A king of Judah during the divided kingdom. He was a son of Hezekiah by Hephzibah, husband of Meshullemeth, and father of Amon.
About Manasseh (King of Judah)
The thirteenth king of Judah who reigned from 697 to 642 BC and Jesus’ ancestor (Matthew 1:10). He is famous for his long and wicked reign, described in 2 Kings 21:1–26 and 2 Chronicles 33:1–20. His father was the godly king Hezekiah, and his mother was Hephzibah (2 Kings 21:1).
At the age of 12 he became co-ruler with his father. In 686 BC, his father died and he became the only king at only 23. His 55-year reign (2 Kings 21:1) is dated from the beginning of his time ruling with his father, so he ruled 11 years as co-ruler and 44 years as the only king—longer than any other king in Judah or in Israel. Unfortunately, he was the most evil Judean king. He even commited a series of murders to stay in power (2 Kings 21:16; 24:4). His sins are listed in 2 Kings 21:2–9 and include:
Rebuilding the high places for pagan worship
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Hezekiah, Hephzibah
- Partner
- Meshullemeth
- Child
- Amon (Son of Manasseh)
- Uncle
- Maaseiah (2 Chronicles 28:7)
Key References
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.
Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz; she was from Jotbah.
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years.
All Scripture References (24)
2 Kings (11)
And Hezekiah rested with his fathers, and his son Manasseh reigned in his place.
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.
But the people did not listen and Manasseh led them astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.
“Since Manasseh king of Judah has committed all these abominations, acting more wickedly than the Amorites who preceded him, and with his idols has caused Judah to sin,
Moreover, Manasseh shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end, in addition to the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, doing evil in the sight of the LORD.
As for the rest of the acts of Manasseh, along with all his accomplishments and the sin that he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
And Manasseh rested with his fathers and was buried in his palace garden, the garden of Uzza. And his son Amon reigned in his place.
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done.
He pulled down the altars that the kings of Judah had set up on the roof near the upper chamber of Ahaz, and the altars that Manasseh had set up in the two courtyards of the house of the LORD. The king pulverized them there and threw their dust into the Kidron Valley.
Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn away from the fury of His burning anger, which was kindled against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to provoke Him to anger.
Surely this happened to Judah at the LORD’s command, to remove them from His presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all that he had done,
1 Chronicles (1)
Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
2 Chronicles (10)
And Hezekiah rested with his fathers and was buried in the upper tombs of David’s descendants. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem paid him honor at his death. And his son Manasseh reigned in his place.
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years.
So Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.
And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they did not listen.
So the LORD brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.
And when he prayed to Him, the LORD received his plea and heard his petition. So He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.
As for the rest of the acts of Manasseh, along with his prayer to his God and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, they are indeed written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
And Manasseh rested with his fathers and was buried at his palace. And his son Amon reigned in his place.
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon served and sacrificed to all the idols that his father Manasseh had made,
but he did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had done; instead, Amon increased his guilt.
Jeremiah (1)
I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem.
Matthew (1)
Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,