captains = princes. See note on "Gezer", 1 Kings 9:15-17 .
the king of Assyria. Esar-haddon.
among the thorns = with hooks, or rings. A monument has been found showing this king Esar-haddon leading two captives with hooks or rings through their lips. And in an inscription he says: "I transported (from Syria) into Assyria men and women innumerable . . . I counted among the vassals of my realm twelve kings of Syria, beyond the mountains, Balou king of Tyre, Manasseh king of Judah".
Verse 1
Manasseh. This chapter is complementary to 2 Kings 21:11-17 , concerning his reformation, are supplementary. See App-56 .
Verse 2
heathen = nations.
children = sons.
Verse 3
groves = 'Asheroth. See App-42 .
the host of heaven. Compare Deuteronomy 17:3 .
Verse 4
had said. In Deuteronomy 12:11 . 1Ki 8:29 ; 1 Kings 9:3 . 1Ki 6:6 ; 1 Kings 7:16 .
name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .
Verse 6
pass through the fire. Compare Leviticus 18:21 .Deuteronomy 18:10 . 2 Kings 23:10 . 2Ki 28:3 .
observed times. Consulted auguries.
times = clouds, which were watched for auguries.
familiar spirit. See note on Leviticus 19:31 .
evil = the evil. Hebrew. ra'a' (with Art). App-44 .
Verse 7
idol = similitude.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God. App-4 .
and = even.
Verse 8
your. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg read "their". Compare 2 Kings 21:8 .
so that = if only.
Verse 11
captains = princes. See note on "Gezer", 1 Kings 9:15-17 .
the king of Assyria. Esar-haddon.
among the thorns = with hooks, or rings. A monument has been found showing this king Esar-haddon leading two captives with hooks or rings through their lips. And in an inscription he says: "I transported (from Syria) into Assyria men and women innumerable . . . I counted among the vassals of my realm twelve kings of Syria, beyond the mountains, Balou king of Tyre, Manasseh king of Judah".
Verse 15
Israel. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .
Verse 19
His prayer. Not recorded. That given in the Apocrypha not considered genuine.
images. Same word as 2 Chronicles 33:22 and Deuteronomy 7:5 . Always plural in O.T.
the seers = the chozai. See note on 1 Chronicles 29:29 .
Verse 20
slept with his fathers. See note on Deuteronomy 31:16 .
in his own house. The Septuagint reads "in the garden of his own house". Compare 2 Kings 21:18 .
Verse 21
Amon. Compare 1 Kings 21:19-24 .
Verse 22
as = according as.
Verse 23
but Amon = "but he Amon".
trespassed more and more = he multiplied trespass. Hebrew. 'asham.
Verse 25
the People of the land = the commonalty. Compare 2 Chronicles 36:1 .