2 Chronicles 33

Verse 3. The host of heaven. The sun, moon, and stars, ( Challoner.) in imitation of the Phœnicians and ancient Chanaanites.

Verse 5. Courts of the Gentiles and of Israel, ( Menochius.) though afterwards he also placed idols even in the court of the priests, verse 7. Salien, A. 3340.—But we find no express mention of the court of the Gentiles, till after the captivity; ( Calmet.) so that the two courts mean those of the priests and of Israel. Villalpand, Sa. and so forth

Verse 6. Valley. Hebrew Ge-ben-hinnon, “the vale of the son of Ennom,” ( Bible.) a Jebusite, who had formerly possessed that part of the valley of Cedron. Menochius.—Syr. write Gena, whence comes γεεννα a place at the foot of Moria, and the sink of the city. A constant fire was kept up to burn dead bodies. Kimchi. D.

Verse 7. Graven. Prot. “a carved image (the idol which he had made) in,” and so forth It seems to have been sacred to the grove, ( Bible.) or a representation of Astarte, 4 Kennicott. 21:7. The ark was taken away, (Calmet. 25:3) to make place for this impure deity, which had four (S. Basil) or five faces, (Euseb. Salien) that people might adore it on all sides.

Verse 9. Seduced. Using the arts of seduction, as well as open force. Hebrew “Manasses made Juda.… err,” 4 Kennicott. 21:16. There is a fund of malice in the human heart, which easily prevails on people to yield, on such occasions, if the grace of God do not support them. Yet, as they are not still without a sense of duty and religion, many will readily comply with the invitations of a pious king, when he earnestly endeavours to reform his people. But these conversions too frequently prove false and unstable. Calmet. 29:36. Bible.

Verse 10. Spoke, by his prophets. 4 Kennicott.

Verse 11. Captains; probably Tharthan. A. 3328. About five years before, Asarhaddon had made himself master of Babylon, to which place the captive king was brought, in the 22d year of his reign. 4 Kennicott. 20:10. and so forth Isaiah 22.—And carried. Hebrew “among the thorns, and bound him with fetters (Prot.) of brass; (Jun. and so forth) or, “they took Manasses with a hook,” insidiously. He might have retired to some desert place, as the Israelites did, to avoid the fury of the Philistines. 1 Kennicott. 13:6. Calmet.—Chains. Vatable says, “two.” Menochius.

Verse 12. Distress. “When he had been conducted to Babylon, and cast into a brazen vessel full of holes, over a fire, he called upon all the names of the idols, which he was accustomed to adore; and, as he was not heard, nor set free by them, he recollected what he had often heard repeated by his father: When though shalt call upon me in tribulation, and shalt be converted, I will hear thee graciously; as it is written in Deut. (see Calmet. 4:29. Bible.) and his prayer was thus heard by the Lord, and he was delivered and brought back to his kingdom, like Habacuc.” Saint Jerome Trad.—The author of the imperfect work on Saint Matthew, (among the works of Saint John Chrysostom hom. 1. Bible.) says, that Manasses was barely allowed as much barley bread, and water mixed with vinegar, as would keep him alive. Whereupon, remembering the Lord, he had recourse to his clemency, and a miraculous flame surrounded him, and dissolving his chains, set him at liberty. Saos-duchin, the successor of Azarhaddon, probably restored him to his throne, some years after his captivity, or perhaps that very year, so that his repentance continued thirty-three years. Calmet.—Prayed, a proof of the efficacy of sincere repentance. Worthington.

Verse 14. Without, including what is styled the second city; (4 Kennicott. 22:14,) or he perfected the works begun by his father, or repaired the wall which the Assyrians had thrown down, though we read not of their taking the city. Calmet.—Fish-gate.… to Ophel, from the north-eastern corner, to the place opposite to the eastern gate of the temple. Calmet. 27:3. Menochius.—The fish-gate led towards Joppe, whence the city was supplied with fish. Saint Jerome Trad.—It was also called David’s gate, because it stood near this city. By it, the Chaldees afterwards rushed in. Zephaniah 1:10. Tirinus.

Verse 16. And praise. Prot. “thanks-offerings.” Septuagint “a victim of salvation and praise.” Bible.—The sacrifice might be accompanied with canticles.—Psalms 26:6, and so forth Calmet.

Verse 17. God. Hebrew adds, “only,” and not to idols. Bible.—This worship was not superstitious, but it was illegal; and it is a misfortune, that Manasses had not as much influence to guide the people in virtue, as he had formerly, to induce them to follow his example in idolatry. Calmet.—He could not prevail upon them to destroy the high places. Menochius.

Verse 18. Prayer, which is not extant in Hebrew but in Greek and Latin. As yet it is neither received for canonical, nor rejected by the Church. Worthington.—Israel. That kingdom had been overturned in the sixth year of Ezechias. There was now no need of distinguishing the kings of Juda from those of Israel. The former seemed to have claimed authority over the whole country. 4 Kennicott. 23:19. Bible.

Verse 19. Contempt. Hebrew “prevarication.” Septuagint “apostacy.” Menochius.—Chozai means “seers.” Septuagint Prot. Bible.—But it more probably signifies some particular prophet, ( Calmet.) Isaias, (Saint Jerome Trad.) “Hanan,” (Syr.) or “Saphan.” Arab. version. Calmet.—This work, less than the book of the kings of Israel, is now lost. Menochius.

or, the seers

Verse 20. House, in his own gardens, and not with the other kings. Grot. Calmet.

Verse 22. Made, though he had afterwards destroyed them. Amon endeavoured to restore their worship, ( Calmet.) adoring the same idols, and making other statues in their honour. D.

Verse 23. Sins, inasmuch as he died in his guilt. Prot. “but Amon trespassed more and more,” ( Bible.) following the former bad example of Manasses, Jeremiah 15. D.

Verse 25. Them. Hebrew “all that had conspired against king Amon.” Bible.