Charles Spurgeon Commentary 2 Chronicles 33

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: but did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord,

Yet who could have had a better father than Manasseh had? He was given to Hezekiah during those fifteen years which God graciously added to that good king's life. Manasseh was, therefore, doubtless carefully trained, and looked upon as being one who would maintain God's worship, and the honour of his father's name.

But grace does not run in the blood; and the best of parents may have the worst of children. Thus Manasseh, though he was the son of Hezekiah, did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, –

Like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

It often happens that, when the sons of good men become bad, they are among the worst of men. They who pervert a good example generally run headlong to destruction.

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign,

He was, therefore, born after the time when Hezekiah was raised up from the bed of sickness. That prolongation of life was not all mercy: I am not sure that we should be so eager for such an extension of earthly existence either for ourselves or for others. Had Hezekiah been able to foresee what the abominations of the first part of Manasseh's reign would be, were he to come to the throne of Judah, I think that the godly king might have been content to die at once rather than live any longer to become the father of such a sinner, and one who would prove to be such an enemy of the true faith. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign. It was too early for a youth to reign over any nation.

It is a great temptation, and a serious peril, when an individual has too much power before he reaches his manhood. It would have been far better for Manasseh if his accession to the throne had been postponed for a good while. You who are very young, and are entrusted with wealth and position, may God keep you from going wrong! It will need great grace to preserve you in the right path.

And he reigned fifty and five years, in Jerusalem:

Manasseh's was a long reign, a varied reign, and at first a wicked reign of the very worst kind. Sometimes men are spared despite their sin. Manasseh's was one of the longest reigns on record: He reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem.

But did that which was evil in the light of the LORD, like the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

The Lord drove out the Canaanites for the very sins that Manasseh committed. If we follow in the sins of others, we must not wonder if we share in their doom. It is a sad thing, however, when the child of such a father as Hezekiah does evil in the sight of the Lord, like the abominations of the heathen, whom Jehovah had cast out before the children of Israel.

For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down,

These high places were at first built for the worship of God, the true God; but then the law of Jehovah was that there should be only one altar, namely, that at Jerusalem. This was not Popery, but Ritualism; it was adding something to the simple worship of God, and therefore it was wrong.

He who goes a little way in sin will soon go a long way. It is always a mercy to stop where you ought to stop, and not begin going down.

Hezekiah had broken down the high places, and his son Manasseh rebuilt them.

And he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

He not only worshipped them, but he served them; he threw his whole strength into the propagation of this form of idolatry. Those who build altars to God, contrary to the Lord's law, will soon have false gods. First, people set up images to remind them of the true God; and then they go off to the worship of the idols, or false gods. Oh, may we have grace to make no likeness of the Lord, and to set up nothing contrary to the simple teaching of the Word of God!