2 Kings 21 Manasseh’s idolatry, 2 Kings 21:1–9. Judgments prophesied against Judah, 2 Kings 21:10–15. Manasseh shed innocent blood; dieth, 2 Kings 21:16–18. Amon his son succeedeth him; and is slain by his servants; who are slain by the people: Josiah his son is made king, 2 Kings 21:19–26.

Reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem; in which time the years of his imprisonment are comprehended, 2 Chron. 33:11.

Did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord; partly by the instigation of the wicked princes of Judah, who in Hezekiah’s time were secret enemies to his reformation, and now, when their fetters were knocked off by Hezekiah’s death, break forth into open hostility against it, and corrupt the…

The host of heaven; the stars, which the Gentiles had transformed into gods. See Poole “Deut. 4:19”.

In the house of the Lord, i.e. in the temple itself, in the holy place, because this is distinguished from the courts of the house, 2 Kings 21:5. In Jerusalem will I put my name; that place I have peculiarly consecrated to my worship and honour; which made it the greater injustice, and impiety, and…

The one of the priests, the other of the people, 1 Kings 6:36.

Made his son pass through the fire; of which See Poole “Lev. 18:21, 2 Kings 16:3”. Observed times, i.e. lucky or unlucky days or seasons for the despatch of businesses, according to the superstitious practice of the heathens. See Est. 3:7, Lev. 19:26, Deut. 18:10–11.

He set a graven image of the grove; either, first, The image of that Baal which was worshipped in the grove. Or, secondly, A representation of the grove, as may seem by comparing 2 Kings 23:6.

Move any more out of the land; they shall no more be carried captives into a strange land, as it had happened before.

Partly because they were not contented with those idols which the Canaanites worshipped, but either themselves invented, or they borrowed from other nations, many new idols and kinds of idolatry; and partly because as their light was far more clear, their obligations to God infinitely higher, and…

Above all that the Amorites did, i.e. the Canaanitish nations, all so called from one eminent part of them. See Poole “Gen. 15:16”. Hath made Judah also to sin with his idols; by his example, encouragement, counsel, authority, and command.

By the great commotion which such terrible reports shall cause in the hearts and heads of the hearers. See Poole “1 Sam. 3:11”; See Poole “Jer. 19:3”.

Jerusalem shall have the same measure and lot, i.e. the same judgments, which Samaria had. The line is oft put for one’s lot or portion, as Ps. 16:6, 2 Cor. 10:16, because men’s portions or possessions used to be measured by lines, Ps. 78:55, Amos 7:17.

The remnant of mine inheritance, i.e. the kingdom of Judah, the only remainder of all the tribes of Israel, which I did once choose for my inheritance, but now, notwithstanding that privilege, will utterly reject and forsake them.

This sore judgment, though it was chiefly inflicted for the sins of Manasseh and his generation, yet had a respect unto all their former sins, the guilt whereof was upon this occasion revived. See Ex. 32:31.

Innocent blood; the blood of those prophets and righteous men who either reproved his sinful practices, or refused to comply with his wicked commands and worship. Beside his sin, i.e.

In the garden of his own house, not in the sepulchre of the kings; either by the people’s designation, who judged him unworthy of that honour; or rather, by his own choice and command, as a lasting testimony of his sincere repentance and abhorrency of himself for his former crimes.