Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Chronicles 33
Albert Barnes Commentary
2 Chronicles 33
Albert Barnes Commentary
2 Chronicles 33
"Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem." — 2 Chronicles 33:1 (ASV)
Compare the references and notes. The author of Chronicles differs from Kings primarily in its additions (see the note on 2 Kings 21:17). The central part of this chapter (2 Chronicles 33:11–19) is almost entirely new material.
"And he set the graven image of the idol, which he had made, in the house of God, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:" — 2 Chronicles 33:7 (ASV)
The idol—that is, the Asherah (see the note on 2 Kings 21:7), which receives here (and in Ezekiel 8:3, 8:5) the somewhat unusual name of semel. Some regard this as a proper name and compare it with the Greek Σεμέλη Semelē.
"Wherefore Jehovah brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon." — 2 Chronicles 33:11 (ASV)
The Assyrian monuments contain no record of this expedition; but there can be little doubt that it occurred during the reign of Esarhaddon (see the note on 2 Kings 19:37), who reigned for at least thirteen years. Esarhaddon mentions Manasseh among his tributaries, and he was the only king of Assyria who, from time to time, held his court at Babylon.
Translate Among the thorns as “with rings” (see the note on 2 Kings 19:28).
"Now after this he built an outer wall to the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate; and he compassed Ophel about [with it], and raised it up to a very great height: and he put valiant captains in all the fortified cities of Judah." — 2 Chronicles 33:14 (ASV)
Rather, he built the outer wall of the city of David on the west of Gihon-in-the-valley. The wall intended seems to have been the one toward the northeast, which ran from the vicinity of the modern Damascus gate, across the valley of Gihon, to the “fish-gate” at the northeast corner of the “city of David.”
We may gather from this verse that, late in his reign, Manasseh revolted from the Assyrians and made preparations to resist them if they should attack him. Assyria began to decline in power around 647 B.C., and from that time its outlying provinces would naturally begin to fall away. Manasseh reigned until 642 B.C.
"Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only unto Jehovah their God." — 2 Chronicles 33:17 (ASV)
Compare the notes on 2 Kings 21:2 and 2 Kings 18:4.
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