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II Chronicles 32 Notes
In this chapter Hezekiah’s reign ends in a terrible decline from his earlier days.
vs. 1-19 – This parallels II Kings 18:13-37 and Isaiah 36. Hezekiah had stopped the tribute payments to Assyrian that were begun by his father Ahaz (II Chronicles 28:20-21). When they saw the Assyrians coming, they prepared their defenses. They stopped water sources outside of Jerusalem to be a hinderance to their invaders. He prepared his army and encouraged the people to trust in the Lord. Sennacherib attempts to persuade Jerusalem to surrender. The details are fuller in II Kings.
vs. 20 – This parallels II Kings 19:14-19 and Isaiah 37:1-35. II Kings has the text of the prayer and Isaiah’s response.
vs. 21-23 – This parallels II Kings 19:35-37 and Isaiah 37:35-38. II Kings and Isaiah give a body count of the slain Assyrians: 185,000. II Chronicles only speaks of the status of the killed: that they were the military leadership and soldiers. See Isaiah 37:38 for details on Sennacherib’s death
vs. 24 – This parallels II Kings 20:1-7 and Isaiah 38. The details of the illness and sign of the sun dial are found in II Kings and Isaiah.
vs. 25-30 – Hezekiah gave into his pride but repented of his error when faced with his deadly illness. He prospered in many ways. There is a reference in vs. 30 to “Hezekiah’s Tunnel”, which archaeologists have found in Jerusalem.
vs. 31 – This parallels II Kings 20:12-21 and Isaiah 39. See the other accounts for details.
vs. 32-33 – This parallels II Kings 20:20-21. The passing of a great king was honored properly by his people.
II Chronicles 33 Notes
In this chapter two of the worst kings, Manasseh and Amon, reign over Judah.
vs. 1-9 – This parallels II Kings 21:1-9. After one of the best kings comes one of the worst.
vs. 10-13 – Manasseh is undoubtably the worst king Judah had. But the Chronicles account adds the interesting wrinkle to his story that he repented of his evil and turned back to God. I think the captivity and return of Manasseh occurs during the middle or late reign of Ashurbanipal (reigned 669-631 B.C.). Perhaps this has to do with the rebellion of Ashurbanipal’s elder brother Shamash-shum-ukin (who ruled Babylon) from 652-648 B.C. Judah could have sided against Assyria and faced retribution for their actions. Or better, that Manasseh was accused of being disloyal but was proven innocent, so he was released and able to take his throne again
vs. 14-17 – The Jewish historian Josephus writes: “…and when he was come to Jerusalem, he endeavored, if it were possible, to cast out of his memory those his former sins against God, of which he now repented, and to apply himself to a very religious life. He sanctified the temple, and purged the city, and for the remainder of his days he was intent on nothing but to return his thanks to God for his deliverance, and to preserve him propitious to him all his life long. He also instructed the multitude to do the same, as having very nearly experienced what a calamity he was fallen into by a contrary conduct. He also rebuilt the altar, and offered the legal sacrifices, as Moses commanded. And when he had re-established what concerned the Divine worship, as it ought to be, he took care of the security of Jerusalem: he did not only repair the old walls with great diligence, but added another wall to the former. He also built very lofty towers, and the garrisoned places before the city he strengthened, not only in other respects, but with provisions of all sorts that they wanted. And indeed, when he had changed his former course, he so led his life for the time to come, that from the time of his return to piety towards God he was deemed a happy man, and a pattern for imitation.”
vs. 18-20 – This parallels II Kings 21:17-18. The prayer of Manasseh is believed by some to have been preserved in an apocryphal “Prayer of Manasseh”. This is almost certainly untrue as it appears to have been written in the 1st or 2nd century B.C.
vs. 21-25 – This parallels II Kings 21:19-26. Amon attempted to return to idolatry but was assassinated after a reign of only two years.
Closing Thoughts
Recently there was a high profile trial of a horrific crime. The defendant was found guilty and sentenced to death. While it felt like justice was being served, it also brought an interesting question to mind: do I truly want that man to be saved and be in heaven? We tend to think, or at least act like, some people are lost causes and that they are irredeemable. That is not the message of the Bible. It says none of us are worthy and that any who will call upon the Lord may be saved. Be thankful that is true. If Manasseh can repent, anyone can.
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today appeared under the heading “The Penitential Wish” in the 1812 hymnal titled “A New Selection of Hymns”. It was written by Charles Wesley, and I think fits well the theme of repentance we saw surprisingly illustrated in the case of Manasseh.
O that I could repent!
With all my idols part;
And to thy gracious eye present
An humble contrite heart!
A heart with grief opprest,
For having griev'd my God;
A troubled heart that cannot rest
Till sprinkled with thy blood!
Jesus on me bestow,
The penitent desire;
With true sincerity of wo
My aching breast inspire;
With softening pity look,
And melt my hardness down;
Strike with thy love's resistless stroke,
And break this heart of stone!