2 Chronicles 33:1--36:23
Manasseh <04519> [A.M. 3306-3361. B.C. 693-643. Manasseh.]
[Manasses. twelve.]
horrible <08441> [like unto.]
rebuilt <07725 01129> [he built again. Heb. he returned and built.]
<03169> [which Hezekiah.]
set <06965> [he reared.]
made Asherah poles <0842 06213> [made groves.]
stars <06635> [the host.]
built <01129> [he built.]
Jerusalem <03389> [In Jerusalem.]
two <08147> [in the two.]
passed <05674> [caused.]
divination <06049> [he observed.]
reading .... He ................... did <06213> [dealt.]
put .... image <06459 07760> [he set a carved image.]
The Targumist says, "He set up an image, the likeness of himself, in the house of the sanctuary." In the parallel passage it is, "a graven image of the grove," or rather, Asherah or Astarte. Manasseh, as Bp. Patrick observes, seems to have studied to find out what God had forbidden in his law, that he might practice it: a most prodigious change from the height of piety in his father's time, into the sink of impiety in this!
temple ............... temple <01004> [in the house.]
God's ..... God ... said <0559 0430> [God had said.]
<0977> [which I have.]
again <03254> [will I.]
carefully <0518 08104> [so that they.]
obey .... commanded <06213 06680> [to do all.]
given <03027> [by the hand.]
misled ..... Judah <08582 03063> [made Judah.]
so .... sinned <07451 06213> [to do worse.]
nations <01471> [the heathen.]
Lord <03068> [A.M. 3327. B.C. 677. the Lord.]
commanders <08269> [the captains.]
[of the king. Heb. which were the king's.]
hooks <02336> [among the thorns.]
The word {bachochim} may possibly her signify with fetters or chains, as the kindred word {chachim} denotes, Eze 19:4, 9. The Syriac and Arabic have alive, probably reading {bechayim}.
bound <0631> [bound him.]
bronze chains <05178> [fetters. or, chains.]
pain <06887> [And when.]
Manasseh <02470> [he besought.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
humbled <03665> [humbled.]
responded <06279> [he was intreated.]
back <07725> [brought him.]
realized <03045> [knew.]
built up <01129> [A.M. 3327-3361. B.C. 677-643. he built.]
Gihon <01521> [Gihon.]
Fish Gate <08179 01709> [fish gate.]
terrace <06077> [Ophel. or, the tower.]
placed <07760> [put.]
removed <05493> [he took.]
<01129> [repaired.]
peace offerings <08002> [peace.]
thank offerings <08426> [thank.]
told <0559> [commanded.]
[See on ch.]
people <05971> [people.]
rest <03499> [A.M. 3306-3361. B.C. 698-643. the rest.]
[See on]
prayer <08605> [his prayer.]
prophets <02374> [the seers.]
events ............. words .................... Annals <01697> [in the book.]
prayer give an account of how .... responded <08605 06279> [his prayer also.]
[all his sins.]
before ... humbled <06440 03665> [before he.]
<02374> [the seers. or, Hosai.]
So the Targum and Vulgate: the Syraic has Hanun the prophet; and the Arabic, Saphan the prophet. This record is totally lost; for the captivity and repentance of Manasseh are related no where else; and the prayer of Manasseh in the Apocrypha was probably composed long afterwards: it is not acknowledged as canonical even by the Romish church, though it was anciently used as a form of confession, and as such still received by the Greek church.
Manasseh <04519> [Manasseh.]
Amon <0526> [Amon.]
twenty-two years ........... two years <08141 08147> [A.M. 3361-3363. B.C. 643-641. two years.]
did ............. Manasseh ... done ........... Manasseh <06213 04519> [as did Manasseh.]
sacrifices ...... his <0526 02076> [for Amon sacrificed.]
Amon's conduct is recorded as like his father Manasseh, in sacrificing to graven images; by which some think it is an evidence that Manasseh did not truly repent, but they forget how many good kings had wicked sons. In one point of view Manasseh was defective, although it cannot be supposed that it affected his eternal state; for when he cast out the images, he did not utterly deface and destroy them, according to the law in De 7:5, which required, moreover, that the graven images should be burnt with fire. How necessary that law was, this instance shows; for the carved images being only thrown aside, and not burnt, Amon knew where to find them, soon set them up, and sacrificed to them.
humble <03665> [humbled.]
[trespassed more and more. Heb. multiplied trespass.]
[A.M. 3363. B.C. 641.]
executed <05221> [slew.]
people .............. they <05971> [the people.]
Josiah <02977> [Josiah.]
Josiah <02977> [A.M. 3363-3394. B.C. 641-610. Josiah.]
[Josias. eight years.]
approved <05869 03477> [right in the sight.]
deviate <05493> [declined.]
young <05288> [A.M. 3370. B.C. 634. while he.]
seek <01875> [to seek.]
ridding <02891> [purge.]
high places <01116> [the high places.]
[See on]
ordered <05422> [brake down.]
incense altars ........... idols ... images <02553 06456 04541> [images. or, sun images.]
crushed <01854> [made dust.]
tombs <06913> [graves. Heb. face of the graves.]
burned <08313> [he.]
purified <02891> [cleansed.]
cities <05892> [in.]
ruins <02719> [mattocks. or, mauls.]
demolished <03807> [beaten.]
smashed <01854> [into powder. Heb. to make powder. he returned.]
eighteenth <08083> [A.M. 3380. B.C. 624. the eighteenth.]
sent Shaphan <08227 07971> [sent Shaphan.]
Maaseiah <04641> [Maaseiah.]
[recorded.]
Hilkiah <02518> [Hilkiah.]
gave <05414> [they delivered.]
Manasseh <04519> [Manasseh.]
<07725> [and they returned.]
Instead of {wyyashuvoo}, "and they returned," as the Keri has, we should, with the Kethiv, read {weyoshevey,} "and the inhabitants of;" a reading which is supported by many MSS,; printed editions, and all the versions, as well as necessity and common sense.
handed <03027> [in the hand.]
rafters <07136> [floor. or, rafter. the kings.]
faithfully <0530> [faithfully.]
skilled <0995> [all.]
skilled <0995> [skill.]
The verb skill is now obsolete: the meaning is, "every one who is skilful, {maiveen,} on instruments of music."
laborers <05449> [the bearers.]
Levites <03881> [and of the Levites.]
scribes <05608> [scribes.]
officials <07860> [officers.]
guards <07778> [porters.]
Hilkiah <02518> [Hilkiah.]
scroll <05612> [a book.]
Literally, "a book of the law of the Lord, by the hand of Moses," i.e, as Dr. Kennicott understands it, "in the handwriting of Moses;" for, says he, though there are fifteen places in the Old Testament which mention the "Law of Moses," and "book of Moses," yet this one place only mentions "the book of the law in, or by, the hand of Moses."
law <08451> [the law.]
Moses <04872> [Moses. Heb. the hand of Moses.]
Shaphan <08227> [Shaphan.]
servants <05650> [thy servants. Heb. the hand of thy servants.]
melted <05413> [And they.]
melted <05413> [gathered together. Heb. poured out, or melted.]
Shaphan ............... Shaphan read <08227 07121> [And Shaphan read.]
before <06440> [it. Heb. in it.]
words <01697> [the words.]
tore <07167> [that he rent.]
Ahikam <0296> [Ahikam.]
Abdon <05658> [Abdon.]
This person seems to have borne both the name of Achbor and Abdon.
[Achbor.]
[Michah.]
Michaiah, [MŒykayeh–w <\\See definition 04321\\>,] as he is named in the parallel passage, is here called [MŒykƒh <\\See definition 04318\\>,] Michah, merely by the omission of [Yƒhh <\\See definition 03050\\>,] {yah,} one of the Divine names.
Asaiah <06222> [Asaiah.]
This variation only exists in the translation; the original being uniformly Asaiah, or rather, Asayah.
[Asahiah.]
seek <01875> [enquire.]
remain <07604> [that are left.]
<01419> [great.]
prophetess <05031> [the prophetess.]
Hasrah <02641> [Hasrah.]
Hasrah is most probably a mistake for Harhas; as the Septuagint reads, both here and in the parallel place, [Aras.]
[Aras.]
[Harhas.]
wardrobe <0899> [wardrobe. Heb. garments. college. or, school, or second part.]
It is probable that {Mishneh} was either the name of a street, or a particular part of the city of Jerusalem.
said ............. Say ..... man <0559 0376> [Tell ye the man.]
bring <0935> [I will bring.]
<0423> [all the curses.]
abandoned <05800> [Because.]
anger <02534> [my wrath.]
<03518> [shall not.]
to <0413> [as for.]
<03824> [Because.]
"Because," says the Targumist, "thy heart was melted, and thou hast humbled thyself in the sight of the word of the Lord, {meymra dyya,} when thou didst hear His words, {yath pithgamoi,} against this place." Here {meymra,} the personal word, is plainly distinguished from {pithgam,} a word spoken.
<03824> [thine heart.]
humbled ................. humbled <03665> [humble.]
tore <07167> [didst rend.]
heard ......................... heard <08085> [I have even.]
allow .... die <0622> [I will gather.]
peace <07965> [in peace.]
witness <05869> [neither.]
king <04428> [the king.]
summoned <0622> [gathered.]
oldest .... youngest <01419 06996> [great and small. Heb. from great even to small.]
read <07121> [he read.]
scroll <05612> [the book.]
pillar <05977> [In his place.]
Instead of {ƒl “mdo,} "in his place," the parallel passage 2 Ki 23:3, has {ƒl h„ƒmmood,} "by the pillar;" which is probably the true reading, as the LXX. in both places read [ton stylon,] "the pillar."
covenant ............................... covenant <01285 03772> [made a covenant.]
This was expressed, 1. In general, To walk after Jehovah; to have no gods beside him. 2. To take this law for the regulation of their conduct. 3. In particular, To bend their whole heart and soul to the performance of it; so that they might not only have religion without, but piety within.
laws <05715> [and his testimonies.]
heart ... being <03824 05315> [with all.]
carrying out <06213> [to perform.]
were <04672> [caused.]
were <04672> [present. Heb. found.]
it ...... acted <06213> [did.]
removed ..................................... aside <05493> [took away.]
detestable <08441> [the abominations.]
rest .... reign <03117> [all his days.]
following <0310> [from following. Heb. from after.]
Josiah <02977> [Josiah.]
The whole solemnity was performed with great exactness according to the law, and upon that account there was none like it since Samuel's time; for even in Hezekiah's passover there were several irregularities. Bp. Patrick observes, that in this also it exceeded the other passovers which preceding things had kept, that though Josiah was by no means so rich as David, or Solomon, or Jehoshaphat, yet he furnished the congregation with beasts for sacrifice, both paschal and eucharistical, at his own proper cost and charge, which was more than any king ever did before.
fourteenth <0702> [the fourteenth.]
Josiah's solemnization of the passover, which is merely alluded to at 2 Ki 23:21, is very particularly related her, while the destruction of idolatry is largely related in the Kings, and here only touched upon. The feasts of the Lord God, appointed by the ceremonial law, were very numerous; but the passover was the chief. It was the first which was solemnized in the night wherein Israel came out of Egypt, and ushered in those which were afterwards instituted: and it was the last great feast which was held in the night wherein Christ was betrayed, before the vail of the temple was rent in twain. Be means of this feast, both Josiah and Hezekiah revived religion in their day.
duties <04931> [charges.]
encouraged them <02388> [encouraged.]
Levites <03881> [the Levites.]
Place <05414> [Put.]
temple <01004> [in the house.]
carry <04853> [not be.]
Lord ......................... serve ... Lord <05647 03068> [serve now.]
families <01004> [the houses.]
divisions <04256> [after your courses.]
The regulations formed by David, and established by Solomon, concerning the courses of the priests and Levites, were committed to writing, and preserved, for them to refer to continually. Josiah, as well as Hezekiah, required the priests and Levites to attend to their several duties, and encouraged them therein, but he neither added, altered, not retrenched anything: he merely enforced what had been established in the law, and in the regulations made by David and the contemporary prophets: "the commandment of the king....was by the word of the Lord."
<04385> [and according.]
Stand in <05975> [And stand.]
[families of the fathers. Heb. house of the fathers. people.]
Heb. sons of the people.
Slaughter <07819> [So kill.]
consecrate <06942> [sanctify.]
Josiah <02977> [Josiah.]
supplied <07311> [gave. Heb. offered.]
30,000 ............ 3,000 <0505 07970> [thirty thousand.]
According to the calculation, that not fewer than ten, nor more than twenty persons, were to join for one kid or lamb, the numbers given on this occasion would suffice for above 400,000 persons.
royal <07399 04428> [the king's substance.]
officials <08269> [his princes.]
supplied <07311 05414> [gave. Heb. offered. willingly.]
Hilkiah <02518> [Hilkiah.]
leaders <05057> [rulers.]
supplied <07311> [gave. Heb. offered.]
priests <03548> [the priests.]
priests <03548> [the priests.]
skinned <06584> [flayed them.]
prescribed <03789> [as it is written.]
cooked ............ cooked <01310> [roasted.]
cooked ............ cooked <01310> [sod.]
served <07323> [divided them speedily. Heb. made them run.]
priests .... priests ........................ priests <03548> [because the priests.]
posts <04612> [place. Heb. station. according.]
guards <07778> [the porters.]
present <04672> [present. Heb. found. the feast.]
Passover .......................... Passover <06453> [there was no passover.]
Not one on purer principles, more heartily joined in by the people present, more literally or exactly consecrated, according to the law, or more religiously observed. The words do not refer to the number present, but to the manner and spirit.
this had .... observed ................. had observed ....... celebrated <06213> [neither did.]
temple <01004> [A.M. 3394. B.C. 610. temple. Heb. house. Necho.]
Pharaoh, the lame, says the Targumist.
[Pharaoh-necho.]
[Charchemish.]
king <04428> [What.]
kingdom ....... war <04421 01004> [house wherewith I have war. Heb. house of my war. God.]
God ...... Stop ... God <02308 0430> [forbear thee.]
Josiah <02977> [Nevertheless.]
Josiah's conduct in this affair has been treated with great severity; and he has been charged with engaging rashly in an unjust war, and disregarding the express command of God. But Scripture no where condemns him; and Pharaoh, in marching through Josiah's territories, against his will, certainly committed an act of hostility. It is evident that Josiah was in possession of the whole land of Israel (ch. 26:6); and probably he held the northern parts of it as a grant from the king of Babylon; and was not only in alliance with him, but bound to guard his frontiers against hostile invaders. He may, therefore, be fairly justified from the charge of unjustly meddling in a war that did not belong him. It is true the ambassadors assured Josiah, that "God had commanded Pharaoh to make haste;" and he is therefore said not to have "hearkened to the words of Necho, from the mouth of God." But Necho produced no proof that he was a prophet of Jehovah; and the word he employed, {elohim,} may denote gods or idols; and critics have noticed that the expression, "from the mouth of God," is not used when the true God is meant.
disguised <02664> [but disguised.]
<06310> [the mouth.]
Megiddo <04023> [Megiddo.]
[Megiddon.]
[Armageddon.]
Archers shot <03384> [the archers.]
wounded <02470> [wounded. Heb. made sick.]
another <04932> [the second.]
<03212> [they.]
died <04191> [died.]
tombs <06913> [in one of the. or, among the.]
Judah <03063> [Judah.]
Jeremiah <03414> [Jeremiah.]
singers <07891> [all the singing.]
become customary <05414 02706> [and made them.]
faithful <02617> [goodness. Heb. kindness.]
accomplishments <01697> [deeds.]
people <05971> [the people.]
Jehoahaz <03059> [Jehoahaz.]
prevented <05493> [put him down. Heb. removed him.]
imposed <06064> [condemned. Heb. mulcted.]
Eliakim <0471> [made Eliakim.]
Necho <05224> [Necho.]
Jehoiakim <03079> [Jehoiakim.]
attacked <05927> [A.M. 3397. B.C. 607. came up.]
bronze chains <05178> [fetters. or, chains.]
items <03627> [A.M. 3398. B.C. 606. the vessels.]
recorded <03789> [A.M. 3394-3405. B.C. 610-599. written.]
Jehoiachin <03078> [Jehoiachin.]
[Jeconiah.]
[Coniah.]
[Jechonias.]
eighteen years old <08141 01121 08083> [A.M. 3405. B.C. 599. eight years old.]
The Syriac, Arabic, and the parallel place, (on which see the Note,) have "eighteen years;" which, as Scaliger observes, is no doubt the genuine reading.
beginning .... year <08666 08141> [when the year was expired. Heb. at the return of the year. king Nebuchadnezzar.]
valuable items <03627 02532> [goodly vessels. Heb. vessels of desire.]
Zedekiah <06667> [Zedekiah.]
[Mattaniah his father's brother.]
twenty-one ............ eleven <06242 0259> [A.M. 3405-3416. B.C. 599-588. one and twenty.]
humble <03665> [humbled.]
before Jeremiah <03414 06440> [before Jeremiah.]
spokesman <06310> [the mouth.]
rebelled <04775> [rebelled.]
vow allegiance <07650> [who had.]
stubborn <07185> [stiffened.]
obstinate <0553> [hardened.]
leaders <08269> [all the chief.]
more <04604 07235> [very much.]
defiled <02930> [polluted.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
messengers <04397> [his messengers. Heb. the hand of his messengers. betimes. i.e., continually and carefully. because.]
mocked <03931> [mocked.]
despised <0959> [despised.]
ridiculed <08591> [misused.]
angry <02534> [the wrath.]
prevent his judgment <04832> [till.]
prevent his judgment <04832> [remedy. Heb. healing.]
brought <05927> [he brought.]
king <04428> [the king.]
slaughtered <02026> [who slew.]
temple <01004> [in the house.]
spare <02550> [no compassion.]
items <03627> [A.M. 3416. B.C. 588. all the vessels.]
treasuries ......... treasuries <0214> [treasures.]
burned down ............. burned <08313> [they burnt.]
tore <05422> [brake down.]
all who escaped ... sword <07611 02719> [A.M. 3416-3468. B.C. 588-536. And them that had escaped from. Heb. And the remainder from. they were servants.]
rose to power <04427> [until the reign.]
fulfill ..................... prophesied <04390> [To fulfil.]
land <0776> [until the land.]
[A.M. 3468. B.C. 536.]
This verse and the next have a double aspect. They look back to the prophecy of Jeremiah, and show how that was accomplished; and they look forward to the history of Ezra, which begins with a repetition of these two last verses.
first <0259> [in the first.]
Cyrus ................. Cyrus <03566> [Cyrus.]
promise <01697> [that the word.]
Lord moved <03068 05782> [the Lord stirred.]
<05674> [a proclamation.]
kingdoms <04467> [All the kingdoms.]
appointed <06485> [he hath charged.]
people <05971> [Who is there.]
