Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza; and Amon his son reigned in his place.
Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, as Manasseh his father did. He walked in all the ways that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshiped them; and he abandoned Yahweh, the God of his fathers, and didn’t walk in the way of Yahweh. The servants of Amon conspired against him, and put the king to death in his own house. But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place. Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son reigned in his place.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv22, 26 That is, according to his commandments.
That is, according to his commandments.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26 2Ki 21:18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and…
2Ki 21:18 And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
Ver. 18. And was buried in the garden of his own house.] By his own appointment likely, in his last will and testament, {a} as holding himself unworthy, for his former abominations, to be buried in the sepulchres of the kings of Judah. This holy "indignation" and "revenge" is that poor piece of satisfaction which we can give to divine justice. The old interpreter {b} rendereth απολογιαν, {2Co 7:11} satisfaction. It may be he meant, saith Mr Bradford, martyr, a new life, to make amends thereby to the congregation offended.
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In the garden of Uzzah.] That had formerly belonged to Uzzah, or that was planted in the place where Uzzah was smitten for touching the ark. {2Sa 6:7} Some think that Uzzah is here put for Uzziah, that leprous king, who was here buried, {2Ch 26:23} and Manasseh would be buried with him.
{a} Ex testamento ut credibile est, &c. - Jun.
{b} Serm. of Rep., p. 14.
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 v18 In the garden of his own house, not in…
In the garden of his own house, not in the sepulchre of the kings; either by the people’s designation, who judged him unworthy of that honour; or rather, by his own choice and command, as a lasting testimony of his sincere repentance and abhorrency of himself for his former crimes.
In the garden of Uzza, or, of king Uzziah, who possibly planted or enlarged it.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v19 Here is a short account of the short and…
Here is a short account of the short and inglorious reign of Amon, the son of Manasseh. Whether Manasseh, in his blind and brutish zeal for his idols, had sacrificed his other sons - or whether, having been dedicated to his idols, they were refused by the people - so it was that his successor was a son not born till he was forty-five years old. And of him we are here told, 1. That his reign was very wicked: He forsook the God of his fathers (Kg2 21:22), disobeyed the commands given to his fathers, and disclaimed the covenant made with his fathers, and walked not in the way of the Lord, but in all the way which his father walked in, Kg2 21:20, Kg2 21:21. He trod in the steps of his father's idolatry, and revived that which he, in the latter end of his days, had put down. Note, Those who set bad examples, though they may repent themselves, yet cannot be sure that those whom they have drawn into sin by their example will repent; it is often otherwise. 2. That his end was very tragical. He having rebelled against God, his own servants conspired against him and slew him, probably upon some personal disgust, when he had reigned but two years, Kg2 21:23. His servants, who should have guarded him, murdered him; his own house, that should have been his castle of defence, was the place of his execution. He had profaned God's house with his idols, and now God suffered his own house to be polluted with his blood. How unrighteous soever those were that did it, God was righteous who suffered it to be done. Two things the people of the land did, by their representatives, hereupon: - (1.) They did justice on the traitors that had slain the king, and put them to death; for, though he was a bad king, he was their king, and it was a part of their allegiance to him to avenge his death. Thus they cleared themselves from having any hand in the crime, and did what was incumbent on them to deter others from the like villainous practices. (2.) They did a kindness to themselves in making Josiah his son king in his stead, whom probably the conspirators had a design to put by, but the people stood by him and settled him in the throne, encouraged, it may be, by the indications he gave, even in his early days, of a good disposition. Now they made a happy change from one of the worst to one of the best of all the kings of Judah. "Once more," says God, "they shall be tried with a reformation; and, if that succeed, well; if not, then after that I will cut them down." Amon was buried in the same garden where his father was, Kg2 21:26. If his father put himself under that humiliation, the people will put him under it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv18–25 And Manasseh slept with his fathers,.... Or died, after…
And Manasseh slept with his fathers,.... Or died, after a reign of fifty five years, and a life of sixty seven:
and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza; whether the burial of him here was his own choice, judging himself unworthy to lie with the kings of Judah, who had been guilty of such great sins, or whether the will of others, on the same account, is not certain; and as much at a loss are we for the reason of this garden being called the garden of Uzza, whether from Uzzah that died for touching the ark, Sa2 6:6 or from King Uzziah, Kg2 15:7. The Jews buried in gardens in the times of Christ, who himself was buried in one, Joh 19:41. The Romans had sometimes sepulchres in their gardens (g), Galba the emperor was buried in his gardens (h); and so had other nations. Cyrus king of Persia was buried in a garden (i):
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and Amon his son reigned in his stead; of whom we have the following account.
(g) Vid. Kirchman. de Funer. Romas. l. 2. c. 22. p. 274. (h) Eutrop. Hist. Roman. l. 7. Sueton. Vit. Galb. c. 20. Tacit. Hist. l. 1. c. 49. (i) Strabo. Geograph l. 15. p. 502.
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 vv18, 21 Garden - Not in the sepulchre of the kings;…
Garden - Not in the sepulchre of the kings; probably, by his own choice and command, as a lasting testimony of his sincere repentance and abhorrence of himself for his former crime.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv18, 19, 23, 26 Verse 18. In the garden of his own house]…
Verse 18. In the garden of his own house] It was probably a burying-place made for his own family, for Amon his son is said to be buried in the same place, 2Kg 21:26.
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 vv18, 21, 23, 24 2Ki 21:18. Was buried in the garden of his…
2Ki 21:18. Was buried in the garden of his own house — Not in the sepulchre of the kings; probably by his own choice and command, as a lasting testimony of his sincere repentance, and abhorrence of himself for his former crimes.
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 vv18, 21, 23, 24 Was buried - The catacomb of David was probably…
Was buried - The catacomb of David was probably full, and the later kings, from Ahaz downward, had to find sepulture elsewhere. Ahaz was buried in Jerusalem, but not in the sepulchres of the kings 2Ch 28:27. Hezekiah found a resting place on the way that led up to David’s catacomb 2Ch 32:33. Manasseh and Amon were interred in “the garden of Uzza,” a portion (apparently) of the royal palace-garden; perhaps so called after the name of the previous owner. Josiah was buried in “his own sepulchre” 2Ki 23:30.
Amon his son - This name, which occurs only at this time and in the reign of the idolatrous Ahab 1Ki 22:26, is identical in form with the Hebrew representative of the great Egyptian god, Amen or Amun (Nah 3:8 margin); and it is therefore probable that Manasseh selected it and gave it to his son in compliment to the Egyptians.
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 vv18, 20 Oza, a private man, to whom it had belonged;…
Oza, a private man, to whom it had belonged; (Menochius) or the place where the Levite had been punished for touching the ark; (1 Kings vi. 8.) or, in fine, the garden to which king Ozias had retired after he became a leper. (Calmet) --- It is said, that Manasses chose this place for his tomb out of humility. (Grotius)
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 v19 AMON'S WICKED REIGN. (Kg2 21:19-26)
AMON'S WICKED REIGN. (Kg2 21:19-26)
Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign--This prince continued the idolatrous policy of his father; and, after an inglorious reign of two years, he was massacred by some of his own domestics. The people slew the regicide conspirators and placed his son Josiah on the throne.
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Next: 2 Kings Chapter 22
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 vv18, 19, 23, 24, 26 18. Garden of his own house — A garden…
18. Garden of his own house — A garden or field connected with his own private house, not the royal palace on Zion, but probably, as Keil supposes, his summer palace. The locality of this garden cannot now be determined, but it apparently took its name, the garden of Uzza, from some former owner, of whom we find elsewhere no certain trace. Cornelius a Lapide suggests that it may be identical with Perez-uzzah, where Uzzah was smitten for attempting to steady the ark of God. 2Sa_6:8.
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 vv18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26 18. in the garden of his own house] See…
18. in the garden of his own house] See note on 2Ki_20:21 above.
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 vv18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 26 (18) In the garden of his own house, in…
(18) In the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza.—His house was apparently not the royal palace built by Solomon, but another which Manasseh had built for himself. Thenius argues that the garden of Uzza lay in the Tyropœon, at the foot of the spur of Ophel. (Comp. 2Sa_6:8; 1Ch_8:7; Ezr_2:49; Neh_7:51).
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 vv18–26 And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried…
And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house. We have already seen reason for believing that the catacomb of David was full, and that Hezekiah was buried outside it, though in the neighborhood, on this account. (see the comment on 2Ki_20:21) Manasseh seems to have made a new family tomb in a garden belonging to his house. (see ver. 26; and comp. 2Ki_23:30) It is quite impossible to fix its site. In the garden of Uzza. Probably an addition to the old palace garden; perhaps a purchase made by Manasseh with the object of converting it into a burial-ground. "Uzza," or "Uzzah," was a common name among the Jews (2Sa_6:8; Ezr_2:49; Neh_7:51; 1Ch_6:29 1Ch_8:7 1Ch_13:7-11) and does not point to any definite individual. And Amen his son reigned in his stead. "Amon" in Hebrew means "Nursling," or "Darling," and it is quite possible that Manasseh gave his son the name in this sense. But it is also the ordinary Hebrew form of the term ("Amen," or "Amun") by which the Egyptians designated the great god of Thebes, whom the Greeks and Romans called "Ammon." It has therefore been thought by many that it was given by Manasseh to his son "in an idolatrous spirit." So Bishop Cotton in Smith"s "Dictionary of the Bible," vol. 1. p. 61, and others.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v19 Amon was twenty and two years old when he…
2Ki_21:19-26
Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign.
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Amon
The brief reign of Amon is only a sort of unimportant and miserable annex to that of his father. As he was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, he must have witnessed the repentance and reforming zeal of his father, if, in spite of all difficulties, we assume that narrative to be historical. In that ease, however, the young man was wholly untouched by the latter phase of Manassehs life, and flung himself headlong into the career of the kings earlier idolatries. He walked in all the ways that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them--which was the more extraordinary if Manassehs last acts had been to dethrone and destroy these strange gods. He even multiplied trespass, so that in his sons reign we find every form of abomination as triumphant as though Manasseh had never attempted to check the tide of evil. We know nothing more of Amon. Apparently he only reigned two years. He is the only Jewish king who bears the name of a foreign--an Egyptian--deity. For pictures of the state of things in this reign we may look to the prophets Zephaniah and Jeremiah, and they are forced to use the darkest colours. (Dexter Farrar.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On v19 HOMILETICS OF 2Ki_21:19-26
HOMILETICS OF 2Ki_21:19-26
THE CRIME OF ASSASSINATION
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I. Is but lightly regarded where religions principle is demoralized (2Ki_21:20-22). When the bonds of religious obligations are relaxed, the way is opened for the commission of the worst crimes. Every sin blunts the moral sense and makes it easier to sin again, until the lowest grade of crime is reached. The peace, safety, and prosperity of a nation are more indebted to the prevalence of true religion than the majority are inclined to admit. Religion is the curb that holds in check the fierce monster of crime, that would otherwise stalk through the land and work irreparable mischief.
II. Is unjustifiable, notwithstanding the wickedness of its victim. We stand aghast at the wickedness of those in power, and are apt to think any means justifiable that will put an end to it. Even the unjust detest the injustice of others. A hatred of evil may tempt one into hasty and excessive punishment of wrong, forgetting that “when our hatred is violent it sinks us even boneath those we hate.” It is difficult to restrain the national thirst for revenge when in the midst of injustice and suffering. “If the wicked flourish,” says Fuller, “and thou suffer, be not discouraged; they are fatted for destruction, thou art dieted for health.” We may safely leave the wicked in the hands of God. We may create greater evils by the way in which we strive to redress one single offence.
III. Is aggravated when committed by those whose duty it is to guard and protect (2Ki_21:23). Amon was slain by his court attendants, who took advantage of the confidence and trust reposed in them. In the most unguarded moment, and when least suspecting treachery, he was slain in the privacy of his palace; his servants, towards whom he had shown kindness and honour, became traitors and murderers.
Is there a crime
Beneath the roof of heaven that staius the soul
With more infernal hue than damned
Assassination!
Cibber.
And it certainly adds to the heinousness of the crime when the fatal blow is prompted by a false heart.
IV. Sooner or later meets with terrible punishment (2Ki_21:24). The conspirators and assassins met with a similar fate to their victim. Sin carries within it its own punishment. The most cleverly devised mischief is sure to return in some shape or other to plague the inventors.
This even-handed justice
Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice
To our own lips.
In the history of the kings we are now studying, there is nothing more frequently and impressively revealed than the operation of the inexorable law of retribution. The triumph of the wicked is brief. The gains of sin are not worth the ingenuity and toil. The wages of sin is death.
LESSONS:—
1. Assassination is not only a savage, but a useless, policy.
2. A wrong is never rectified by inflicting a greater wrong.
3. True religion teaches the sacredness of human life.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES.
2Ki_21:19-26. How wretchedly a king appears of whom history has nothing more to record than godleesness! As ithe king, so are his officers; as is the governor, so are the citizens. A depraved king ruins his country. Unfaithfulness is punished by unfaithfulness. Amon was not faithful to God: unfaithfulness was his punishment. He was murdered by his own servants, and these in their turn were punished by their own sin—they also were murdered (Mat_26:52; Luk_6:28). Tumult and murder, perpetrated now by the authorities, now by the people—those are the natural fruits which are produced in a land which has abandoned God, and in which His word is no longer respected.—Lange.
2Ki_21:20-24. Amon himself seems to have been popular; but, from whatever cause, he roused the enmity of the court party. It could not be laid to his charge that he refused to comply with the established heathenism, for it is expressly said that he walked in his father’s steps, and served and worshipped the idols he had set up, multiplying his trespasses, and showing some of the penitent humility of Manasseh’s late years. It may be, however, that signs of a serious thoughtfulness, not as yet carried into outward act, alarmed the dominant faction, for within two years he was cut off by a palace conspiracy, like that by which his ancestor, king Joash, perished.—Geikie.
2Ki_21:23-24. Conspiracy and murder.
1. Reveal a melancholy picture of national demoralization.
2. May occasion a worse state of misrule than that which is sought to be removed.
3. Recoil in terrible vengeance on the actors themselves.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v26 called Josias, Mat 1:10.
Josiah
called Josias, Mat 1:10.
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v19 Amon’s Reign
Amon’s Reign
v. 19. Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jothbah, a city in Judah.
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v. 20. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasseh did, namely, during the greater part of his reign.
v. 21. And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, not only those of Canaan and Phoenicia, but also of Assyria and Chaldea, and worshiped them.
v. 22. And he forsook the Lord God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the Lord.
v. 23. And the servants of Amon, evidently his attendants, since it was a conspiracy in the palace only, conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house.
v. 24. And the people of the land, the inhabitants of Judah, slew all them that had conspired against King Amon, evidently with the intention of placing a man from their midst on the throne; and the people of the land made Josiah, his son, king in his stead.
v. 25. Now, the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
v. 26. And he was buried in his sepulcher in the garden of Uzza, his resting-place being next to that of his father; and Josiah, his son, reigned in his stead. The example of evil is always powerful, more so than the example of good. All the more is it necessary for us to resist evil in every form and not to allow it to gain the ascendancy.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv19, 21, 24 Amon ... Haruz
Amon ... Haruz
These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)
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Meshullemeth
This is the name of a woman. (See: How to Translate Names)
Jotbah
This is the name of a city. (See: How to Translate Names)
what was evil in the sight of Yahweh
The sight of Yahweh represents Yahweh's judgment or evaluation. See how you translated this in 2 Kings 3:2. AT: "what was evil in Yahweh's judgment" or "what Yahweh considers to be evil" (See: Metaphor)
translationWords
reign
name
Manasseh
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 vv18, 19, 26 21:18 The garden of Uzza is otherwise unknown (but…
21:18 The garden of Uzza is otherwise unknown (but see also 21:26). Unlike his father, Hezekiah, who had been buried with honor, Manasseh was not buried in the royal tombs (2 Chr 32:33).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.