Title: Manasseh and Josiah / 2 Kings 21-23
Content Manasseh and Josiah (2 Kings 21-23)
Five kings are mentioned in these chapters. But we are primarily interested in two men, Manasseh and Josiah. King Amon reigned for two years (21:19-26), and Jehoahaz only reigned for three months (23:31-33). Johoiakim will be seen in the next chapter. What is interesting when comparing Josiah and Manasseh is that their spiritual lives are opposites. Manasseh began his reign in sin but ended in obedience, and Josiah began his life in obedience and ended in disobedience (sin).
1. The reign of Manasseh (chapter 21)
① His rebellion (vv. 1-9) - Historians see Manasseh as reigning with the pious Hezekiah for at least the last ten years. Manasseh was a wicked man, more so than anyone before him and more than anyone after him. It is truly strange that Hezekiah the devout reigned 29 years, but Manasseh the ungodly reigned 55 years. But Hana was giving the people what they wanted and what they deserved. As soon as Hezekiah disappeared from the stage, Manasseh's original character was revealed. He built what Hezekiah had broken down, and demolished what Hezekiah had built. Compare it to Isaac in Genesis 26:18. Instead of imitating the pious Hezekiah, Manasseh followed the path of King Ahab. According to the legend, Manasseh killed Isaiah with a saw (Hebrews 11:37). Manasseh brought his idolatry into the temple courts. He rebelled against his father's godly example and rebelled against the law of the Lord.
② To know the whole flow of his movement (verses 10-15), you need to read 2 Chronicles 33:11-20. God sent his prophets to warn the king, but the king would not listen. God informed this nation that judgment and exile were coming. Judah witnessed two terrible judgments on Samaria, but the people did not repent. God promised to deal with David's house just as he had dealt with Ahab's house (verse 13). The Assyrian generals took Manasseh to Babylon, where he was imprisoned.
③ His repentance (2 Chron. 33: 12) - He is a typical example of “supplication to the Lord God in tribulation”. God in his grace forgave the wicked king and allowed him to return to his throne. God works for those who truly pray with humility.
④ His recovery and reformation (2 Chron. 33:13-20/ 2 Kings 21:17- 26) - Manasseh's repentance was not a simple trick to escape. Let's get back to the throne. He immediately began repairing the things he had destroyed. He fortified Jerusalem against the enemy, removed idols and strange altars, and tried to lead the people to the Lord. Of course, it was impossible to undo all the things he had done. But we are compelled to praise him for the things he accomplished before he died. God made Manasseh the longest reign of the Hebrew kings, but it is a pity that he achieved little. In fact, even his repentance did not stop the hand of God's judgment. It was Manasseh's sin that moved God to bring this nation into captivity (23:26-27).
There were many opportunities for King Manasseh to lead a godly life and be faithful to God and the people. His father must have been the greatest king of Judah except David, and the greatest prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah, were ministering in their day, but Manasseh did not discover the Lord until the end of his life's servant. We commend him for what he did after he repented. However, one has to bear in mind that the damage inflicted in his early years was more than that he corrected in his later years. He was not buried with the kings and was buried in a private garden.
His son, King Amon, was not affected by his father's late conversion, but imitated his sins. King Amon's reign lasted only two years, and after being put to death due to some conspiracy, he was buried next to Manasseh.
2. Josiah's reign (22-23)
As the successor to King Amon, Josiah ascended to the throne at the young age of eight. The key events in which we differ summarize the brief life and reign of this godly king.
① Salvation (16 years old, 2 Kings 22:1- 2 / 2 Chronicles 34: 3) - In the 8th year of his reign, Josiah came to seek the Lord. There is no doubt that Hilkiah the high priest taught him the word of God. It is interesting to note that his mother's name (Jedidiah) is a "nickname" given to Solomon by God (2 Samuel 12:25). Its name means “one who is loved by Yoho”. Jeremiah and Zephaniah also ministered at this time.
② Reform (20 years old, 2 Chronicles 34:3-7) - The king has now reached a mature age to purify the idolatrous vessels of Manasseh and Amon in the city and country. Josiah's ultimate goal was to restore the temple and restore the nation. He knew he had to destroy the sins of the past before he could make a new obedience. Unfortunately, however, "Josiah's revival" was superficial and did not reach the hearts of the people. Although the prophet Jeremiah wept a lot over Josiah's death, it is nowhere to be found that he praised the young king for what he called a "revival". Of course, the king and his advisers were sincere, but the people did not obey, and their hearts remained in idolatry.
③ Restoration (26 years old, 2 Kings 22:3- 23:28 / 2 Chronicles 34:8- 35:19) - Although the idols were destroyed, Josiah failed to focus on resuming true service to the Lord. It is not enough to weep. We also have to rebuild. He ordered the priests to collect money and repaired the temple.
Reconstruction While repairing the temple, the High Priest found a copy of the Law of Moses, long abandoned because of idolatry. Note that they found the book while handling the offerings, which was considered more valuable than silver. This was what it should have been before God. When Josiah heard the law being read, he immediately knew that Judah was in great danger. He sent someone to ask Hhowah what to do. The prophetess Huldah lived in the “second quarter” of the city (“College”, 22:14), and delivered a message from God to the grieving king, which said that Judah and Jerusalem would be judged for their sins; King Josiah had humbled himself before God, so he would not be judged.
Then Josiah immediately consulted with the elders of the kingdom about this word of God, and arranged a great worship service to reaffirm God's covenant. He continued to work to wipe out the corruption of the land, and he defiled “Topheth” (the valley of the son of Hinnom the valley where they sacrificed their children to Moloch). The king turned the valley into a dumping ground, and the name “Valley of the Son of Hinnom” (Gehinnom) is denoted as “Gehenna” in the New Testament, which vividly describes hell. The Mount of Olives was a “mountain of decadence,” which I (23:13) restored by Josiah. During his sweeping period, Josiah unearthed the altar of the wicked King Roboam, and also found the tomb of the prophet who had warned him. In this way Josiah fulfilled the prophecy of 1 Kings 13:1-5. God's word never goes in vain. The king not only restored the temple and the law, but also the Passover, which the nation had neglected for a long time. He wanted his people to remember “what was bought at a price”.
What did Josiah's reform and restoration accomplish? In Josiah's day there was peace and blessing. However, the original promise of judgment for Manasseh's sin was not withdrawn (22:26-27). Josiah's holy life and ministry had for many years withheld the hand of God's judgment. But exile as a prisoner of war was approaching, and no one could stop it.
④ Assassination (31 years old, 2 Kings 23:29- 37 / 2 Chronicles 35:20- 26) - Perhaps the Egyptian army came through the sea and landed on the Philistine beach. Pharaoh made it clear that he would not fight against Judah, but only against Assyria. Josiah did not seek the heart of Jehovah God and, in fact, appears to have deliberately disobeyed God's will (see 2 Chron. 35:22). His disguise did not protect him, and he deviated from the will of Hannah. His disguise did not protect him, and he also deviated from the will of God. He died on the battlefield. In Zechariah 12:11, there is an allusion that a great cry had been heard at Megiddo for Josiah. The king should have kept in mind Proverbs 20:3 and 26:17. Perhaps at this time Judah was an ally of Assyria and was obligated to act together. But Pharaoh was undoubtedly more eager to avoid war with Josiah.
Josiah's son Jehoahaz reigned only three months, until Pharaoh deposed him. Pharaoh chose Eliakim from among the sons of Josiah to make him king and gave him the new name “Jehovah Kim” (Jehovah will raise him up). We will look into his life and discipline in the next study.