Manasseh Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 21:1–9)

1Manasseh (causing to forget) was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) fifty-five years. 2And he did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH} by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites (God prevails). 3For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength) had torn down, and he raised up altars for the Baals (lord) and made Asherah poles (goddess). And he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.

4Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD {YHWH}, of which the LORD had said, “My Name will remain in Jerusalem (city of peace) forever.” 5In both courtyards of the house of the LORD {YHWH}, he built altars to all the host of heaven. 6He sacrificed his sons in the fire \made his sons pass through the fire/a in the Valley of Ben-hinnom (lamentation). He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH}, provoking Him to anger.

7Manasseh even took the carved image he had made and set it up in the house of God {Elohim}, of which God had said to David (beloved) and his son Solomon (peace), “In this temple and in Jerusalem (city of peace), which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel (he wrestles with God), I will establish My Name forever. 8I will never again cause the feet of the Israelites (God prevails) to leave the land that I assigned to your⁺ fathers, if only they are careful to do all that I have commanded them through Moses (drawn out)—all the laws, statutes, and judgments.”

9So Manasseh (causing to forget) led the people of Judah (praised) and Jerusalem (city of peace) astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD {YHWH} had destroyed before the Israelites (God prevails).

Manasseh’s Repentance and Restoration
(2 Kings 21:10–18)

10And the LORD {YHWH} spoke to Manasseh (causing to forget) and his people, but they did not listen. 11So the LORD {YHWH} brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria (a step), who captured Manasseh (causing to forget), put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon (confusion by mixing). 12And in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God {YHWH Elohaw} and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers. 13And when he prayed to Him, the LORD received his plea and heard his petition. So He brought him back to Jerusalem (city of peace) and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh (causing to forget) knew that the LORD {YHWH} is God {Elohim}.

14After this, Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David (beloved) from west of Gihon (bursting forth) in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate, and he brought it around the hill of Ophel (hill) and heightened it considerably. He also stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah (praised).

15He removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD {YHWH}, along with all the altars he had built on the temple mount \the mountain of the house of the LORD/b and in Jerusalem (city of peace), and he dumped them outside the city. 16Then he restored the altar of the LORD {YHWH} and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it, and he told Judah (praised) to serve the LORD, the God {Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God). 17Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God {YHWH Elohehem}.

18As for the rest of the acts of Manasseh (causing to forget), along with his prayer to his God {Elohaw} and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD {YHWH}, the God of Israel (he wrestles with God), they are indeed written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel (Judah).c 19His prayer and how God received his plea, as well as all his sin and unfaithfulness, and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles (goddess) and idols before he humbled himself, they are indeed written in the Records of the Seers (the Records of the Hozai).d 20And Manasseh (causing to forget) rested with his fathers and was buried at his palace. And his son Amon (skilled workman) reigned in his place.

Amon Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 21:19–26)

21Amon (skilled workman) was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem (city of peace) two years. 22And he did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH}, as his father Manasseh (causing to forget) had done.

Amon (skilled workman) served and sacrificed to all the idols that his father Manasseh had made, 23but he did not humble himself before the LORD {YHWH} as his father Manasseh (causing to forget) had done; instead, Amon (skilled workman) increased his guilt.

24Then the servants of Amon conspired against him and killed him in his palace. 25But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon (skilled workman), and they made his son Josiah (whom YHWH heals) king in his place.