Back to 2 Kings 21

2 Kings 21:3-5

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.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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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.’ ”

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    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.

  • KJV King James Version

    For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

    And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.

    And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as did Ahab king of Israel, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

    And he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD said: 'In Jerusalem will I put My name.'

    And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.

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Cross-references (40)

  • 2 Samuel 7:13 (v4) He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
  • 1 Kings 7:12 (v5) The great court around had three courses of cut stone, and a course of cedar beams; like the inner court of Yahweh’s house and the porch of…
  • 1 Kings 8:29 (v4) that your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there;’ to…
  • 2 Kings 17:16 (v3) They abandoned all the commandments of Yahweh their God, and made molten images for themselves, even two calves, and made an Asherah, and…
  • 2 Kings 18:4 (v3) He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had…
Show all 40 cross-references
  • Deuteronomy 17:3 (v3) and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the stars of the sky, which I have not commanded,
  • 1 Kings 16:31-33 (v3) As if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal…
  • Jeremiah 32:34 (v4) But they set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to defile it.
  • Deuteronomy 4:19 (v3) and lest you lift up your eyes to the sky, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the army of the sky, you are drawn…
  • Deuteronomy 12:5 (v4) But to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, you shall seek his habitation, and you…
  • 1 Kings 6:36 (v5) He built the inner court with three courses of cut stone and a course of cedar beams.
  • 1 Kings 9:3 (v4) Yahweh said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your supplication, that you have made before me. I have made this house holy, which you…
  • 2 Kings 16:10-16 (v4) King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and king Ahaz sent to Urijah…
  • 2 Kings 23:4 (v5) The king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring out of Yahweh’s…
  • 2 Kings 23:12 (v5) The king broke down the altars that were on the roof of the upper room of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which…
  • Exodus 20:24 (v4) You shall make an altar of earth for me, and shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your…
  • 1 Kings 18:21 (v3) Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal,…
  • 1 Kings 18:26 (v3) They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, “Baal,…
  • 2 Kings 8:18 (v3) He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did Ahab’s house; for he married Ahab’s daughter. He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s…
  • 2 Kings 8:27 (v3) He walked in the way of Ahab’s house, and did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, as did Ahab’s house; for he was the son-in-law of…
  • 2 Kings 10:18-20 (v3) Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much. Now therefore call to me…
  • 2 Kings 18:22 (v3) But if you tell me, ‘We trust in Yahweh our God;’ isn’t that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to…
  • 2 Kings 23:4-5 (v3) The king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring out of Yahweh’s…
  • 2 Kings 23:6 (v5) He brought out the Asherah from Yahweh’s house, outside of Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and beat it…
  • 2 Chronicles 32:12 (v3) Hasn’t the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You shall worship before…
  • 2 Chronicles 33:3-5 (v3) For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he raised up altars for the Baals, made Asheroth, and…
  • 2 Chronicles 33:5 (v5) He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of Yahweh’s house.
  • 2 Chronicles 33:15 (v5) He took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of Yahweh’s house, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of Yahweh’s house,…
  • 2 Chronicles 34:3 (v3) For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he…
  • Job 31:26 (v3) if I have seen the sun when it shined, or the moon moving in splendor,
  • Psalms 78:68-69 (v4) But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved. He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which he has established…
  • Psalms 132:13-14 (v4) For Yahweh has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation. “This is my resting place forever. I will live here, for I have desired…
  • Ezekiel 40:28 (v5) Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate. He measured the south gate according to these measurements;
  • Ezekiel 40:32 (v5) He brought me into the inner court toward the east. He measured the gate according to these measurements;
  • Ezekiel 40:37 (v5) Its posts were toward the outer court. Palm trees were on its posts on this side and on that side. The ascent to it had eight steps.
  • Ezekiel 40:47 (v5) He measured the court, one hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits wide, square. The altar was before the house.
  • Ezekiel 42:3 (v5) Opposite the twenty cubits which belonged to the inner court, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery…
  • Ezekiel 43:5 (v5) The Spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and behold, Yahweh’s glory filled the house.
  • Ezekiel 44:19 (v5) When they go out into the outer court, even into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments in which they minister,…
  • Micah 6:16 (v3) For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of Ahab’s house. You walk in their counsels, that I may make you a ruin, and her…

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (15 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv3–5 2Ki 21:3 For he built up again the high…

2Ki 21:3 For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

Ver. 3. He built up again the high places, &c.] Which he, perhaps, was persuaded to believe to be the old religion, and therefore by all means to be restored. The Papist’s plea: τα γαρ καινα κενα..

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And he reared up altars for Baal.] Like his grandfather Ahaz, {2Ch 28:2} into whom Manasseh degenerateth; as if there had been no intervention of a Hezekiah. So we have seen the kernel of a well-fruited plant degenerate into that crab or willow which gave the original to his stock.

And made a grove.] Ahab-like, from whom, by wicked Athaliah, he was lineally descended. Sic partus sequitur ventrem.

And worshipped all the host of heaven.] Forgetting what had been done for his father by that host, when the sun, for his sake, went ten degrees backward: and so making good the import of his name Manasseh, which signifieth Forgetfulness.

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 vv3–5 The host of heaven; the stars, which the Gentiles…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv3–5 For he built up again the high places which…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v3 He built, &c. - Trampling on the dust and…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv3–4 Verse 3. Made a grove] He made Asherah, the…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v3 2Ki 21:3-5. He built up again the high places…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv3–4 The first step in the re-establishment of idolatry seems…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv3–4 Groves. Hebrew Ashera, "the grove," or the idol of…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v5 the two courts of the house of the Lord--the…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv3–4 3. As did Ahab — See notes on 1Ki_16:30-33.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv3–5 3. For he built up again the high places]…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv3–5 (3) For he built up again.—The LXX. and Vulg.…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv3–5 For he built up again the high places which…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v4 General Information:
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v3 21:3-5 Manasseh’s spiritual infidelity included rebuilding local pagan shrines…
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