2 Kings 21:1–7

Manasseh Reigns over Judah

^1aManasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hephzibah.

^2aAnd he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, ^baccording to the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh dispossessed before the sons of Israel.

³Indeed, ^ahe rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and ^bhe erected altars for Baal and made an ¹Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and ^cworshiped all the host of heaven and served them.

^4aAnd he built altars in the house of Yahweh, of which Yahweh had said, “^bIn Jerusalem I will put My name.”

⁵Indeed, he built altars for ^aall the host of heaven in ^bthe two courts of the house of Yahweh.

^6aHe even made his son pass through the fire, ^bpracticed soothsaying and interpreted omens, and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much that was evil in the sight of Yahweh provoking Him to anger.

⁷Then ^ahe put the graven image of Asherah, which he had made, in the house of which Yahweh had said to David and to Solomon his son, “^bIn this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever.