2 Chronicles Chapter 33

At a Glance

  • Chapter 33 tells the sobering arc of Manasseh, a king who reverses his father’s reforms and plunges Judah into deep apostasy.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • This chapter sits as a stark counterpoint to the reforms celebrated earlier in Hezekiah’s era.
  • - The danger of idolatry and moral collapse: Manasseh’s reign as a regression from reform.
  • - Divine judgment and mercy: exile as consequence, repentance as path to restoration.

Chapter Overview

Chapter 33 tells the sobering arc of Manasseh, a king who reverses his father’s reforms and plunges Judah into deep apostasy. Manasseh’s reign begins with even greater evils: rebuilding high places and altars to Baal, constructing idols within the temple courts, engaging in occult practices, and even sacrificing children in the valley of Hinnom. The narrative paints a stark portrait of spiritual rebellion set against a backdrop of monumental blasphemy against the covenant God. The turning point comes when judgment strikes: Assyrian captivity and exile as divine discipline. Yet the chapter also holds a note of mercy: in affliction, Manasseh humbles himself before the God of Israel, seeks the LORD, prays, and is brought back into favor. The king’s repentance yields a reordering of religious life and a recommitment to worship and covenant obedience. The chapter’s arc—from idolatry to conversion—highlights the seriousness of sin, the reality of judgment, and the possibility of grace when a person responds in humility. It is a stark reminder that even a long season of rebellion can be reversed by genuine repentance and divine mercy.

Historical & Literary Context

This chapter sits as a stark counterpoint to the reforms celebrated earlier in Hezekiah’s era. It emphasizes both the danger of idolatry and the even greater mercy of God to those who repent. The Chronicles editorial perspective underlines God’s steadfast faithfulness to the covenant, even when leaders fail, and highlights the power of humility and conversion to restore covenant relationship. The genre remains historical narrative with moral and theological reflection, illustrating cycles of disobedience, judgment, repentance, and restoration.

Key Themes

- The danger of idolatry and moral collapse: Manasseh’s reign as a regression from reform.

- Divine judgment and mercy: exile as consequence, repentance as path to restoration.

- The possibility of genuine repentance after prolonged sin.

- Covenant faithfulness and grace: God’s willingness to forgive when the heart seeks Him.

- The leadership example: how a king’s personal revival can influence national devotion.

Modern Application

The chapter speaks to contemporary seekers who fear that past sins define their future. It affirms that repentance, true contrition, and turning back to God can rewrite a life’s trajectory, even after long periods of rebellion. It also serves as a reminder of the seriousness of idolatries that distract faith today—whether in materialism, power, or secular ideologies—and calls for a recommitment to God’s covenant. For communities, the narrative underscores the power of mercy and transformation within leadership, showing that repentance from the top can catalyze spiritual renewal across a nation or church.

Cross-References: 2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33; Hosea 14

Recommended Personas: Jesus (mercy for the humble), Paul (grace transforming lives), David (repentant heart)

Chapter Text

1

Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:

2

But 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.

3

For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

4

Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.

5

And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

6

And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

7

And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

8

Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.

9

So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.

10

And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.

11

Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

12

And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,

13

And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

14

Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.

15

And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.

16

And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel.

17

Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only.

18

Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.

19

His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sins, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.

20

So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

21

Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.

22

But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;

23

And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.

24

And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.

25

But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

Discuss This Chapter with Biblical Personas

Explore 2 Chronicles Chapter 33 with Biblical figures who can provide unique perspectives grounded in Scripture.

Ask Apostle PaulAsk MosesAsk King DavidAsk Jesus Christ
← 2 Chronicles 322 Chronicles 34 →