BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Chapter 21 describes the spiritual collapse of Judah under King Manasseh and his son Amon. Manasseh reigned for fifty‑five years, the longest of any king of Judah. His name means “he causes to forget,” which reflects how his leadership caused the nation to forget the godly reforms of his father, Hezekiah. Manasseh began ruling at twelve, and he seems to have been influenced by those who resented Hezekiah’s commitment to true worship. Instead of following the faith he had been taught, he embraced practices that were more corrupt than those of the nations Israel had once displaced.
The chapter lists the depth of his rebellion. Manasseh restored Baal worship, promoted Asherah, encouraged astrology, and practised occult rituals. He placed pagan altars inside the Temple itself and even sacrificed his own son to Molech. He filled Jerusalem with violence and shed innocent blood, likely targeting prophets and anyone who opposed his religious policies. Jewish tradition says that the prophet Isaiah was killed during his reign. Because of this deep corruption, God declared that judgment would come upon Judah with the same severity that had fallen on Samaria and the house of Ahab. The image of God “wiping Jerusalem as a man wipes a dish” (2 Kings 21:13) symbolised the complete removal of the people from the land.
Although 2 Chronicles records that Manasseh later repented, this chapter focuses on the lasting damage caused by his long and destructive reign. His repentance came too late to reverse the direction of the nation. His son Amon continued in the same evil practices and reigned only two years before being assassinated by his own servants.
Chapter 22 introduces a very different king: Josiah. He became king at eight years old after Amon’s assassination and reigned for thirty‑one years. His mother and grandmother, both mentioned in the opening verse, likely played a significant role in shaping his early devotion to God. At sixteen he began to seek the Lord personally, and by twenty he had begun removing idols and restoring proper worship throughout Judah.
Josiah ordered repairs to the Temple, which had been neglected and misused during the previous reigns. During the restoration, the book of the Law was discovered. This was a significant moment, as the Law was meant to be kept beside the ark and copied by every king. Many scholars believe the scroll found may have been an early copy of Deuteronomy or even the entire Pentateuch. When the contents were read to Josiah, he responded with deep humility. He tore his clothes in grief, recognising that Judah had broken God’s covenant and that judgment
was deserved.
Josiah sent messengers to the prophet Huldah, one of the few female prophets mentioned in the Old Testament. She confirmed that judgment would come upon Judah because of its long history of rebellion, but she also assured Josiah that it would not happen during his lifetime because of his tender and responsive heart. Her message affirmed both God’s justice and His mercy toward a king who sought to honour Him.
A TESTIMONY FROM OUR DAY
Josiah became king of Judah when he was only eight years old. By the time he was twenty‑six, he encountered the Word of God in a way that changed both his life and the direction of the nation. When he heard God’s instructions and realised how far Judah had strayed, he responded with grief, humility, and decisive action. He sought guidance, listened to God’s warnings, and led the people into repentance and renewal. God’s Word made a deep impact on him.
A similar transformation happened in the life of Cal Wolf. Cal grew up on a sheep ranch in Wyoming and often felt an emptiness he could not explain. He believed there must be a God because of the beauty and order of nature, but he had no spiritual teaching. In 1941 he joined the United States Navy and served on the USS Enterprise in the South Pacific. It was there that God began to speak to him.
Cal noticed a young sailor who used to gamble and swear, but whose behaviour had changed completely. The man now spent his spare moments reading a small New Testament. Cal watched him closely. One day, while the sailor rested with his eyes closed, Cal leaned over and read a verse he had underlined: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Cal later said he had never imagined that God had a Son, and that this moment opened his heart to the truth.
Months later, during a fierce attack by dive bombers, Cal realised he was not ready to meet God. He ran into the optical shop, fell to the floor, and cried out in repentance. He confessed his sins and asked God to change him. In that moment, peace filled his heart and the burden he carried lifted. God spared his life that day, and Cal went on to serve the Lord faithfully for the rest of his life.
Like Josiah, Cal responded when he encountered the Word of God. Both men acted on what they learned, and their lives were transformed. Many of us have heard Scripture for years, yet we still have the responsibility to obey it daily. When we respond to God’s Word with a willing heart, we will experience His blessing and guidance.
A CLOSER LOOK
Question 1
To which king of Israel was Manasseh compared, and why is that comparison signifi cant (2 Kings 21:3)? King Manasseh was raised by a godly father, Hezekiah. However, he rejected his spiritual heritage and did “that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.” What specific sins are attributed to Manasseh in 2 Kings 21:3-7?
Question 2
What spiritual concept is illustrated by the fact that Hezekiah, one of the godliest kings in the history of Judah, had a son who was one of the most wicked? How did Manasseh influence the people of Judah? (II Kings 21:2)
Question 3
What aspects of our society today mirror the wickedness described during Manasseh’s reign, such as idolatry, occult practices, or moral decline (2 Kings 21:6–9)? What can we do to resist the forces of evil that pull a society into spiritual decline, as happened in Judah (Ephesians 6:10–13; Romans 12:2)?
Question 4
Amon succeeded his father Manasseh as ruler in Judah. What descriptive phrases indicate the kind of man Amon was? (2 Kings 21:20-22) Josiah’s father, King Amon, was very wicked, as was his grandfather, King Manasseh. In spite of being raised in an ungodly home, what did Josiah choose to do? (2 Kings 22:2)
Question 5
During his eighteenth year as king, Josiah instructed that the Temple in Jerusalem be repaired, after many years of neglect. While those repairs were being carried out, the Book of the Law was found in the Temple. How did Josiah respond when the Word of God was read to him? What was the significance of his reaction? 2 Kings 22:11; 2 Chronicles 34:19
Question 6
Josiah sent emissaries to Huldah, a prophetess of Jerusalem, to “inquire of the Lord” concerning the fate of himself, his people, and his nation in light of the transgressions of their fathers. Briefly summarize in your own words the answer the prophetess gave. (2 Kings 22:15-20) What unique responsibilities and privileges has God given you, and how are you responding to them today (1 Peter 4:10; Colossians 3:23)?
TAKE HOME
Interest in the occult, witchcraft, enchantments, and astrology is on the rise today, but God’s Word emphatically warns against experimenting with them. No matter what our age, position, or vocation, we have the great privilege in our access to the Word of God. We each must choose how we will respond.