This verse, 2 Chronicles 33:19, is summarizing Manasseh's story, particularly highlighting his wickedness and eventual repentance. Let's break it down piece by piece:
"His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him..." This refers to Manasseh's prayer in captivity (mentioned earlier in the chapter, specifically verse 12-13). "Entreated of him" means God heard and responded favorably to his prayer. This is the key element of his repentance.
"...and all his sin and his trespass..." This is a general acknowledgment of the vastness and severity of Manasseh's sins. "Trespass" is a specific kind of sin, often referring to violations against God's laws or sacred things.
"...and the places in which he built high places, and set up the Asherah poles and the engraved images, before he humbled himself..." This is a specific catalog of the abominations Manasseh committed during his reign before his capture and humbling. These actions are all forms of idolatry:
High Places: These were elevated platforms or shrines used to worship pagan gods, often located on hills or prominent locations.
Asherah Poles: These were wooden poles or trees dedicated to the goddess Asherah, a Canaanite fertility deity.
Engraved Images: These were idols or statues representing pagan gods, often made of wood, stone, or metal.
"...before he humbled himself..." Emphasizes that all these sinful acts occurred before Manasseh's period of affliction and subsequent repentance. His repentance was genuine, but it came after a long period of extreme wickedness.
"...behold, they are written in the history of Hozai." This tells us where further details of Manasseh's life, particularly the specifics of his sins, can be found. "The history of Hozai" is a lost historical document. We don't know who Hozai was or what exactly was written in this account, but the verse indicates that further information about Manasseh was recorded elsewhere.
In summary, the verse conveys the following key points:
Manasseh prayed, and God heard him, indicating repentance.
Despite this repentance, his past was filled with great sin.
Specific details of those sins (building idolatrous sites and objects) are mentioned to emphasize their gravity.
These sins occurred before his period of humbling and repentance.
More details about his life and reign could be found in another historical record, "the history of Hozai".
Significance:
This verse is significant because it contrasts Manasseh's extreme wickedness with his eventual repentance and God's grace. It shows that even those who commit terrible sins can find forgiveness and redemption through humility and prayer. It also acknowledges that Manasseh's sin was a defining characteristic of his early reign, and the Chronicler wants the reader to understand the depth of his transgression and, therefore, the magnitude of God's mercy.
This verse, 2 Chronicles 33:19, is summarizing Manasseh's story, particularly highlighting his wickedness and eventual repentance. Let's break it down piece by piece:
"His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him..." This refers to Manasseh's prayer in captivity (mentioned earlier in the chapter, specifically verse 12-13). "Entreated of him" means God heard and responded favorably to his prayer. This is the key element of his repentance.
"...and all his sin and his trespass..." This is a general acknowledgment of the vastness and severity of Manasseh's sins. "Trespass" is a specific kind of sin, often referring to violations against God's laws or sacred things.
"...and the places in which he built high places, and set up the Asherah poles and the engraved images, before he humbled himself..." This is a specific catalog of the abominations Manasseh committed during his reign before his capture and humbling. These actions are all forms of idolatry:
High Places: These were elevated platforms or shrines used to worship pagan gods, often located on hills or prominent locations.
Asherah Poles: These were wooden poles or trees dedicated to the goddess Asherah, a Canaanite fertility deity.
Engraved Images: These were idols or statues representing pagan gods, often made of wood, stone, or metal.
"...before he humbled himself..." Emphasizes that all these sinful acts occurred before Manasseh's period of affliction and subsequent repentance. His repentance was genuine, but it came after a long period of extreme wickedness.
"...behold, they are written in the history of Hozai." This tells us where further details of Manasseh's life, particularly the specifics of his sins, can be found. "The history of Hozai" is a lost historical document. We don't know who Hozai was or what exactly was written in this account, but the verse indicates that further information about Manasseh was recorded elsewhere.
In summary, the verse conveys the following key points:
Manasseh prayed, and God heard him, indicating repentance.
Despite this repentance, his past was filled with great sin.
Specific details of those sins (building idolatrous sites and objects) are mentioned to emphasize their gravity.
These sins occurred before his period of humbling and repentance.
More details about his life and reign could be found in another historical record, "the history of Hozai".
Significance:
This verse is significant because it contrasts Manasseh's extreme wickedness with his eventual repentance and God's grace. It shows that even those who commit terrible sins can find forgiveness and redemption through humility and prayer. It also acknowledges that Manasseh's sin was a defining characteristic of his early reign, and the Chronicler wants the reader to understand the depth of his transgression and, therefore, the magnitude of God's mercy.