January 22, 2026
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Reading along with us in 2 Kings, Acts, & Hebrews? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Kinngs 21 (NIV)
Manasseh King of Judah
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. 2 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.……Continue Reading
Next: 2 Kings 22
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Back: Hebrews 2
Manasseh, who was the son of one of the better kings of Judah, Hezekiah, takes over and gets right to work trying to top evil kings of the past. Restoring idols and persecuting those who worship the one true God. It is amazing that they can see and hear stories of the past kings that followed God and were blessed and those that did not and ended up in death and destruction. However, we are not so different. We read the Bible and hear these accounts and yet still today choose to sin knowing where it leads. Just such a powerful reminder how much we need a savior and how important it is to keep our eyes fixed on Him in order to avoid be dragged down by our own selfishness and pride when we do not leave room for God!
It is sad to see a son of a righteous king turn to the evil ways of his grandfather, but Manasseh seems to double down even on that. But patterns of evil do tend to get worse over time and Manasseh embraces every aspect of it. And the response that comes from God is warranted and Judah was forewarned. They even had the experience of the Northern Kingdom to reflect on and see what happened to them when they participated in the same evil. May we too take stock in the things that evil brings both in our lives and the lives of others and not follow in the same patterns that led others to destruction.
Well that was short lived. Judah going right back to its evil ways. Reading 21-1. Sums it up. 12 year old king. Not seasoned by life, having no wisdom, this king just went right at whatever his fleshly desires were, and that snowballed into sins as large as sacrificing his own son. how much wisdom comes with age and this is a perfect example. Not allowing immature lead in a country. Church or business.
2 kings 21 – It’s amazing and sad to see someone like Manasseh do so much evil , and to be put in a position as king . I feel bad for the people under him who had nothing to do with him being their king .
2 Kings 21
2 Kings 20, 2 Kings 21, Hebrews 2
Psalm 70; 2 Kings 19-21; Ezekiel 1; Hebrews 1-2
Hezekiah’s loyalty to the Lord did not influence Manasseh. He did evil in God’s eyes, and was engaged in detestable practices like sacrificing his son in fire and killing innocent people. And the prophets were told that Jerusalem and Judah would be destroyed as a result. Beware the house of Manasseh. For what God says he will do, will indeed come to pass.
Manasseh does evil in the sight of the Lord. Sometimes I wonder exactly what that means, here we get an exhaustive list of what exactly “evil” looks like.