2 Chronicles 33:1–9

Manasseh King of Judah

33:1–10pp—2Ki 21:1–10 33:18–20pp—2Ki 21:17–18

33Manasseh^m was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. ²He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,ⁿ following the detestable^o practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. ³He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles.^p He bowed down^q to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. ⁴He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “My Name^r will remain in Jerusalem forever.” ⁵In both courts of the temple of the Lord,^s he built altars to all the starry hosts. ⁶He sacrificed his children^t in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums^u and spiritists.^v He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

⁷He took the image he had made and put it in God’s temple,^w of which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. ⁸I will not again make the feet of the Israelites leave the land^x I assigned to your ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them concerning all the laws, decrees and regulations given through Moses.” ⁹But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.^y