Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Chronicles 33

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

This, and the following Verses to v. 11. are taken out of 2 King. 21. 1, &c.

Marginal references: 2 Kin. 21. [illegible: 1+ letters], &c.

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 setters, and carried him to Babylon .

In some Thicket where he thought to hide himself from the Assyrians till he could make an escape, as the Israelites formerly used to do, 1 Sam. 13. 6. Or, with hooks; a Metaphorical Expression. Or, in his Forts, i. e. in one of them.

Either therefore Esarhaddon Sennacheribs Successor had recovered Babylon from Merodach-Baladan: Or rather the King of Babylon, is here called the King of Assyria, because by this time he had added Assyria to his Empire, who having been informed by his Ambassadours of the great Riches which were in Hezekiahs Treasures at Jerusalem, which he was desirous to enjoy; and withall being assured of Manasseh his degeneracy from the Piety and Vertue of his Father, and from that God whose Power alone made Hezekiah formidable, he thought this a Fit Season to invade Manasseh's Kingdom; which he did with Success.

Marginal references: Heb. which were [illegible: 1 word].; Or, [illegible: 1 word].

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 .

i. e. He was convinced by his own Experience of Gods Power, Justice, and Goodness, that Jehovah alone was the True God, and not those Idols which he had worshipped, by which he had received great Hart and no Good,

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 entring 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.

He repaired and strengthened that Wall which Hezekiah had built, ch. 32. 5. and which possibly the King of Assyria, when he last took Jerusalem, had caused to be thrown down, either wholly, or in part.

On the West-side of the City of David, to which Hezekiah had brought this Water-course down, chap. 32. 30. into the great Pool which he had made to receive it; and possibly this Wall was built to secure the Free Use of it to the Citizens when they should be distressed or besieged by an Enemy.

With a Wall. Of Ophel see before, ch. 27. 3.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span]

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

That thereby he might, as far as he could, repair the Injuries which he had done to God by his Impious Commands, v. 9.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span]

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 books of the kings of Israel .

i. e. Of Judah; oft called Israel, as hath been noted before. He speaks not of that part of the Canon called the Book of Kings, for these things are not mentioned there, but of their Publick Records, where all things were particularly mentioned, and whence the most important things were taken by the Prophets, and put into those Canonical Books.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 5. 9.

19 His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, 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 .

Or rather, of Hosai, a Writer so called. For when the Sacred Pen-men make a Reference, they constantly refer us to some particular Book or certain Author, as to the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, or Iudah; to the Prophecy of Ahijah, or Oded, &c.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span]

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

i. e. In his Garden; of which see on 2 King. 21. 18.