Hezekiah’s son brought Judah back into an era of widespread idolatry and led them away from God’s instructions.
In 2 Kings 21:3, we read that “For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them” (v.3). The “he” in this verse is Manasseh, who reigned over the kingdom of Judah from 697 BC to 642 BC. His father, Hezekiah (715 BC to 686 BC), had previously torn down these elevated worship sites—often located on hills or other raised geographical locations around Judah—to emphasize worship of the one true God. By rebuilding these high places, Manasseh deliberately reversed the reforms aimed at unifying the people under the proper worship in Jerusalem, which was the central place of worship designated by God (see Deuteronomy 12).
Manasseh’s actions extended beyond simply restoring old idols. The verse explains that he “erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah” (v.3), referring to the Canaanite gods whose worship often involved immoral rituals and practices. This is reminiscent of “as Ahab king of Israel had done” (v.3), a king who reigned from 874 BC to 853 BC and led the northern kingdom of Israel into extensive idolatry. The reference to “all the host of heaven” (v.3) indicates Manasseh also embraced astral worship, attributing divine power to celestial bodies. By doing so, he rejected the foundational command to worship God alone (Exodus 20:3). This violation of a clear biblical mandate foreshadows the coming judgment on Judah and stands in stark contrast to Jesus’ teaching that we are to serve only God (Matthew 4:10).
By rebuilding pagan altars and reinstating forbidden practices, Manasseh undid the faithful labor of his father, Hezekiah, who had sprinted toward spiritual renewal in Judah. Geographic high places, typically set in the mountainous terrain surrounding areas such as Jerusalem, symbolized Israel’s constant battle with idol worship, where each new king had to choose whether to restore true worship or indulge in the religious customs of surrounding nations. Manasseh’s decision to worship foreign deities not only disrespected his father’s efforts but showcased the people’s struggle to remain faithful to the LORD in an increasingly divided and idolatrous culture.
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2 Kings 21:3 meaning
In 2 Kings 21:3, we read that “For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them” (v.3). The “he” in this verse is Manasseh, who reigned over the kingdom of Judah from 697 BC to 642 BC. His father, Hezekiah (715 BC to 686 BC), had previously torn down these elevated worship sites—often located on hills or other raised geographical locations around Judah—to emphasize worship of the one true God. By rebuilding these high places, Manasseh deliberately reversed the reforms aimed at unifying the people under the proper worship in Jerusalem, which was the central place of worship designated by God (see Deuteronomy 12).
Manasseh’s actions extended beyond simply restoring old idols. The verse explains that he “erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah” (v.3), referring to the Canaanite gods whose worship often involved immoral rituals and practices. This is reminiscent of “as Ahab king of Israel had done” (v.3), a king who reigned from 874 BC to 853 BC and led the northern kingdom of Israel into extensive idolatry. The reference to “all the host of heaven” (v.3) indicates Manasseh also embraced astral worship, attributing divine power to celestial bodies. By doing so, he rejected the foundational command to worship God alone (Exodus 20:3). This violation of a clear biblical mandate foreshadows the coming judgment on Judah and stands in stark contrast to Jesus’ teaching that we are to serve only God (Matthew 4:10).
By rebuilding pagan altars and reinstating forbidden practices, Manasseh undid the faithful labor of his father, Hezekiah, who had sprinted toward spiritual renewal in Judah. Geographic high places, typically set in the mountainous terrain surrounding areas such as Jerusalem, symbolized Israel’s constant battle with idol worship, where each new king had to choose whether to restore true worship or indulge in the religious customs of surrounding nations. Manasseh’s decision to worship foreign deities not only disrespected his father’s efforts but showcased the people’s struggle to remain faithful to the LORD in an increasingly divided and idolatrous culture.