Question 1

Who was King Manasseh and what did he do in this passage?

Accepted Answer

Manasseh was the son of Hezekiah and became king of Judah when he was twelve, ruling for fifty‑five years. Instead of following his father’s example, he turned Judah back to idol worship. He rebuilt the high places his father had torn down, set up altars for Baal, made an image like the Asherah, and worshiped the sun, moon, and stars. He even put altars for these things in the very temple where God had said His name would dwell. He practiced child sacrifice and occult practices, and he led the whole nation into deeper sin.

Question 2

What were Manasseh’s main sins and why were they so serious?

Accepted Answer

Manasseh’s main sins were idolatry, occult practices, and shedding innocent blood. He rebuilt pagan high places, set up altars to Baal, made an image connected with a pagan goddess, and worshiped the host of heaven. He brought these idols into God’s temple, which was meant to be the one place for the Lord’s name. He also made his son pass through the fire and used divination and sorcery. On top of that, he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood. These sins were serious because they broke God’s clear commands and twisted both worship and justice.

Question 3

What does it mean that Manasseh made Judah sin more than the nations before them?

Accepted Answer

The passage says Manasseh “seduced” Judah to do more evil than the nations God had removed from the land earlier. That means the people of Judah, who had God’s law and promises, sank even lower than the original Canaanite nations. Manasseh did not just sin in private; he used his position as king to change how the whole nation lived and worshiped. By placing idols in the temple and encouraging forbidden practices, he led many people into sins they might not have chosen on their own. This shows how powerful and damaging bad leadership can be.

Question 4

What is the meaning of God wiping Jerusalem like a man wipes a dish?

Accepted Answer

The picture of wiping Jerusalem like a man wipes a dish, turning it upside down, is a strong way of saying God would bring a complete and thorough judgment. Just as a person scrapes and wipes a dish clean and then turns it over, God would remove what was there and leave the city empty and exposed. It points to the loss of safety, temple, and stability they had enjoyed. This did not mean God would forget His promises forever, but it did mean that their sin had reached a point where real, painful consequences would fall on the city and its people.

Question 5

Why did God say He would forsake the remnant of His inheritance?

Accepted Answer

God said He would forsake the remnant of His inheritance and hand them over to their enemies because they had done evil in His sight for a long time. The passage links this not only to Manasseh’s sins but to a pattern that stretched back to the day their fathers came out of Egypt. Their idolatry, bloodshed, and rejection of God’s commands had piled up. Forsaking them here means God would remove His special protection and let them feel what life is like without His shelter. It shows that persistent rebellion eventually brings real judgment, even on a people God had chosen.

Question 6

How does Amon’s reign connect to Manasseh’s example?

Accepted Answer

Amon, Manasseh’s son, became king at twenty‑two and reigned only two years, but he walked in all the ways of his father’s earlier sins. He served the same idols and turned away from the Lord, instead of learning from the warnings given in his father’s time. Unlike the later change mentioned elsewhere for Manasseh, Amon did not repent. His servants then conspired against him and killed him in his own house. This short, violent reign shows how a father’s pattern of sin can shape the next generation, especially when the heart does not turn back to God.

Question 7

What does this passage teach about God’s character and judgment?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows that God is patient, but He does not ignore sin forever. He had promised to keep His name in Jerusalem and not move Israel from the land if they obeyed His commands. Manasseh’s actions, and the people’s willingness to follow, trampled on that covenant. God sent prophets to speak, not staying silent about their choices. When they would not listen, He announced a clear judgment that matched their long history of rebellion. At the same time, other parts of Scripture hint that even this judgment would have cleansing in view, pointing toward eventual restoration after discipline.

Question 8

How can the story of Manasseh and Amon speak to us today?

Accepted Answer

This story reminds us how easily worship can be twisted and how deeply leaders affect those who follow them. Manasseh took things that belonged only to God, like the temple and the people’s hearts, and gave them to idols and dark practices. Amon simply kept walking in that path. Today, it warns us not to treat sin and false worship lightly, especially when they are encouraged by those with influence. It also pushes us to listen when God warns us, to turn back before habits harden, and to value both right worship and justice, instead of excusing harm to others.

2 Kings 21:1

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hephzi-bah.

Manasseh Reigns in Judah

Manasseh’s Idolatries Rebuked

Amon Reigns in Judah

Manasseh Reigns in Judah

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2 Kings 21:1

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hephzi-bah.

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Manasseh Reigns in Judah

Manasseh’s Idolatries Rebuked

Amon Reigns in Judah

Manasseh Reigns in Judah

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