Background:
Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, was the king of Judah who reigned for 55 years, the longest of any king in Judah's history (2 Kings 21:1). His reign is noted for its initial period of extreme idolatry and wickedness, which provoked the LORD to anger. Manasseh's actions included rebuilding high places, erecting altars for Baal, making an Asherah pole, and even sacrificing his own son in the fire (2 Kings 21:3-6). He led Judah into greater sin than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites (2 Kings 21:9).

Idolatry and Wickedness:
Manasseh's reign was marked by a significant departure from the worship of Yahweh. He desecrated the temple by placing altars for all the host of heaven in its courts (2 Kings 21:5). He practiced witchcraft, divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists, doing much evil in the sight of the LORD (2 Kings 21:6). His actions were a direct violation of the covenantal laws given to Israel, leading to a period of spiritual and moral decline in Judah.

Divine Judgment:
The LORD spoke through His prophets, declaring that because of Manasseh's abominations, He would bring such disaster upon Jerusalem and Judah that it would cause the ears of those who hear it to tingle (2 Kings 21:12). The LORD's judgment was pronounced: "I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish—wiping it and turning it upside down" (2 Kings 21:13). This prophecy highlighted the severity of Manasseh's sins and the impending consequences for the nation.

Repentance:
The account of Manasseh's repentance is detailed in 2 Chronicles 33:10-13. The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. Consequently, the LORD brought against them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon (2 Chronicles 33:11). In his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers (2 Chronicles 33:12). He prayed to Him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea, bringing him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God (2 Chronicles 33:13).

Restoration and Reforms:
Following his repentance, Manasseh undertook significant religious reforms. He removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple mount and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside the city (2 Chronicles 33:15). He restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed fellowship and thank offerings on it, commanding Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel (2 Chronicles 33:16). Although the people continued to sacrifice at the high places, they did so only to the LORD their God (2 Chronicles 33:17).

Legacy:
Manasseh's account is a profound testament to the power of repentance and God's willingness to forgive even the gravest of sins. Despite his earlier transgressions, his genuine repentance led to personal restoration and a partial spiritual renewal in Judah. His life serves as a reminder of God's mercy and the transformative power of turning back to Him with a humble heart.