EGW Writings2 Chronicles 33

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 94, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 94, 1899, par. 18

In the case of Manasseh the Lord gives us an instance of the way in which He works. We read, “Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel. And the Lord spake to Manasseh and to his people: but they would not hearken. Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the kings of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unto him: and he was entreated of him, and he learned his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.” [2 Chronicles 33:9-13.]

Prophets and Kings

Chapter 32—Manasseh and Josiah

PK 381.1

The kingdom of Judah, prosperous throughout the times of Hezekiah, was once more brought low during the long years of Manasseh’s wicked reign, when paganism was revived, and many of the people were led into idolatry. “Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen.” 2 Chronicles 33:9. The glorious light of former generations was followed by the darkness of superstition and error. Gross evils sprang up and flourished—tyranny, oppression, hatred of all that is good. Justice was perverted; violence prevailed.

PK 382.3

Faithfully the prophets continued their warnings and their exhortations; fearlessly they spoke to Manasseh and to his people; but the messages were scorned; backsliding Judah would not heed. As an earnest of what would befall the people should they continue impenitent, the Lord permitted their king to be captured by a band of Assyrian soldiers, who “bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon,” their temporary capital. This affliction brought the king to his senses; “he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unto Him: and He was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord He was God.” 2 Chronicles 33:11-13. But this repentance, remarkable though it was, came too late to save the kingdom from the corrupting influence of years of idolatrous practices. Many had stumbled and fallen, never again to rise.

PK 383.1

Among those whose life experience had been shaped beyond recall by the fatal apostasy of Manasseh, was his own son, who came to the throne at the age of twenty-two. Of King Amon it is written: “He walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshiped them: and he forsook the Lord God of his fathers” (2 Kings 21:21, 22); he “humbled not himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.” The wicked king was not permitted to reign long. In the midst of his daring impiety, only two years from the time he ascended the throne, he was slain in the palace by his own servants; and “the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.” 2 Chronicles 33:23, 25.

The Review and Herald

July 8, 1915

RH July 8, 1915, par. 1

The kingdom of Judah, prosperous throughout the times of Hezekiah, was once more brought low during the long years of Manasseh’s wicked reign, when paganism was revived, and many of the people were led into idolatry. “Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen.” 2 Chronicles 33:9. The glorious light of former generations was followed by the darkness of superstition and error. Gross evils sprang up and flourished,—tyranny, oppression, hatred of all that is good. Justice was perverted; violence prevailed.

RH July 8, 1915, par. 5

Faithfully the prophets continued their warnings and their exhortations; fearlessly they spoke to Manasseh, and to his people; but the messages were scorned; backsliding Judah would not heed. As an earnest of what would befall the people should they continue impenitent, the Lord permitted their king to be captured by a band of Assyrian soldiers, who “bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon,” their temporary capital. This affliction brought the king to his senses. “He besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unto him: and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.” 2 Chronicles 33:11-13. But this repentance, remarkable though it was, came too late to save the kingdom from the corrupting influence of years of idolatrous practices. Many had stumbled and fallen, never again to rise.

RH July 8, 1915, par. 6

Among those whose life experience had been shaped beyond recall by the fatal apostasy of Manasseh, was his own son, who came to the throne at the age of twenty-two. Of King Amon it is written: “He walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshiped them: and he forsook the Lord God of his fathers” (2 Kings 21:21, 22); he “humbled not himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.” The wicked king was not permitted to reign long. In the midst of his daring impiety, only two years from the time he ascended the throne, he was slain in the palace by his own servants; and “the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.” 2 Chronicles 33:23, 25.

From Splendor to Shadow

Chapter 32—Manasseh and Josiah: The Worst and the Best

SS 200.1

The kingdom of Judah was once more brought low during Manasseh’s wicked reign. Paganism was revived, and many were led into idolatry. “Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen.” 2 Chronicles 33:9. Gross evils sprang up and flourished—tyranny, oppression, hatred of all that is good. Justice was perverted; violence prevailed.

SS 201.1

Faithfully the prophets spoke to Manasseh and his people, but backsliding Judah would not heed. As an earnest of what would befall the people should they continue impenitent, the Lord permitted their king to be captured by Assyrian soldiers who “bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.” 2 Chronicles 33:11. This affliction brought the king to his senses. He “humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and ... He was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord He was God.” Verses 12, 13. But this repentance came too late to save the kingdom from the influence of years of idolatrous practices.

SS 201.2

Among those whose life had been shaped beyond recall was Manasseh’s own son, who came to the throne at the age of twenty-two. King Amon “walked in all the way that his father walked in.” “He forsook the Lord, the God of his fathers.” 2 Kings 21:21, 22. The wicked king was not permitted to reign long. Only two years from the time he ascended the throne, he was slain in the palace by his own servants, and “the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.” 2 Chronicles 33:25.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 6 (1889-1890)

Lt 8, 1890

6LtMs, Lt 8, 1890, par. 7

We should be careful not to harden our hearts against the warnings and admonitions of God. Manasseh’s sin was aggravated by his repeated, stubborn rejection of divine warning. “The Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.” 2 Chronicles 33:10. God has spoken to Elder Daniels in many ways and under varied circumstances. He has also spoken to you, Brother Church, but neither of you have practically accepted the blessing of correction, and He will speak to you both in chastisement that the arrow of conviction may be sent home to the soul. I desire you to consider, to think upon with patience, the forbearance of God with His guilty, daring, aggravating servants. He might cut them down in a moment. He might send them sudden disease ... [a line not readable] ... controlling power. The Lord says, “O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help come.” [Hosea 13:9.]

God’s Amazing Grace

When Affliction Comes, March 22

AG 89.1

When he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 2 Chronicles 33:12.