This verse from 2 Chronicles 33:9 describes the profound and devastating impact of King Manasseh's reign on Judah and Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem..." This means Manasseh, through his influence as king, led the people astray. He persuaded them to abandon the worship of Yahweh (God) and adopt idolatrous practices. The word "seduced" implies a deliberate and enticing effort to lead people down a wrong path.
"...so that they did more evil than did the nations whom Yahweh destroyed before the children of Israel." This is the core of the condemnation. It emphasizes the extreme wickedness that Manasseh fostered. The Canaanite nations that the Israelites conquered when they entered the Promised Land were notorious for their depravity and idolatry. This verse states that Manasseh led Judah and Jerusalem to become even more wicked than those nations, which warranted destruction by God. This highlights the depth of their apostasy and moral decay.
In summary, the verse indicates that Manasseh's reign was so corrupting and destructive that the people of Judah and Jerusalem surpassed the wickedness of the pagan nations that God had previously judged and expelled from the land. Manasseh's actions were seen as a grave betrayal of the covenant between God and Israel.
This verse from 2 Chronicles 33:9 describes the profound and devastating impact of King Manasseh's reign on Judah and Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem..." This means Manasseh, through his influence as king, led the people astray. He persuaded them to abandon the worship of Yahweh (God) and adopt idolatrous practices. The word "seduced" implies a deliberate and enticing effort to lead people down a wrong path.
"...so that they did more evil than did the nations whom Yahweh destroyed before the children of Israel." This is the core of the condemnation. It emphasizes the extreme wickedness that Manasseh fostered. The Canaanite nations that the Israelites conquered when they entered the Promised Land were notorious for their depravity and idolatry. This verse states that Manasseh led Judah and Jerusalem to become even more wicked than those nations, which warranted destruction by God. This highlights the depth of their apostasy and moral decay.
In summary, the verse indicates that Manasseh's reign was so corrupting and destructive that the people of Judah and Jerusalem surpassed the wickedness of the pagan nations that God had previously judged and expelled from the land. Manasseh's actions were seen as a grave betrayal of the covenant between God and Israel.