King
Manasseh
14th King of Judah
697–642 BC
Biography
Manasseh reigned an extraordinary 55 years — the longest of any king of Judah — and for most of that reign led the nation into depths of evil that surpassed even the Canaanites. He rebuilt the high places Hezekiah had destroyed, erected altars to Baal, made an Asherah pole, worshipped the host of heaven, practiced sorcery and divination, consulted mediums and spiritists, and sacrificed his own sons in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. He placed an Asherah idol in the Temple itself. Tradition holds he had the prophet Isaiah sawn in two. However, in a remarkable turn, the Assyrians captured him, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon. There, in his distress, Manasseh humbled himself before God with genuine repentance. God heard him, brought him back to Jerusalem, and Manasseh then removed the foreign gods, repaired the Temple altar, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD — though the people continued sacrificing at the high places.
Key Events
- 1Rebuilt the high places2 Kings 21:3 →
Rebuilt the high places Hezekiah had destroyed and erected altars to Baal and Asherah
- 2Child sacrifice2 Kings 21:6 →
Sacrificed his sons in the Valley of Ben Hinnom; consulted mediums, spiritists, and practiced sorcery
- 3Idol in the Temple2 Kings 21:7 →
Set a carved Asherah idol in the Temple in Jerusalem, the place where God had chosen to put His name forever
- 4Captured by Assyria2 Chronicles 33:11 →
The Assyrian army took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bronze shackles on him, and led him to Babylon
- 5Genuine repentance in captivity2 Chronicles 33:12-13 →
In his distress he humbled himself greatly before God; God was moved by his prayer and restored him to Jerusalem
- 6Restored and reformed2 Chronicles 33:14-16 →
Removed foreign gods, repaired the Temple altar, sacrificed peace offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD
Key Verses
“And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.”
Spiritual Significance
Manasseh's story is one of the most remarkable in Scripture: the most wicked king of Judah became a repentant worshipper. It demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace — but also that national sin has consequences that outlast personal repentance.
Character Profile
- Strengths
- Longest reign in Judah's history, genuine repentance and restoration, administrative skill
- Weaknesses
- Child sacrifice, sorcery, multiple forms of idolatry, probable martyrdom of prophets, worst spiritual corruption in Judah's history
- Lessons
- God's grace can reach anyone in any state of wickedness. Manasseh's repentance was genuine and God responded. But sin's consequences ripple beyond the sinner — the damage Manasseh did to Judah's culture could not be fully undone even by his own repentance or by Josiah's reforms.