Manasseh began his reign at a young age and stayed on the throne for a remarkably long period in Jerusalem.
“Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hephzibah.” (v.1) This simple statement provides a snapshot of a dramatic change in leadership for the kingdom of Judah. Being merely twelve, Manasseh assumed the throne at an age typically marked by childhood, rather than rulership. Born around 709 BC, he was the son of King Hezekiah, placing him in a historical timeline that followed the reforms and faithfulness Hezekiah attempted to instill in Judah (2 Kings 18-20). Yet, Manasseh was twelve years old (v.1) at ascension, indicating that his rise to power came at a significant moment in Judah’s history, shortly after a period of miraculous deliverance from the Assyrians under Hezekiah’s faithful reign (2 Kings 19:35-37).
Because he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem (v.1), Manasseh’s rule stands as the longest recorded reign of any king of Judah. Jerusalem, located in the rugged hills of the tribal territory of Benjamin, served as the spiritual and political center for God’s chosen people. Manasseh’s mother, Hephzibah (v.1), bears a name that means “My delight is in her,” which also appears as a symbolic name for Jerusalem in Isaiah 62:4. Manasseh’s lengthy tenure from approximately 697 BC to 642 BC placed him in a precarious spot between the fading influence of the Assyrian empire and the emerging powers that would later threaten Judah’s independence. His story is further detailed in 2 Chronicles 33, revealing both the depth of his idolatry and the grace of God in his eventual repentance.
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2 Kings 21:1 meaning
“Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Hephzibah.” (v.1) This simple statement provides a snapshot of a dramatic change in leadership for the kingdom of Judah. Being merely twelve, Manasseh assumed the throne at an age typically marked by childhood, rather than rulership. Born around 709 BC, he was the son of King Hezekiah, placing him in a historical timeline that followed the reforms and faithfulness Hezekiah attempted to instill in Judah (2 Kings 18-20). Yet, Manasseh was twelve years old (v.1) at ascension, indicating that his rise to power came at a significant moment in Judah’s history, shortly after a period of miraculous deliverance from the Assyrians under Hezekiah’s faithful reign (2 Kings 19:35-37).
Because he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem (v.1), Manasseh’s rule stands as the longest recorded reign of any king of Judah. Jerusalem, located in the rugged hills of the tribal territory of Benjamin, served as the spiritual and political center for God’s chosen people. Manasseh’s mother, Hephzibah (v.1), bears a name that means “My delight is in her,” which also appears as a symbolic name for Jerusalem in Isaiah 62:4. Manasseh’s lengthy tenure from approximately 697 BC to 642 BC placed him in a precarious spot between the fading influence of the Assyrian empire and the emerging powers that would later threaten Judah’s independence. His story is further detailed in 2 Chronicles 33, revealing both the depth of his idolatry and the grace of God in his eventual repentance.