2 Chronicles 33

2 Chronicles 33 discusses the reign of Manasseh.  Manasseh lived a life of extremes and generates some thought-provoking questions.  His life should be studied not because of his extremes, but what he did later in life.  He is the son of Hezekiah, who is remembered as being one of the most righteous kings.  Hezekiah led a revival and stood against the Assyrian Empire, when no other nation could.  Yet his son Manasseh did not follow precisely in his footsteps.  Manasseh has the distinct honor of being the wickedest king in the Southern Kingdom, Judah and the one who demonstrated the greatest repentance of all the kings.  Additionally, what makes 2 Chronicles 33 even more interesting is although it is only 25 verses long, Yehovah is used 19 times and Elohim 9 times.

2 Chronicles 33:1

 ¹ Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:

Manasseh is the longest reigning king of the Southern Kingdom, Judah.  It is possible  that some of the years was due to a dual regency with his father Hezekiah.  However, nothing to this effect is stated.

Additionally, Manasseh will be imprisoned in Babylon.  The text does not state how long his imprisonment was.  It is unknown if Manasseh’s reign was a continuous 55 years or there was a gap while he was in Babylon.

Manasseh started to reign when he was 12 years old.  If there was not a dual regency, this brings up the possibility that Manasseh was born after Hezekiah’s sickness and recovery, 2 Kings 20:1-6.

¹ In those days was Hezekiah sick to death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, Thus says Yehovah, Set your house in order; for you shall die, and not live. ² Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to Yehovah, saying, ³ I beseech You, Yehovah, remember now how I have walked before You in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done good in Your sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. ⁴ And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of Yehovah came to him, saying, ⁵ Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus says Yehovah, the Redeemer of David your father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears: behold, I will heal you: on the third day you shall go up to the house of Yehovah. ⁶ And I will add to your days fifteen years; and I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for My servant David’s sake.

If it was true that Manasseh was born in these last 15 years, it would be sad to think that after all Yehovah had done for Hezekiah, he did not take time to raise Manasseh correct.  However, even that is a bad assumption, Proverbs 22:6.

⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Although, Manasseh proved to be the wickedest king in the Southern Kingdom, he will prove to have the greatest repentance.

2 Chronicles 33:2

² But did evil in the sight of Yehovah, like to the abominations of the heathen, whom Yehovah had cast out before the children of Israel.

Manasseh did evil in the sight of Yehovah, this is not something one would ever want to have stated about them.  Plenty of kings did evil in the sight of Yehovah, but only one is mentioned in 2 Kings 24:1-4.

¹ In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him. ² And Yehovah  sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of Yehovah, which He spoke by His servants the prophets. ³ Surely at the commandment of Yehovah came upon Judah, to remove out of His sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did; ⁴ And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which Yehovah would not pardon.

Manasseh probably caused more blood of his subjects to be shed than any other king.  As this all unfolds, additional facts will support him being the worst king.  Just the fact that there is so much detail, it makes a case against Manasseh, Jeremiah 15:4.

⁴ And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for which he did in Jerusalem.

The memory of the deeds of Manasseh did not evaporate quickly.  Even though, Manasseh eventually repented, much of what Manasseh did could not be corrected in this lifetime.

2 Chronicles 33:3

³ For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

Even after Hezekiah had destroyed the high places, Manasseh brought them back.  It was as if Manasseh was trying to erase all the good his father had done.  There was no limit to what Manasseh did.  He worshipped all the host of heaven.

As bad as Manasseh was and even though he repented, there are believers today who follow in his sins.  Believers to this day commit the same sins as Manasseh on a spiritual level.

Groves should have been translated אֲשֵׁרָה ʾasherah (H0842).  It is the Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess.  Sometimes called Ashtoreth, the Phoenician goddess of love and increase.

Not only did he worship them, Manasseh served them.  Just as Yeshua told us in Luke 16:13.

¹³ No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

One cannot have it both ways.  It is one or the other.  The other god may be okay with it, but Yehovah is not, Exodus 34:14.

¹⁴ For you shall worship no other god: for Yehovah, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

Remember, we as believers worship the one God, Deuteronomy 6:4.

⁴ Hear, O Israel: Yehovah our Redeemer one Yehovah:

2 Chronicles 33:4-5

⁴ Also he built altars in the house of Yehovah, whereof Yehovah had said, In Jerusalem shall My name be for ever. ⁵ And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of Yehovah.

Manasseh built altars in the house of Yehovah.  This is referring to the Temple.  The two courts may be referring to 2 Chronicles 4:9.

⁹ Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.

The great court was probably the court of Israel.  This is where the people would gather.

At the time of Manasseh, it is unclear what had remained of the Temple.  Since, it had been desecrated and stripped by the kings over the years.  Prior to this only Ahaz, Manasseh’s grandfather, had done something similar, 2 Kings 16:10-15.

¹⁰ And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. ¹¹ And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus. ¹² And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. ¹³ And he burnt his burnt offering and his grain offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar. ¹⁴ And he brought also the brasen altar, which before Yehovah, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of Yehovah, and put it on the north side of the altar. ¹⁵ And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening grain offering, and the king’s burnt sacrifice, and his grain offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to inquire by.

Ahaz had an altar built to replace the one of Yehovah.  Manasseh may have learned from Ahaz and then took it a step further.

2 Chronicles 33:6

⁶ And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Yehovah, to provoke Him to anger.

This is when it starts to get really bad.  Manasseh caused his children to pass through the fire.  This does not mean the children  got a little hot.  The children were burnt sacrifices to other gods.  Jeremiah speaks about this three times in Jeremiah 7:31.

³¹ And they have built the high places of Tophet, which in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded not, neither came it into My heart.

Jeremiah 19:5-6

⁵ They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire burnt offerings to Baal, which I commanded not, nor spoke, neither came into My mind: ⁶ Therefore, behold, the days come, says Yehovah, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter.

And finally Jeremiah 32:35.

³⁵ And they built the high places of Baal, which in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through to Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into My mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.

Three times God states this.  It did not come in His heart to burn children or anyone else.  The odd thing is if God is so clear, then why do so many believe in a burning fiery place of torment for nonbelievers?  These verses are not hidden nor are they hard to understand.  They are actually quite clear.  What is our excuse for not knowing them?  Solomon records in Ecclesiastes 4:12B.

^12B; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Funny thing about this is God is against this, yet those who claim to be His are not.  It would not make sense for God to chastise worse than Manasseh.  Nor would a loving God burn someone indefinitely.  At least with Manasseh it ended, we ought to be as loving as our God is.  In the end, God will cause the wicked to no longer exist.  It is clear in scripture, Paul helps explain Revelation 20:14 with 1 Corinthians 15:26.

²⁶The last enemy shall be destroyed death.

Revelation 20:14

¹⁴And death and hell (hades) were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death.

1 Corinthians 15:26 states that death is destroyed.  Revelation 20:14 states that at the end of time, death is thrown into the Lake of Fire­.  Therefore, the Lake of Fire­ is destruction and destroys what is thrown into it.  Further, this declares that second death is destruction.

It would be ridiculous to think death would be burning in some literal hell.  How does a concept burn in a furnace?

Further it can be stated that since the Lake of Fire is destruction and since Hell or Hades (G0086) is thrown into the Lake of Fire; then hell would no longer exist.  It would be destroyed.  This is consistent with the words of Yeshua.  It is either eternal life or destruction.  One can be assured of this, because many times in the Book of Revelation symbols and meanings are confirmed, Revelation 21:3-4.

³And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, their God. ⁴And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

There shall be no more death in the future to come nor will there be pain.  This includes non-believers.  This is because it was destroyed in the Lake of Fire in Revelation 20:14.  Therefore, there is no need for Hades (G0086) or Sheol (H7585).  The Lake of Fire symbolizes destruction.  Death was cast into the Lake of Fire and was destroyed.  Further how would it be possible for death to be cast into the Lake of Fire and it is destroyed, yet another thing is cast in and it survives for eternity?  That does not make sense.  Hell and the Lake of Fire are not the same things.

One final thought on this, Yeshua even states in Matthew 10:28:

²⁸And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (gehenna).

This one verse contradicts the whole lie of a burning hell.  This verse is referring to God destroying the soul and body in the Lake of Fire.  Destroy is the Greek word apollumi (G0622).  It means to destroy, to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin or render useless.  Destruction occurs in Gehenna, the Lake of Fire.  According to Matthew 10:28, the soul does die.  This does not line up with what most people believe.  No wonder so many scoff at Christians and their cruel doctrines.

2 Chronicles 33:6B

^6B  also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Yehovah, to provoke him to anger.

None of these were new.  Yehovah had told Moses and it was passed down in the Torah, Deuteronomy 18:10-11.

¹⁰ There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, ¹¹ Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

Israelites knew not to do these things, yet many believers do these today, Galatians 4:9-10.

⁹ But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereto you desire again to be in bondage? ¹⁰ You observe days, and months, and times, and years.

The claim by many believers today is that Paul is telling the Galatians not to observe the Hebrew Festivals, because this would be returning to the beggarly elements.  On its own, Galatians 4 seems to be telling the reader that believers need to move on to the newer and better festivals.  However, as with all passages in the Bible, to understand the text, it must be read in the original context of the author.

Galatians 4:8

⁸Howbeit then, when you knew not God, you did service to them which by nature are no gods.

One must remember who the Book of Galatians was written to and Paul’s purpose.  The Galatians were not former Jews, who then became believers.  They were former gentiles, heathens.  The Galatians, like all non-Jews of the time and even today, were not previously observing Leviticus 23 Festivals.  The only ones that were observing Leviticus 23 festivals were Jews, proselytes and many First Century Christians.

So the question becomes, what is Paul referring to?  Remember Paul was a rabbi that studied under Rabbi Gamaliel.  Paul knew the Hebrew Scriptures.  Paul was referring to something other than what many assume, Deuteronomy 18:14.

¹⁴For these nations, which you shall possess, hearkened to observers of times, and to diviners: but as for you, Yehovah your Redeemer has not suffered you so.

To observe times was specifically called out in the Hebrew Scriptures.  It was among many things that were specifically prohibited by Yehovah.  This can be easily seen in

Deuteronomy 18:9-12

⁹When you are come into the land which Yehovah your Redeemer gives you, you shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. ¹⁰There shall not be found among you that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, ¹¹Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. ¹²For all that do these things an abomination to Yehovah: and because of these abominations Yehovah your God does drive them out from before you.

This is what Paul was referring to in Galatians 4:10.  It was the heathens that were observers of times.  They were sky watchers and astrologist.  Observing of times was never something God commanded the Children of Israel to perform.  This is also cited in Leviticus 19:26.

²⁶ You shall not eat with the blood: neither shall you use enchantment, nor observe times.

In Galatians 4:10, Paul was referring to observer of times as God referred to observer of times in the Hebrew Scriptures.  When one studies in context, it is evident that the Galatians were trying to adopt pagan customs into Christianity.  Oddly enough that is still done to this day.  Easter is dated as the first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the Spring Equinox.  That is observing times.  God’s feasts are by God’s word, set on specific dates based on the agricultural cycle.  They have nothing to do with observing times or star gazing.

Read what else is written in Leviticus 19, Leviticus 19:27-29.

 ²⁷You shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shall you mar the corners of your beard. ²⁸You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the soul, nor print any marks upon you: I Yehovah. ²⁹Do not prostitute your daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.

Why did God mention theses along with observe times?  These were ancient heathen religious practices that were prohibited by God.  This included using enchantments, eating blood, pointy beards, cutting their flesh, tattoos and prostitutes in the heathen temples.  These were an abomination and denigrated worship.  This was a list of don’ts.  Then after listing the don’ts, God states in Leviticus 19:30.

³⁰ You shall keep My sabbaths, and reverence My sanctuary: I Yehovah.

So after all the don’ts, God specifically commands the observance of the Sabbath.  Further, God defines the context that heathen traditions are in opposition to sanctified worship.  Then God goes back to the don’ts in Leviticus 19:31.

³¹Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I Yehovah your God.

It is important to realize that God states don’t do this stuff, yet observe My sabbaths.  Observer of Times has nothing to do with the Hebrew Leviticus 23 Festivals.  This is especially evident when one considers that 4 chapters later, God tells the Children of Israel to observe the festivals.

When Christians associate Galatians 4:10 with Leviticus 23 Festivals, one ought to ask the question, what traditions are they trying to protect?  Today, many Christians do the same things that were being done during Manasseh’s reign.

2 Chronicles 33:7-8

⁷ And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of Redeemer, of which Redeemer had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put My name for ever: ⁸ Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.

Manasseh set up images and idols, something done to this very day by many Christians.  This is done especially during the Christmas season in the nativity scenes.  Many will have pictures of Jesus hanging in their houses or even in their Bibles.  It is sad that many of the things that were done during Manasseh’s reign are being done today with no regard for Torah.

2 Chronicles 33:9

⁹ So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, to do worse than the heathen, whom Yehovah had destroyed before the Children of Israel.

The worst part of all that Manasseh did was to cause the people to sin.  As the king, Manasseh was to set the standard for the people.

Unfortunately, this is the sad state of affairs of Christianity today.  Many church leaders are involved in various scandals.  The obvious problem is the standard is set too low and many are placed in a position of leadership based on the wrong qualification.  Many look for a charismatic leader that makes them feel good.  We should be looking for righteous leaders who have taken up the cross.  Leaders who place the word of God more important than the number of congregants.

2 Chronicles 33:10

¹⁰ And Yehovah spoke to Manasseh, and to His people: but they would not hearken.

Yehovah sent prophets, but they would not listen.  Even fewer listen to Yehovah’s  prophets today.  As a result, Yehovah took action then as He still does to this day, Deuteronomy 32:35

³⁵ To Me vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

Just as we are told in Romans 12:19.

¹⁹ Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but give place to wrath: for it is written, Vengeance Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.

2 Chronicles 33:11

¹¹ Wherefore Yehovah brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

Because the sins of Manasseh were so great, he was singled out of the nation and placed in prison.

2 Chronicles 33:12-13

¹² And when he was in affliction, he besought Yehovah his Redeemer, and humbled himself greatly before the Redeemer of his fathers, ¹³ And prayed to Him: and he was intreated of Him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Yehovah He Redeemer.

This is what makes Manasseh unique among the Kings.  Manasseh fulfilled Jeremiah 29:11-14.

¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ¹² Then shall you call upon Me, and you shall go and pray to Me, and I will hearken to you. ¹³ And you shall seek me, and find, when you shall search for Me with all your heart. ¹⁴ And I will be found of you, says Yehovah: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, says Yehovah; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Manasseh must have prayed with all his heart and soul.  Yehovah restored Manasseh to the throne.  This is a picture of what Yehovah does for every believer that repents with all their heart and soul.

Yes, Manasseh was a wicked king in the beginning.  However, in the latter years of his life; Manasseh proved to be even more righteous than His father.  Hezekiah although righteous, there is a footnote in his life, 2 Chronicles 32:31.

³¹ Howbeit in the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all in his heart.

Hezekiah proved to be unrighteous in this, Isaiah 39:1-2.

¹ At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. ² And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.

The king of Babylon had sent ambassadors bearing gifts, Hezekiah did not hesitate to show the ambassadors all the splendor and glory of the land.  Isaiah confronted Hezekiah on this very issue, because it was not Hezekiah’s to show off, Isaiah 39:5-7.

⁵ Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of Yehovah of hosts: ⁶ Behold, the days come, that all that in your house, and which your fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, says Yehovah. ⁷ And of your sons that shall issue from you, which you shall beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

This was an awful thing that Isaiah prophesied.  It was not something most would want to happen to their children.  Hezekiah’s response to this is appalling, Isaiah 39:8

⁸ Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of Yehovah which you have spoken. He said moreover, for there shall be peace and truth in my days.

It seems that at this point in Hezekiah’s life, he had wearied in well doing.  Hezekiah who caused a revival in the land and stood in faith against the greatest army of the known world, did not humble himself.  It appears that Hezekiah only cared for himself.  This may explain why Manasseh started out as he did.

Again 2 Chronicles 33:12-13

¹² And when he was in affliction, he besought Yehovah his Redeemer, and humbled himself greatly before the Redeemer of his fathers, ¹³ And prayed to Him: and he was intreated of Him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Yehovah He Redeemer.

This is an important lesson for all.  Manasseh when he was afflicted, he humbled himself and Yehovah granted repentance.  So many want the wicked destroyed, but  they forget that God granted them repentance in their time of wickedness.  How soon we forget, who we serve.  Many have become selfish similar to Hezekiah.  So many find it hard to forgive others, when Yeshua told Peter in Matthew 18:21-22.

²¹ Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times? ²² Yeshua said to him, I say not to you, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.

When Yeshua stated 70 times 7, He was referring to something Daniel wrote, Daniel 9:24.

²⁴ Seventy weeks are determined upon your people and upon your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.

70 weeks is weeks of days; therefore, it is 490 days.  The prophecy was actually 490 years long.  The 490 was to bring the Messiah, perfect righteousness.  Yeshua was telling Peter, we must learn to forgive indefinitely for vengeance is not ours.  In doing this, it will bring one closer to a true servant in the Spirit as Yeshua was.

Most Christians are confused as to what is forgiveness.  Some think that if they forgive, it is acceptance of what the other individual did.  These are two different things.  Some find it hard to forgive, because they have grown bitter.  Forgiveness allows others to prove themselves.  It provides a path to righteousness, but the one being forgiven must choose the path.  For those who find it hard to forgive, Matthew 18:33-35.

³³ Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you? ³⁴ And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to Him. ³⁵ So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

We must learn to forgive.  If not, do not expect your Father in Heaven to forgive you.  We must make a way for righteousness, especially for our enemies.

The other thing that is interesting about Manasseh’s repentance is that it occurred when he was in affliction.  This is true of most people.  This is how God deals with us.  Not because He wants to, but because we are a rebellious people, Hebrews 12:5-6.

⁵ And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of Him: ⁶ For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.

It does not have to be this way.  The problem is that so few of us are righteous.  We will not repent until we are in adversity.  The major reason is many have a low standard for conduct.  They have thrown out the very thing that describes Yehovah’s standard, the Torah, Hebrews 12:7-8

⁷ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? ⁸ But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are bastards, and not sons.

God chastens us in various ways.  This is what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:30-32.

³⁰ For this cause many weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. ³¹ For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. ³² But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

As stated before, so many do not correctly judge their actions as unrighteous.  If you are His and will not repent, you will become weak, sick and even to death.  This what John was referring to in 1 John 5:16.

¹⁶ If any man see his brother sin a sin not to death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not to death. There is a sin to death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

The sin to death is, when one has sin so much and will not listen.  They are now in the hands of God.  When this happens, their life will not end in peace.  We ought to take serious when things do not work out for us.  We must judge ourselves in accordance with Torah, Hebrews 12:9-11.

⁹ Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected and we gave  reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? ¹⁰ For they verily for a few days chastened after their own pleasure; but He for profit, that might be partakers of His holiness. ¹¹ Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby.

God does not discipline us for His pleasure nor will He send a person to the Lake of Fire just because they are wicked.  It has to do with the individual’s rebellious nature that results in them refusing to repent and turn to righteousness.  If one is saved and is in rebellion, as so many are today, they will not lose salvation, but they should expect their lives to result in misery.

At the end of 2 Chronicles 33:13 it states:

^13B  Then Manasseh knew that Yehovah He was Redeemer.

Manasseh was not looking just for the pain to end, Manasseh had completely turned from his previous life to turn to righteousness indefinitely.  This was demonstrated in his actions.

2 Chronicles 33:14-16

¹⁴ Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah. ¹⁵ And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of Yehovah, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of Yehovah, and in Jerusalem, and cast out of the city. ¹⁶ And he repaired the altar of Yehovah, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve Yehovah Redeemer of Israel.

Manasseh had completely cleansed the land.  He tried to correct all he done.  This was a revival of sorts.  He even commanded the people to serve Yehovah.  Unfortunately, things did not completely return to the ways of righteousness.

2 Chronicles 33:17

 ¹⁷ Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, to Yehovah their Redeemer only.

The people did listen; however, they did not completely turn as Manasseh did.  This is why a ruler will be held accountable for their actions.  They affect people tremendously.  And even though, they may repent; often, the people find it hard to follow, because some do not believe.  Or they are waiting for the ruler to return to their former ways.

This is so true of many Christians who are saved later in life.  Their children often will not follow them, because they saw what they were before.  The children are living a lifestyle they are unwilling to give up.  Our children will follow in our unrighteousness and will take it to a worse level of unrighteousness.

2 Chronicles 33:18-20

¹⁸ Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his Redeemer, and the words of the seers that spoke to him in the name of Yehovah Redeemer of Israel, behold, they in the book of the kings of Israel. ¹⁹ His prayer also, and was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers. ²⁰ So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

Although it is mentioned in Chronicles that Manasseh’s prayer and his repentance is written in other places, there is no surviving record to this day other than Chronicles.  It does not matter, we do have a record in Chronicles and God knows.

2 Chronicles 33:21

²¹ Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem. ²² But he did evil in the sight of Yehovah, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed to all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them; ²³ And humbled not himself before Yehovah, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more. ²⁴ And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house. ²⁵ But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

It seems that Amon did not take Manasseh’s repentance too serious.  His wickedness may have exceeded that of his father Manasseh.  When this happens, often the king’s reign is short.  Amon only reigned 2 years.  Further the people may have assassinated Amon because He was wicked and wanted to return to righteousness.

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