therefore Yahweh the God of Israel says, ‘Behold, I bring such evil on Jerusalem and Judah that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle. I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of Ahab’s house; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. I will cast off the remnant of my inheritance, and deliver them into the hands of their enemies. They will become a prey and a plunder to all their enemies, because they have done that which is evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.’ ”
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2 Kings 21:12-15 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, after the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he raised up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel did, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served them. He built altars in Yahweh’s house, of which Yahweh said, “I will put my name in Jerusalem.” He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of Yahweh’s house. He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery, used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards. He did much evil in Yahweh’s sight, to provoke him to anger. He set the engraved image of Asherah that he had made in the house of which Yahweh said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever; I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.” But they didn’t listen, and Manasseh seduced them to do that which is evil more than the nations did whom Yahweh destroyed before the children of Israel. Yahweh spoke by his servants the prophets, saying, “Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, and has done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has also made Judah to sin with his idols; therefore Yahweh the God of Israel says, ‘Behold, I bring such evil on Jerusalem and Judah that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle. I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of Ahab’s house; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. I will cast off the remnant of my inheritance, and deliver them into the hands of their enemies. They will become a prey and a plunder to all their enemies, because they have done that which is evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.’ ”
Parallel Translations
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therefore Yahweh the God of Israel says, ‘Behold, I bring such evil on Jerusalem and Judah that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.
I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of Ahab’s house; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.
I will cast off the remnant of my inheritance, and deliver them into the hands of their enemies. They will become a prey and a plunder to all their enemies,
because they have done that which is evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.’ ”
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Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.
And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.
And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies;
Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.
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therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: Behold, I bring such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.
And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.
And I will cast off the remnant of Mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies;
because they have done that which is evil in My sight, and have provoked Me, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.'
Cross-references (63)
- Amos 7:7-8 (v13) Thus he showed me and behold, the Lord stood beside a wall made by a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. Yahweh said to me, “Amos,…
- Lamentations 2:8 (v13) Yahweh has purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion. He has stretched out the line. He has not withdrawn his hand from…
- Isaiah 34:11 (v13) But the pelican and the porcupine will possess it. The owl and the raven will dwell in it. He will stretch the line of confusion over it,…
- Jeremiah 19:3 (v12) Say, ‘Hear Yahweh’s word, kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem: Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel says, “Behold, I will bring…
- 1 Samuel 3:11 (v12) Yahweh said to Samuel, “Behold, I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.
Show all 63 cross-references
- Jeremiah 23:33 (v14) “When this people, or the prophet, or a priest, asks you, saying, ‘What is the message from Yahweh?’ Then you shall tell them, ‘ “What…
- 2 Kings 10:11 (v13) So Jehu struck all that remained of Ahab’s house in Jezreel, with all his great men, his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left…
- 2 Kings 19:4 (v14) It may be Yahweh your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and…
- Psalms 89:38-45 (v14) But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed. You have renounced the covenant of your servant. You have…
- Isaiah 10:22 (v13) For though your people, Israel, are like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. A destruction is determined, overflowing…
- Isaiah 28:17 (v13) I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will…
- Jeremiah 25:9 (v13) behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,” says Yahweh, “and I will send to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my…
- Ezekiel 23:31-34 (v13) You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore I will give her cup into your hand.’ “The Lord Yahweh says: ‘You will drink of your…
- Leviticus 26:17 (v14) I will set my face against you, and you will be struck before your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you; and you will flee when…
- Leviticus 26:36-38 (v14) “ ‘As for those of you who are left, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. The sound of a driven leaf…
- Deuteronomy 4:26-27 (v14) I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will soon utterly perish from off the land which you go over the Jordan to…
- Deuteronomy 9:21 (v15) I took your sin, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire, and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as…
- Deuteronomy 28:25 (v14) Yahweh will cause you to be struck before your enemies. You will go out one way against them, and will flee seven ways before them. You…
- Deuteronomy 28:31-33 (v14) Your ox will be slain before your eyes, and you will not eat any of it. Your donkey will be violently taken away from before your face, and…
- Deuteronomy 28:48 (v14) therefore you will serve your enemies whom Yahweh sends against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in lack of all things. He will…
- Deuteronomy 31:17 (v14) Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be…
- Deuteronomy 31:27 (v15) For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. Behold, while I am yet alive with you today, you have been rebellious against Yahweh. How…
- Deuteronomy 31:29 (v15) For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn away from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will…
- Judges 2:11-13 (v15) The children of Israel did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and served the Baals. They abandoned Yahweh, the God of their fathers,…
- Judges 2:14-15 (v14) Yahweh’s anger burned against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of raiders who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of…
- 1 Kings 14:10 (v13) therefore, behold, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam everyone who urinates on a wall, he who is…
- 2 Kings 17:6 (v13) In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah, and on the…
- 2 Kings 19:30-31 (v14) The remnant that has escaped of the house of Judah will again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem a remnant…
- 2 Kings 22:16 (v12) “Yahweh says, ‘Behold, I will bring evil on this place, and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has…
- 2 Kings 24:2 (v14) Yahweh sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon,…
- 2 Chronicles 15:2 (v14) and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin! Yahweh is with you, while you are with him; and if…
- 2 Chronicles 36:16-17 (v14) but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until Yahweh’s wrath arose against his people,…
- Nehemiah 9:27-37 (v14) Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them. In the time of their trouble, when they cried to you,…
- Psalms 37:28 (v14) For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
- Psalms 71:1-7 (v14) In you, Yahweh, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed. Deliver me in your righteousness, and rescue me. Turn your ear to me, and save…
- Psalms 106:34-40 (v15) They didn’t destroy the peoples, as Yahweh commanded them, but mixed themselves with the nations, and learned their works. They served…
- Psalms 106:40-43 (v14) Therefore Yahweh burned with anger against his people. He abhorred his inheritance. He gave them into the hand of the nations. Those who…
- Isaiah 10:6 (v14) I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people who anger me I will give him a command to take the plunder and to take the…
- Isaiah 14:23 (v13) “I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water. I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” says Yahweh of…
- Jeremiah 12:7 (v14) “I have forsaken my house. I have cast off my heritage. I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
- Lamentations 1:5 (v14) Her adversaries have become the head. Her enemies prosper; for Yahweh has afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions. Her young…
- Lamentations 1:10 (v14) The adversary has spread out his hand on all her pleasant things; for she has seen that the nations have entered into her sanctuary,…
- Lamentations 5:20 (v14) Why do you forget us forever, and forsake us for so long a time?
- Ezekiel 16:15-22 (v15) “ ‘ “But you trusted in your beauty, and played the prostitute because of your renown, and poured out your prostitution on everyone who…
- Ezekiel 20:4 (v15) “Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.
- Ezekiel 20:13 (v15) “ ‘ “But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and they rejected my ordinances, which…
- Ezekiel 20:21 (v15) “ ‘ “But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t keep my ordinances to do them, which if a man does,…
- Ezekiel 20:30 (v15) “Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you play the…
- Ezekiel 23:3 (v15) They played the prostitute in Egypt. They played the prostitute in their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their youthful…
- Ezekiel 23:8-21 (v15) She hasn’t left her prostitution since leaving Egypt; for in her youth they lay with her. They caressed her youthful nipples; and they…
- Ezekiel 24:10-11 (v13) Heap on the wood. Make the fire hot. Boil the meat well. Make the broth thick, and let the bones be burned. Then set it empty on its coals,…
- Daniel 9:5-11 (v15) we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from your precepts and from your…
- Daniel 9:12 (v12) He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us, and against our judges who judged us, by bringing on us a great evil; for under the…
- Amos 3:2 (v12) “I have only chosen you of all the families of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all of your sins.”
- Amos 5:2 (v14) “The virgin of Israel has fallen; She shall rise no more. She is cast down on her land; there is no one to raise her up.”
- Micah 3:12 (v12) Therefore Zion for your sake will be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem will become heaps of rubble, and the mountain of the temple like…
- Zechariah 1:16 (v13) Therefore Yahweh says: “I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy. My house shall be built in it,” says Yahweh of Armies, “and a line shall…
- Revelation 18:21-23 (v13) A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city,…
- 1 Kings 21:21-24 (v13) Behold, I will bring evil on you, and will utterly sweep you away and will cut off from Ahab everyone who urinates against a wall, and him…
- Isaiah 28:16 (v12) Therefore the Lord Yahweh says, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure…
- Matthew 24:21-22 (v12) for then there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. Unless those…
- Luke 23:28-29 (v12) But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold,…
- Revelation 6:15-17 (v12) The kings of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the rich, the strong, and every slave and free person, hid themselves in the…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv12–14 Meaning, that whosoever shall hear of this great plague,…
Meaning, that whosoever shall hear of this great plague, shall be astonished.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv12–15 2Ki 21:12 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of…
2Ki 21:12 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I [am] bringing [such] evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.
Ver. 12. Therefore thus saith the Lord.] God loveth to signify beforehand, saith the historian, and he therefore threateneth that he may not punish, saith a father.
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Both his ears shall tingle.] He shall fall into a swoon through horror and dolor. See 1Sa 3:11.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv12–15 By the great commotion which such terrible reports shall…
By the great commotion which such terrible reports shall cause in the hearts and heads of the hearers. See Poole "1Sa 3:11"; See Poole "Jer 19:3".
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv12–15 Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel,.... Who,…
Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel,.... Who, though kind and gracious to Israel as their covenant God, is yet just and righteous, as well as he is a sovereign Being and Lord of all:
behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle; it will make such a noise in the world, and be so horrible and terrible; and if, he report of it would be so dreadful as to make a man's ears tingle, and his heart tremble, what must it be to endure it! Eze 22:14.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv13, 15 The line - She shall have the same measure,…
The line - She shall have the same measure, the same judgments which Samaria had. The line is often put for one's lot or portion, because mens portions or possessions used to be measured by lines. A dish - As men do with a dish that hath been used, first wholly empty it of all that is in it, then throughly cleanse and wipe it; and lastly, turn it upside down, that nothing may remain in it; so will I deal with Jerusalem, throughly empty and purge it from all its wicked inhabitants. Yet the comparison intimates, that this should be in order to the purifying, not the final destruction of Jerusalem. The dish shall not be broken in pieces, or wholly cast away, but only wiped.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv12–14 Verse 12. Both his ears shall tingle.] תצלנה titstsalnah;…
Verse 12. Both his ears shall tingle.] תצלנה titstsalnah; something expressive of the sound in what we call, from the same sensation, the tingling of the ears. This is the consequence of having the ears suddenly pierced with a loud and shrill noise; the ears seem to ring for some time after. The prophets spoke to them vehemently, so that the sound seemed to be continued even when they had left off speaking. This was a faithful and solemn testimony.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv13–14 2Ki 21:13. I will stretch over Jerusalem the line…
2Ki 21:13. I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria — She shall have the same measure and lot; that is, the same judgments which Samaria has had. For the line is often put for one’s lot or portion, because men’s portions or possessions used to be measured by lines. Or it is a metaphor taken from workmen, who mark out by lines what parts of a building they would have thrown down, and what they would have to stand. I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, &c. — As men do with a dish that hath been used, first wholly empty it of all that is in it, then thoroughly cleanse and wipe it, and lastly turn it upside down, that nothing may remain in it; so will I deal with Jerusalem, thoroughly empty and purge it from all its wicked inhabitants. Yet the comparison intimates, that this should be in order to the purifying, not the final destruction of Jerusalem. The dish shall not be broken in pieces, or wholly cast away, but only wiped.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v13 The general meaning is plain, but the exact force…
The general meaning is plain, but the exact force of the metaphor used is not so clear. If the “line” and the “plummet” be “symbols of rule” or law, the meaning will be - “I will apply exactly the same measure and rule to Jerusalem as to Samaria - I will treat both alike with strict and even justice.”
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv12–14 Tingle, through astonishment, as if he had been stunned…
Tingle, through astonishment, as if he had been stunned with too loud a noise, 1 Kings iii. 11. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv12–14 whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle--a…
whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle--a strong metaphorical form of announcing an extraordinary and appalling event (see Sa1 3:11; Jer 19:3; also Hab 1:5).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv12–14 12. Ears shall tingle — So amazed shall he…
12. Ears shall tingle — So amazed shall he be at the terrible tidings. Compare 1Sa_3:11, note.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv12–15 12. therefore] Here again the LXX. translates the Hebrew…
12. therefore] Here again the LXX. translates the Hebrew word by οὐχ οὑτῶς. See note on 2Ki_1:3.
I am bringing [R.V. I bring] such evil] The R.V. prints ‘such’ in ordinary type. For the expression ‘the ears shall tingle’ cf. 1Sa_3:11; Jer_19:3. In both these passages the phrase is used in connexion with utter overthrow, in the one, of Eli’s house, in the other, of Jerusalem. The sins there enumerated by Jeremiah afford a parallel to the wickedness of Manasseh’s reign.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv12–15 (12) Whosoever heareth of it.—Literally, his hearers. Many MSS.…
(12) Whosoever heareth of it.—Literally, his hearers. Many MSS. And the Heb. margin read her (i.e., its) hearer.
Both his ears shall tingle.—The dreadful news shall affect him like a sharp piercing sound. (See the same metaphor in 1Sa_3:11; Jer_19:3.)
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv12–15 Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold,…
Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle. "As a sharp discordant note," says Bahr, "pains one"s ears, so the news of this harsh punishment shall give pain to all who hear of it." The phrase is one never uttered by any other lips than those of Jehovah (1Sa_3:11; Jer_19:3) "It denotes" (Keil) "such a judgment as has never been heard of before, and excites alarm and horror." Not the Jews only, but the other neighboring nations, when they heard of the sufferings endured in the siege, (2Ki_25:8) and the severities exercised upon the king (ver. 7.) and the city (vers. 9, 10) and. the inhabitants (ver. 11), would have a thrill of pain go through them at the hearing, partly unselfish, partly perhaps selfish, since the treatment that was dealt out to others might also be reserved for them.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v13 stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria,…
stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria, and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab
The words "measuring line" and "plumb line" are metaphors for the standards Yahweh uses to judge people. AT: "judge Jerusalem using the same measure I used when I judged Samaria and the house of Ahab" (See: Metaphor)
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against Samaria
Samaria is the capital city and it represents all the people of the kingdom of Israel. AT: "against the people of Israel" (See: Metonymy)
plumb line
a tool made of a heavy weight and a thin rope used to show if a wall is straight
the house of Ahab
Here "house" represents family. AT: "the family of Ahab" (See: Metonymy)
I will throw off
"I will abandon" or "I will reject"
give them into the hand of their enemies
Here the "hand" of the enemies refers to their enemies' control. AT: "let their enemies defeat them and take over their land" (See: Synecdoche)
translationWords
Samaria
house
Ahab
remnant
inherit
hand
anger
Egypt
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv12, 14 21:12 Based on what had happened to the northern…
21:12 Based on what had happened to the northern kingdom (17:7-23) and to Ahab’s family (9:24-26, 30-37; 10:1-8; 1 Kgs 22:37-38), Manasseh should fully expect God to execute justice against him and the people of Judah.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.