Manasseh came next was an evil king, he also reigned for a very long time, fifty five years. He followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out. The driving out of nations, particularly in Joshua, was not part of a land-grab, but was driving out of nations whose practices were detestable (including child sacrifice), the purpose was to avoid Israel following these practices so that a Godly nation would be raised up that would be a light to the nations. There are some today who see Israel rather too much in terms of the land that they have. I am not saying the land does not matter (and I most definitely do not believe in replacement theology), but we need to have the focus on the right thing. Likewise, the church is meant to be a light to the nations and we should not adopt the practices of the world, which we seem all too ready to do.
Manasseh even went as far as setting up idols in the temple of God. He sacrificed children, practised divination and witchcraft.
The writer makes it abundantly clear what Manasseh's sins were. Verse 9 is most damning, Israel was worse than the nations they had driven out. The Lord sent prophets but they were ignored (remember Jesus' parables on the same theme). So God sent an army against them. Manasseh was carried off into exile but then humbled himself and the Lord listened to him. This is a model of what happened to the whole nation. They all sinned and many were taken into exile, but if they repented the Lord would forgive and restore them (see Solomon's prayer).
Manasseh returned to Jerusalem and did some restoration work, and also removed the idols. The people still used the high places, but only to worship the Lord.
So Manasseh followed the reverse path of several of the previous kings, who started off well and then fell at the end. Manasseh started off badly but then turned to the Lord at the end.
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