Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 17. Sinned. It is rather wonderful that his repentance is not here noticed; but we find it mentioned 2 Chronicles 33:12. Bible.—He was probably taken prisoner by Thartan, general of Sargon, or Asarhaddon, who had reunited the two kingdoms of Assyria and Babylon. Isaiah 20:1. In prison Manasses composed a penitential prayer, which is not absolutely rejected by the Church, but left in the rank of Apocryphal writings; ( Calmet.) the authority of which is not clearly ascertained. Bible.—The Greek church admits this prayer into her Euchologium, ( Calmet.) or Office-book. Bible.—Being liberated, probably by Saosduchin, Manasses did all things well, only he left the high places, where the people had been accustomed to sacrifice to the Lord. Hozai wrote his history. 2 Chronicles 33:19.