Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 21

Manasseh’s evil religions

2 Kings 21:3-6

Like his grandfather Ahaz, it was not enough for Manasseh to follow just one religion or to serve just one god. Manasseh followed many religions at the same time, and he had many gods. Manasseh did not turn from the true God because he disliked religion. Rather, Manasseh believed in the power of religion, of spirits and false gods and magic. These things were important to him; he was constantly making gifts and offering prayers to his false gods.

Often, this religion was extremely expensive for him. He had to build new places that were suitable for the religion of each of these false gods. He paid skilled workmen to make idols (images). However, his religions cost him more than his money. He even gave his own son to die in the fire as a gift to the false god called Molech.

Hezekiah, Manasseh’s father, had destroyed the high places across Judah where people prayed, often to false gods. Manasseh saw that, in order to persuade the people to serve false gods, he needed to rebuild those places. That was a popular decision, because many people disliked the long journey to pray at the temple (the house of the true God in Jerusalem).

Hezekiah, who loved the true God, had also loved the temple (compare Psalm 84:1-4). Manasseh did not destroy the temple buildings, but he changed the religion there. There, people prayed to the stars. However, Manasseh thought that some people might prefer to pray in front of an image there. So, he made an image there of the false female god called Asherah. So, a visitor to the temple could choose which false god he prayed to.

There seems to be a desire for power in many of the religions that Manasseh served. We see that also in his use of magic. He wanted to have power in the spirit world.

In all this wrong religion, Manasseh was acting against God’s commands (Deuteronomy 6:14-15, 7:1-6, chapter 13 and 18:9-13).

Next part: Evil acts in God's temple (2 Kings 21:7-9)

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