Manasseh succeeds his father Hezekiah, reigns fifty-five years, and fills Jerusalem and the whole land with abominable idolatry and murder, Kg2 21:1-9. God denounces the heaviest judgments against him and the land, Kg…
1De doce años era Manasés cuando comenzó a reinar, y reinó en Jerusalén cincuenta y cinco años; el nombre de su madre fue Hepsiba.
2E hizo lo malo ante los ojos de Jehová, según las abominaciones de las naciones que Jehová había echado de delante de los hijos de Israel.
3Porque volvió a edificar los lugares altos que Ezequías su padre había derribado, y levantó altares a Baal, e hizo una imagen de Asera, como había hecho Acab rey de Israel; y adoró a todo el ejército de los cielos, y rindió culto a aquellas cosas.
4Asimismo edificó altares en la casa de Jehová, de la cual Jehová había dicho: Yo pondré mi nombre en Jerusalén.
5Y edificó altares para todo el ejército de los cielos en los dos atrios de la casa de Jehová.
6Y pasó a su hijo por fuego, y se dio a observar los tiempos, y fue agorero, e instituyó encantadores y adivinos, multiplicando así el hacer lo malo ante los ojos de Jehová, para provocarlo a ira.
7Y puso una imagen de Asera que él había hecho, en la casa de la cual Jehová había dicho a David y a Salomón su hijo: Yo pondré mi nombre para siempre en esta casa, y en Jerusalén, a la cual escogí de todas las tribus de Israel;
8y no volveré a hacer que el pie de Israel sea movido de la tierra que di a sus padres, con tal que guarden y hagan conforme a todas las cosas que yo les he mandado, y conforme a toda la ley que mi siervo Moisés les mandó.
9Mas ellos no escucharon; y Manasés los indujo a que hiciesen más mal que las naciones que Jehová destruyó delante de los hijos de Israel.
10Habló, pues, Jehová por medio de sus siervos los profetas, diciendo:
11Por cuanto Manasés rey de Judá ha hecho estas abominaciones, y ha hecho más mal que todo lo que hicieron los amorreos que fueron antes de él, y también ha hecho pecar a Judá con sus ídolos;
12por tanto, así ha dicho Jehová el Dios de Israel: He aquí yo traigo tal mal sobre Jerusalén y sobre Judá, que al que lo oyere le retiñirán ambos oídos.
13Y extenderé sobre Jerusalén el cordel de Samaria y la plomada de la casa de Acab; y limpiaré a Jerusalén como se limpia un plato, que se friega y se vuelve boca abajo.
14Y desampararé el resto de mi heredad, y lo entregaré en manos de sus enemigos; y serán para presa y despojo de todos sus adversarios;
15por cuanto han hecho lo malo ante mis ojos, y me han provocado a ira, desde el día que sus padres salieron de Egipto hasta hoy.
16Fuera de esto, derramó Manasés mucha sangre inocente en gran manera, hasta llenar a Jerusalén de extremo a extremo; además de su pecado con que hizo pecar a Judá, para que hiciese lo malo ante los ojos de Jehová.
17Los demás hechos de Manasés, y todo lo que hizo, y el pecado que cometió, ¿no está todo escrito en el libro de las crónicas de los reyes de Judá?
18Y durmió Manasés con sus padres, y fue sepultado en el huerto de su casa, en el huerto de Uza, y reinó en su lugar Amón su hijo.
19De veintidós años era Amón cuando comenzó a reinar, y reinó dos años en Jerusalén. El nombre de su madre fue Mesulemet hija de Haruz, de Jotba.
20E hizo lo malo ante los ojos de Jehová, como había hecho Manasés su padre.
21Y anduvo en todos los caminos en que su padre anduvo, y sirvió a los ídolos a los cuales había servido su padre, y los adoró;
22y dejó a Jehová el Dios de sus padres, y no anduvo en el camino de Jehová.
23Y los siervos de Amón conspiraron contra él, y mataron al rey en su casa.
24Entonces el pueblo de la tierra mató a todos los que habían conspirado contra el rey Amón; y puso el pueblo de la tierra por rey en su lugar a Josías su hijo.
25Los demás hechos de Amón, ¿no están todos escritos en el libro de las crónicas de los reyes de Judá?
26Y fue sepultado en su sepulcro en el huerto de Uza, y reinó en su lugar Josías su hijo.
ADAM CLARKE BIBLE COMMENTARY
I
Versículo 1
I. Manasseh was twelve years old - He was born about three years after his father's miraculous cure;…
Manasseh was twelve years old - He was born about three years after his father's miraculous cure; he was carried captive to Babylon, repented, was restored to his kingdom, put down idolatry, and died at the age of sixty-seven years. See 2 Chronicles 33:1-20.
II
Versículo 2
II. After the abominations of the heathen - He exactly copied the conduct of those nations which God …
After the abominations of the heathen - He exactly copied the conduct of those nations which God had cast out of that land.
III
Versículo 3
III. Made a grove - He made Asherah, the Babylonian Melitta or Roman Venus. See Kg2 17:10, and the obs…
Made a grove - He made Asherah, the Babylonian Melitta or Roman Venus. See Kg2 17:10, and the observations at the end of that chapter; and see here on Kg2 21:7 (note).
Worshipped all the host of heaven - All the stars and planets, but particularly the sun and the moon.
IV
Versículo 4
IV. Built altars - He placed idolatrous altars even in the temple.
Built altars - He placed idolatrous altars even in the temple.
V
Versículo 6
V. Made his son pass through the fire - Consecrated him to Moloch.
Made his son pass through the fire - Consecrated him to Moloch.
Observed times - ועונן veonen; he practiced divination by the clouds; by observing their course at particular times, their different kinds, contrary directions, etc., etc.
Used enchantments - ונחש venichesh; he used incantations, spells, and charms.
Dealt with familiar spirits - ועשה אוב veasah ob; he was a necromancer; was a raiser of spirits, whom he endeavored to press into his service; he had a Python.
And wizards - וידענים veyiddeonim; the knowing ones, the white witches, and such like; see on Lev 19:26-31 (note), where most of these terms are particularly explained and illustrated.
VI
Versículo 7
VI. He set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house - Every one may see that Asherah…
He set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house - Every one may see that Asherah here must signify an idol, and not a grove; and for the proof of this see the observations at the end of the chapter, Kg2 21:26 (note).
VII
Versículo 8
VII. Neither will I make the feet of Israel - Had they been faithful to God's testimonies they never h…
Neither will I make the feet of Israel - Had they been faithful to God's testimonies they never had gone into captivity, and should even at this day have been in possession of the promised land.
VIII
Versículo 9
VIII. Seduced them to do more evil - He did all he could to pervert the national character, and totally…
Seduced them to do more evil - He did all he could to pervert the national character, and totally destroy the worship of the true God; and he succeeded.
IX
Versículo 10
IX. The Lord spake by - the prophets - The prophets were Hosea, Joel, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Isaiah. Th…
The Lord spake by - the prophets - The prophets were Hosea, Joel, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Isaiah. These five following verses contain the sum of what these prophets spoke. It is said that Isaiah not only prophesied in those days, but also that he was put to death by Manasseh, being sawn asunder by a wooden saw.
X
Versículo 12
X. Both his ears shall tingle - תצלנה titstsalnah; something expressive of the sound in what we call…
Both his ears shall tingle - תצלנה titstsalnah; something expressive of the sound in what we call, from the same sensation, the tingling of the ears. This is the consequence of having the ears suddenly pierced with a loud and shrill noise; the ears seem to ring for some time after. The prophets spoke to them vehemently, so that the sound seemed to be continued even when they had left off speaking. This was a faithful and solemn testimony.
XI
Versículo 13
XI. The line of Samaria - I will treat Jerusalem as I have treated Samaria. Samaria was taken, pillag…
The line of Samaria - I will treat Jerusalem as I have treated Samaria. Samaria was taken, pillaged, ruined, and its inhabitants led into captivity; Jerusalem shall have the same measure.
And the plummet of the house of Ahab - The house of Ahab was totally destroyed, and not a man of his race left to sit upon the throne of Israel: so shall it be done to the house or royal family of Judah; they shall be all finally destroyed, and not a man of their race shall any more sit on the throne of Judah; nor shall Judah have a throne to sit on. Thus Jerusalem shall have the same weight as well as the same measure as Samaria, because it has copied all the abominations which brought that kingdom to total destruction.
I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish - The Vulgate translates this clause as follows: Delebo Jerusalem, sicut deleri solent tabulae; "I will blot out Jerusalem as tablets are wont to be blotted out." This is a metaphor taken from the ancient method of writing: they traced their letters with a stile on boards thinly spread over with wax; for this purpose one end of the stile was sharp, the other end blunt and smooth, with which they could rub out what they had written, and so smooth the place and spread back the wax, as to render it capable of receiving any other word. Thus the Lord had written down Jerusalem, never intending that its name or its memorial should be blotted out. It was written down The Holy City, The City of the Great King; but now God turns the stile and blots this out; and the Holy Jerusalem, the City of the Great King, is no longer to be found! This double use of the stile is pointed out in this ancient enigma: -
De summo planus; sed non ego planus in imo:
Versor utrinque manu, diverso et munere fungor:
Altera pars revocat, quicquid pars altera fecit.
"I am flat at the top, but sharp at the bottom;
I turn either end, and perform a double function:
One end destroys what the other end has made."
But the idea of emptying out and wiping a dish expresses the same meaning equally well. Jerusalem shall be emptied of all its wealth, and of all its inhabitants, as truly as a dish turned up is emptied of all its contents; and it shall be turned upside down, never to be filled again. This is true from that time to the present hour. Jerusalem is the dish turned upside down, the tablet blotted out to the present day! How great are God's mercies! and how terrible his judgments!
XII
Versículo 14
XII. I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance - One part (the ten tribes) was already forsaken, …
I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance - One part (the ten tribes) was already forsaken, and carried into captivity; the remnant (the tribe of Judah) was now about to be forsaken.
XIII
Versículo 16
XIII. Shed innocent blood very much - Like the deities he worshipped, he was fierce and cruel; an unpri…
Shed innocent blood very much - Like the deities he worshipped, he was fierce and cruel; an unprincipled, merciless tyrant: he slew innocent people and God's prophets.
XIV
Versículo 17
XIV. Now the rest of the acts - In Ch2 33:11, etc., we read that the Assyrians took Manasseh, bound hi…
Now the rest of the acts - In Ch2 33:11, etc., we read that the Assyrians took Manasseh, bound him with fetters, and took him to Babylon; that there he repented, sought God, and was, we are not told how, restored to his kingdom; that he fortified the city of David, destroyed idolatry, restored the worship of the true God, and died in peace.
In Ch2 33:18, Ch2 33:19, His prayer unto God is particularly mentioned. What is called his prayer, is found in the Apocrypha, just before the first book of the Maccabees. There are some good sentiments in it; but whether it be that which was made by Manasseh is more than can be proved. Even the Romish Church have not received it among the canonical books.
Are they not written - There are several particulars referred to here, and in Ch2 33:11-19, which are not found in any chronicles or books which now remain, and what the books of the seers were, mentioned in Chronicles, we cannot tell.
XV
Versículo 18
XV. In the garden of his own house - It was probably a burying-place made for his own family, for Amo…
In the garden of his own house - It was probably a burying-place made for his own family, for Amon his son is said to be buried in the same place, Kg2 21:26.
16
Versículo 19
16. He reigned two years in Jerusalem - The remark of the rabbins is not wholly without foundation, t…
He reigned two years in Jerusalem - The remark of the rabbins is not wholly without foundation, that the sons of those kings who were idolaters, and who succeeded their fathers, seldom reigned more than two years. So Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, Kg1 15:25; Elah, the son of Baasha, Kg1 16:8; Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, Kg1 22:51; and Amon, the son of Manasseh, as mentioned here, Kg2 21:19.
17
Versículo 23
17. The servants of Amon conspired - What their reason was for slaying their king we cannot tell. It …
The servants of Amon conspired - What their reason was for slaying their king we cannot tell. It does not seem to have been a popular act, for the people of the land rose up and slew the regicides. We hear enough of this man when we hear that he was as bad as his father was in the beginning of his reign, but did not copy his father's repentance.
18
Versículo 26
18. The garden of Uzza - The family sepulcher or burying-place.
The garden of Uzza - The family sepulcher or burying-place.
It is said Kg2 21:3, Kg2 21:7, that "Manasseh made a grove; and he set a graven image of the grove," etc. וישם את פסל האשרה אשר עשה vaiyasem eth pesel haasherah, asher asah: "And he put the graven image of Asherah, which he had made," into the house.
Asherah, which we translate grove, is undoubtedly the name of an idol; and probably of one which was carved out of wood.
R. S. Jarchi, on Gen 12:3, says, "that אשרה asherah means a tree which was worshipped by the Gentiles;" like as the oak was worshipped by the ancient Druids in Britain.
Castel, in Lex. Hept. sub voce אשר, defines אשרה asherah thus, Simulacrum ligneum Astartae dicatum; "A wooden image dedicated to Astrate or Venus."
The Septuagint render the words by αλσος; and Flamminius Nobilis, on Kg2 23:4, says Rursus notat Theodoretus το αλσος esse Astartem et Venerem, et ab aliis interpretibus dictum Ashatroth; i.e. "Again Theodoret observes, αλσος is Astarte and Venus; and by other interpreters called Ashtaroth."
The Targum of Ben Uzziel, on Deu 7:5, ואשירהם תגדעון vaasheyrehem tegaddeun; i.e., "Their groves shall ye cut down" - translates the place thus, ואילני סיגדיהון תקצצון ,suht ecalp e veilaney sigedeyhon tekatsetsun; "And the oaks of their adoration shall ye cut down."
From the above it is pretty evident that idols, not groves, are generally intended where אשרה asherah and its derivatives are used.
Here follow proofs: -
In Kg2 23:6, it is said that "Josiah brought out the grove from the house of the Lord." This translation seems very absurd; for what grove could there be in the temple? There was none planted there, nor was there room for any. The plain meaning of ויצא את השרה מבית יהוה vaiyotse eth haasherah mibbeyth Jehovah, is, "And he brought out the (goddess) Asherah from the house of the Lord, and burnt it," etc.
That this is the true meaning of the place appears farther from Kg2 23:7, where it is said, "He broke down the houses of the sodomites," (הקדשים hakkedeshim, of the whoremongers), "where the women wove hangings for the grove" (בתים לאשרה bottim laasherah, "houses or shrines for Asherah.") Similar perhaps to those which the silversmiths made for Diana, Act 19:24. It is rather absurd to suppose that the women were employed in making curtains to encompass a grove.
The Syriac and Arabic versions countenance the interpretation I have given above. In Kg2 23:6, the former says, "He cast out the idol, dechlotho, from the house of the Lord;" and in Kg2 23:7 : "He threw down the houses, dazoine, of the prostitutes; and the women who wove garments, ledechlotho, for the idols which were there." The Arabic is exactly the same.
From the whole it is evident that Asherah was no other than Venus; the nature of whose worship is plain enough from the mention of whoremongers and prostitutes.
I deny not that there were groves consecrated to idolatrous worship among the Gentiles, but I am sure that such are not intended in the above-cited passages; and the text, in most places, reads better when understood in this way.
Antiguo Testamento
2 Kings — Capítulo 21
Manasseh succeeds his father Hezekiah, reigns fifty-five years, and fills Jerusalem and the whole land with abominable idolatry and murder, Kg2 21:1-9. God denounces the heaviest judgments against him and the land, Kg…
Texto — Reina-Valera 1960
1De doce años era Manasés cuando comenzó a reinar, y reinó en Jerusalén cincuenta y cinco años; el nombre de su madre fue Hepsiba.
2E hizo lo malo ante los ojos de Jehová, según las abominaciones de las naciones que Jehová había echado de delante de los hijos de Israel.
3Porque volvió a edificar los lugares altos que Ezequías su padre había derribado, y levantó altares a Baal, e hizo una imagen de Asera, como había hecho Acab rey de Israel; y adoró a todo el ejército de los cielos, y rindió culto a aquellas cosas.
4Asimismo edificó altares en la casa de Jehová, de la cual Jehová había dicho: Yo pondré mi nombre en Jerusalén.
5Y edificó altares para todo el ejército de los cielos en los dos atrios de la casa de Jehová.
6Y pasó a su hijo por fuego, y se dio a observar los tiempos, y fue agorero, e instituyó encantadores y adivinos, multiplicando así el hacer lo malo ante los ojos de Jehová, para provocarlo a ira.
7Y puso una imagen de Asera que él había hecho, en la casa de la cual Jehová había dicho a David y a Salomón su hijo: Yo pondré mi nombre para siempre en esta casa, y en Jerusalén, a la cual escogí de todas las tribus de Israel;
8y no volveré a hacer que el pie de Israel sea movido de la tierra que di a sus padres, con tal que guarden y hagan conforme a todas las cosas que yo les he mandado, y conforme a toda la ley que mi siervo Moisés les mandó.
9Mas ellos no escucharon; y Manasés los indujo a que hiciesen más mal que las naciones que Jehová destruyó delante de los hijos de Israel.
10Habló, pues, Jehová por medio de sus siervos los profetas, diciendo:
11Por cuanto Manasés rey de Judá ha hecho estas abominaciones, y ha hecho más mal que todo lo que hicieron los amorreos que fueron antes de él, y también ha hecho pecar a Judá con sus ídolos;
12por tanto, así ha dicho Jehová el Dios de Israel: He aquí yo traigo tal mal sobre Jerusalén y sobre Judá, que al que lo oyere le retiñirán ambos oídos.
13Y extenderé sobre Jerusalén el cordel de Samaria y la plomada de la casa de Acab; y limpiaré a Jerusalén como se limpia un plato, que se friega y se vuelve boca abajo.
14Y desampararé el resto de mi heredad, y lo entregaré en manos de sus enemigos; y serán para presa y despojo de todos sus adversarios;
15por cuanto han hecho lo malo ante mis ojos, y me han provocado a ira, desde el día que sus padres salieron de Egipto hasta hoy.
16Fuera de esto, derramó Manasés mucha sangre inocente en gran manera, hasta llenar a Jerusalén de extremo a extremo; además de su pecado con que hizo pecar a Judá, para que hiciese lo malo ante los ojos de Jehová.
17Los demás hechos de Manasés, y todo lo que hizo, y el pecado que cometió, ¿no está todo escrito en el libro de las crónicas de los reyes de Judá?
18Y durmió Manasés con sus padres, y fue sepultado en el huerto de su casa, en el huerto de Uza, y reinó en su lugar Amón su hijo.
19De veintidós años era Amón cuando comenzó a reinar, y reinó dos años en Jerusalén. El nombre de su madre fue Mesulemet hija de Haruz, de Jotba.
20E hizo lo malo ante los ojos de Jehová, como había hecho Manasés su padre.
21Y anduvo en todos los caminos en que su padre anduvo, y sirvió a los ídolos a los cuales había servido su padre, y los adoró;
22y dejó a Jehová el Dios de sus padres, y no anduvo en el camino de Jehová.
23Y los siervos de Amón conspiraron contra él, y mataron al rey en su casa.
24Entonces el pueblo de la tierra mató a todos los que habían conspirado contra el rey Amón; y puso el pueblo de la tierra por rey en su lugar a Josías su hijo.
25Los demás hechos de Amón, ¿no están todos escritos en el libro de las crónicas de los reyes de Judá?
26Y fue sepultado en su sepulcro en el huerto de Uza, y reinó en su lugar Josías su hijo.
ADAM CLARKE BIBLE COMMENTARY
Versículo 1
I. Manasseh was twelve years old - He was born about three years after his father's miraculous cure;…
Versículo 2
II. After the abominations of the heathen - He exactly copied the conduct of those nations which God …
Versículo 3
III. Made a grove - He made Asherah, the Babylonian Melitta or Roman Venus. See Kg2 17:10, and the obs…
Versículo 4
IV. Built altars - He placed idolatrous altars even in the temple.
Versículo 6
V. Made his son pass through the fire - Consecrated him to Moloch.
Versículo 7
VI. He set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house - Every one may see that Asherah…
Versículo 8
VII. Neither will I make the feet of Israel - Had they been faithful to God's testimonies they never h…
Versículo 9
VIII. Seduced them to do more evil - He did all he could to pervert the national character, and totally…
Versículo 10
IX. The Lord spake by - the prophets - The prophets were Hosea, Joel, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Isaiah. Th…
Versículo 12
X. Both his ears shall tingle - תצלנה titstsalnah; something expressive of the sound in what we call…
Versículo 13
XI. The line of Samaria - I will treat Jerusalem as I have treated Samaria. Samaria was taken, pillag…
Versículo 14
XII. I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance - One part (the ten tribes) was already forsaken, …
Versículo 16
XIII. Shed innocent blood very much - Like the deities he worshipped, he was fierce and cruel; an unpri…
Versículo 17
XIV. Now the rest of the acts - In Ch2 33:11, etc., we read that the Assyrians took Manasseh, bound hi…
Versículo 18
XV. In the garden of his own house - It was probably a burying-place made for his own family, for Amo…
Versículo 19
16. He reigned two years in Jerusalem - The remark of the rabbins is not wholly without foundation, t…
Versículo 23
17. The servants of Amon conspired - What their reason was for slaying their king we cannot tell. It …
Versículo 26
18. The garden of Uzza - The family sepulcher or burying-place.