Manasseh is the most wicked and idolatrous of all Judah’s kings up to this point, but also the greatest example of the power of true repentance.

Everything said about Manasseh in 2 Chronicles 33:1–6 emphasises his disobedience, and how completely he ignores both God’s commands and promises. The list is long: Manasseh follows Canaanite practices; sets up altars to the Baals and erects Asherah poles; worships the heavenly bodies and builds altars to them in the temple courts; and even sacrifices his sons and practises sorcery, divination, and witchcraft. All this provokes the Lord’s anger.

More than this, Manasseh places an image in the temple where God had placed His Name as a pledge of His commitment to the Israelites, that they would never leave the land of promise as long as they followed His teaching given through Moses. But Manasseh leads the people astray: they not only ignore Moses’ teaching, but behave even worse than the Canaanites (vv. 7–9).

The Lord sends prophets to warn them, but king and people ignore them, so judgment falls (vv. 10–11): an Assyrian army invades Judah, captures Manasseh, and takes him in chains to Babylon (at this time under Assyrian control). Humiliated and ill-treated, Manasseh has to face reality. For many years he has turned his back on God, and now God is holding him to account. Unexpectedly, he seeks “the Lord his God” and humbles himself deeply before “the God of his ancestors” (v. 12). God hears his prayer, and brings Manasseh back to Jerusalem, where he once more rules as king.

Manasseh now works to undo the evil of his earlier years (vv. 14–16): he strengthens Judah’s defences; removes the images of foreign gods, particularly the image he had placed in the temple; and once more worships the Lord, instructing the people to follow his example. The people obey him: they still worship at the high places, but their worship is now directed towards “the Lord their God” (v. 17).

The closing summary of Manasseh’s reign (vv. 18–20) emphasises both the good and the bad. Unfortunately, Manasseh’s son Amon follows his bad side, reinstating and worshipping all of Manasseh’s idols, and refusing to humble himself as Manasseh did (vv. 21–23). Manasseh’s repentance was apparently genuine, but it fails to touch his son’s heart.

During his brief reign, Amon cannot have done much harm, but his renewed idolatry and refusal to repent is enough to condemn him. His officials assassinate him, and the citizens of Judah in turn kill them (vv. 24–25). God’s judgment has fallen.

The Chronicler’s hearers would have got the point: seeking God in penitence brings restoration, but impenitence leads—and can only lead—to death.

See also 2 Kings 21.