2 Kings 21: Manasseh’s Reign of Idolatry – Clear & Engaging Audio Bible Reading | Corruption, Punishment, and Repentance

Get immersed in the powerful story of 2 Kings 21 with this clear and engaging audio recording. Follow the reign of Manasseh, which brought widespread corruption and idolatry to Judah, leading to the Lord’s punishment of his people. Learn how Manasseh finally repented and the consequences of his actions. Perfect for study, reflection, or meditation. Let the Scriptures come alive with this captivating chapter.

2 KINGS 21 (NIV)

1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in
Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.

2 He did evil in
the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the
Lord had driven out before the Israelites.

3 He rebuilt the high places his
father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an
Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry
hosts and worshiped them.

4 He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of
which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put my Name.”

5 In the two
courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts.

6
He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced divination, sought omens, and
consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord,
arousing his anger.

7 He took the carved Asherah pole he had made and put it in the temple, of
which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and
in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put
my Name forever.

8 I will not again make the feet of the Israelites wander
from the land I gave their ancestors, if only they will be careful to do
everything I commanded them and will keep the whole Law that my servant Moses
gave them.”

9 But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that
they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the
Israelites.

10 The Lord said through his servants the prophets:

11 “Manasseh king of Judah
has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil than the Amorites
who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols.

12 Therefore this
is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster
on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.

13 I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria
and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem
as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.

14 I will forsake
the remnant of my inheritance and give them into the hands of enemies. They
will be looted and plundered by all their enemies;

15 they have done evil in
my eyes and have aroused my anger from the day their ancestors came out of
Egypt until this day.”

16 Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled
Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit,
so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

17 As for the other events of Manasseh’s reign, and all he did, including the
sin he committed, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings
of Judah?

18 Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried in his palace
garden, the garden of Uzza. And Amon his son succeeded him as king.

19 Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in
Jerusalem two years. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz; she
was from Jotbah.

20 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father
Manasseh had done.

21 He followed completely the ways of his father,
worshiping the idols his father had worshiped, and bowing down to them.

22 He
forsook the Lord, the God of his ancestors, and did not walk in obedience to
him.

23 Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated the king in his
palace.

24 Then the people of the land killed all who had plotted against King
Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place.

25 As for the other events of Amon’s reign, and what he did, are they not
written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

26 He was buried in
his tomb in the garden of Uzza. And Josiah his son succeeded him as king.