2 Chronicles 33:3-5
For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had broken down, and he erected altars to the Baals, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem shall my name be forever.” And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's striking that Manasseh rebuilt the very places his righteous father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. This wasn't just a passive return to old ways, but an active, intentional dismantling of good and rebuilding of bad, showing how easy it is to undo the work of faithfulness. His worship of "all the host of heaven" points to a desperate, sprawling search for power and security that ultimately led him away from the one true God.
After the godly reign of his father Hezekiah, who had torn down idolatrous altars, Manasseh plunges into a shocking spiritual rebellion. He not only reinstitutes the very pagan practices his father destroyed, but he also escalates them, actively promoting the worship of false gods and the "host of heaven." This sets the stage for the profound judgment and eventual repentance that follow this dark period in Jerusalem's history.
Some people leave behind good examples, others leave behind bad habits. Manasseh didn't just follow his father's footsteps; he actively rebuilt what his father had destroyed.
Rebuilding the High Places
King Hezekiah, Manasseh's father, was a reformer. He tore down the idolatrous shrines (the 'high places') and outlawed the worship of false gods because he wanted Judah to worship only the Lord. (See 2 Kings 18:4).
But Manasseh, influenced by the surrounding nations and perhaps by a desire to return to familiar, albeit forbidden, practices, rebuilt these very places. This wasn't just a passive failure to continue good work; it was an active undoing of God's command and a deliberate step backward into spiritual corruption.
Manasseh didn't just dabble; he went all-in on every kind of pagan worship. What does that look like?
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Altars, Asheroth, and the Stars
This verse lists a chilling progression of sin:
Manasseh embraced the entire package of popular, destructive idolatry. He didn't just choose one false god; he adopted a whole system that led Judah far away from the Lord.
Understand the original words
bamah · Hebrew Noun
High places were elevated sites, often natural hills or man-made platforms, used for religious worship. While sometimes used for God, they were frequently associated with idolatrous worship and Canaanite paganism, and the Bible generally condemns them as contrary to the centralization of worship in Jerusalem.
mizbeah · Hebrew Noun
An altar is a structure, typically of stone or earth, designed for offering sacrifices, burning incense, or presenting offerings to a deity. In biblical usage, it serves as the focal point of covenantal worship and the meeting place between the human and the divine.
Baʿal · Hebrew Noun
Baal was the chief god of the Canaanite pantheon, associated with storms, fertility, and rain. The worship of Baals involved licentious rites and was the primary competitor to the worship of Yahweh in Israel's history.
Asherah · Hebrew Noun
Asheroth (plural of Asherah) refers to the sacred wooden poles or trees representing the goddess Asherah, the consort of Baal. These were central symbols in Canaanite fertility cults and were strictly forbidden in the Law of Moses.
saba' shamayim · Hebrew Noun phrase
The host of heaven refers to the sun, moon, stars, and planets, which were worshipped as celestial deities by various ancient Near Eastern cultures. In Scripture, this practice is explicitly forbidden as it elevates created objects above the Creator.
shem · Hebrew Noun
In Hebrew thought, the 'name' of God represents His person, His authority, His character, and His presence. For God to place His name in a location signifies that He has chosen that place to dwell and to manifest His reality among His people.
Manasseh's actions described in this verse represent a radical reversal of his father Hezekiah's faithful reforms, deeply influenced by the pervasive polytheism of the surrounding ancient Near Eastern world, particularly the dominant Assyrian Empire.
c. 715-686 BC
Hezekiah's Reforms
King Hezekiah initiated a major religious reformation, removing idolatrous worship sites and consolidating worship at the Jerusalem Temple.
c. 697-642 BC— this verse
Reign of Manasseh
Manasseh, Hezekiah's son, reigned as king of Judah. His reign is marked by a significant departure from his father's reforms, embracing pagan practices.
c. 680 BC
Assyrian Influence Peaks
The Neo-Assyrian Empire, under rulers like Sennacherib and Esarhaddon, exerted significant political and cultural influence over Judah.
c. 642 BC
Reign of Amon
Manasseh's son Amon succeeded him. His brief reign continued in the pattern of his father's idolatry and was cut short by assassination.
c. 640-609 BC
Josiah's Reformation
King Josiah began his own significant religious reform after the discovery of the Book of the Law in the Temple, undoing the syncretistic practices of his predecessors.
This passage describes Israel turning to worshiping Baals and Asheroth after Joshua's generation, highlighting a recurring pattern of spiritual departure and idolatry.
Deuteronomy 11:16-17This warning from Moses directly addresses the danger of turning away to serve other gods, explaining that neglecting God would lead to His anger and withheld blessings, mirroring Manasseh's actions.
Jeremiah 17:1-2This prophecy speaks of Judah's sin being written with a pen of iron and a point of diamond, with altars to Baals, directly referencing the deep-rooted idolatry that characterized even kings like Manasseh.
Nehemiah 9:26-28This prayer recalls Israel's history of rebellion and disobedience, including turning to serve the spirits of the land, which resonates with Manasseh's forsaking of the Lord for other gods.
It's striking that Manasseh rebuilt the very places his righteous father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. This wasn't just a passive return to old ways, but an active, intentional dismantling of good and rebuilding of bad, showing how easy it is to undo the work of faithfulness. His worship of "all the host of heaven" points to a desperate, sprawling search for power and security that ultimately led him away from the one true God.
After the godly reign of his father Hezekiah, who had torn down idolatrous altars, Manasseh plunges into a shocking spiritual rebellion. He not only reinstitutes the very pagan practices his father destroyed, but he also escalates them, actively promoting the worship of false gods and the "host of heaven." This sets the stage for the profound judgment and eventual repentance that follow this dark period in Jerusalem's history.
After the godly reign of his father Hezekiah, who had torn down idolatrous altars, Manasseh plunges into a shocking spiritual rebellion. He not only reinstitutes the very pagan practices his father destroyed, but he also escalates them, actively promoting the worship of false gods and the "host of heaven." This sets the stage for the profound judgment and eventual repentance that follow this dark period in Jerusalem's history.
"For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had broken down, and he erected altars to the Baals, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which th…" — It's striking that Manasseh rebuilt the very places his righteous father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. This wasn't just a passive return to old ways, but an active, intentional dismantling of good an…
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