R. Thiele|Thiele]] chronology.<ref name=Wood/>
== 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 [http://creationwiki.org/index.php?title=Manasseh_King_of_Judah&oldid=98170 this version] of the CreationWiki article, which is entirely my work.
== References ==
<references/>
== See Also ==
* [[Hezekiah]]
* [[Amon]]
* [[Esarhaddon]]
* [[Isaiah (prophet)|Isaiah]]
* [[Southern Kingdom]]
* [[Biblical chronology dispute]]
[[Category:Biblical persons]]