Manasseh (King of Judah)

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Hebrew Mənashsheh (“making forget” / “causing to forget”), a personal name later shared with Joseph’s son in Genesis.
• Period/Era: Divided Kingdom (Southern Kingdom of Judah), 7th century BC
• Main References: 2 Kings 21:1–18; 2 Chronicles 33:1–20; Jeremiah 15:4
• Key Connections: Son of Hezekiah; father of Amon; linked to Assyrian imperial power through captivity; assessed in relation to the Davidic dynasty in Jerusalem.

Who was Manasseh (King of Judah)?

Manasseh was a king of Judah in Jerusalem who reigned for 55 years, succeeding his father Hezekiah.
Biblical narratives depict his reign as marked by extensive promotion of non-Yahwistic worship and practices within Judah.
Chronicles also records his capture by Assyrian officials and a later return to Jerusalem.
He is remembered as a decisive figure in Judah’s religious and political trajectory during the Assyrian period.

Key Events & Achievements

• Religious Policies: Encouraged cultic practices condemned by the Deuteronomistic history, including installing altars and images in Jerusalem (2 Kings 21:3–7).
• Assyrian Captivity: Taken captive by Assyrian commanders and brought to Babylon, reflecting Judah’s subordination to Assyria (2 Chronicles 33:11).
• Late Reforms: After returning to Jerusalem, removed certain foreign cult objects and repaired aspects of temple worship (2 Chronicles 33:15–16).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Manasseh’s reign illustrates how royal religious policy could reshape Judah’s covenantal identity and influence later prophetic evaluation of the kingdom.

Key Verse

“And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.” — 2 Kings 21:2, ESV