2 Kings 21:6
And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Manasseh's extreme wickedness wasn't just doing bad things; the text highlights he used his own son in a horrific ritual, showing how deeply he'd sunk into the occult, even resorting to the ultimate act of pagan sacrifice to consult the spirit world. This wasn't just a personal failing, but a deliberate attempt to provoke God, deliberately choosing to anger the One who had established Israel.
King Manasseh has been given a terrible description in the verses right before this, detailing his deeply wicked actions like setting up idols in the Temple and sacrificing his own sons. This verse continues that shocking account by listing even more detestable practices Manasseh engaged in, like sorcery and consulting the dead, all of which fiercely angered God. The narrative sets the stage for the severe judgment God would eventually bring upon Judah because of Manasseh's prolonged evil.
Some actions in the Bible are so horrific they can be hard to read. Manasseh’s reign included one of the most chilling offenses imaginable. What does this tell us about the depths of human sin?
A New Low
Manasseh took wickedness to a new extreme. The text explicitly states he 'burned his son as an offering.' This wasn't just a ritual; it was a deliberate act of sacrificing his own child to foreign gods. This was a profound betrayal of God's covenant, which protected children, and a shocking imitation of the most abhorrent practices of surrounding nations that Israel was warned against.
Provoking God's Wrath
This wasn't a minor transgression. The scripture calls it 'much evil' and states it was done 'in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.' This level of sin wasn't just disobedience; it was a direct, defiant challenge to God's authority and love. It shows how far a heart can be pushed away from God when it turns to forbidden practices.
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Beyond outright sacrifice, Manasseh delved into forbidden spiritual realms. What does it mean to engage with 'fortune-telling and omens' and 'mediums and necromancers'?
Seeking False Wisdom
Manasseh didn't just turn to foreign gods; he actively sought out and used forbidden means of gaining knowledge and power. 'Fortune-telling and omens' refer to attempts to predict the future or discern God's will through non-divine signs. This is a rejection of trusting God's sovereign plan and His direct communication through prophets.
Consulting the Dead
The terms 'mediums and necromancers' point to seeking guidance or contact from spirits, including the spirits of the dead. In biblical understanding, this was a serious affront to God, who is the source of all life and wisdom. Attempting to commune with the dead bypasses God and taps into dangerous, deceptive spiritual powers that ultimately lead away from Him.
Understand the original words
abar · Hebrew Verb
To offer something, especially a living sacrifice, into a fire as an act of worship or dedication to a deity. In the Old Testament, this was strictly forbidden when applied to children, associated with pagan rituals to Molech.
anan · Hebrew Verb
The practice of seeking secret knowledge about the future or hidden things through supernatural or occult means, forbidden by the Mosaic Law.
nachash · Hebrew Noun
A sign or token, often involving divination, used to predict future events or divine favor/disfavor, typically associated with forbidden occult practices.
ob · Hebrew Noun
Individuals who claim to communicate with spirits or the dead; the Bible consistently condemns these as attempts to bypass God's authority and revelation.
yiddoni · Hebrew Noun
Those who claim to consult the dead for forbidden knowledge, an act strictly prohibited by God as an abomination.
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A term often used in the historical books to describe actions that violate God's law and evoke His holy indignation against sin.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many and resettling the area with foreigners, a significant omen of divine judgment for covenant unfaithfulness.
705-681 BC
Reign of Sennacherib of Assyria
Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, besieging Jerusalem but failing to conquer it. This period saw increased foreign influence and pressure on Judah's religious practices.
c. 697-642 BC
Reign of Manasseh of Judah
Manasseh rules as king of Judah, known for his long and exceptionally wicked reign marked by the reintroduction and promotion of idolatry and pagan practices, including child sacrifice.
c. 642-640 BC
Reign of Amon of Judah
Manasseh's son Amon continues his father's wicked policies, further deepening the corruption and idolatry within Judah before being assassinated.
c. 640-609 BC
Reign of Josiah of Judah
Josiah becomes king and later initiates a major religious reformation after the Book of the Law is discovered, cleansing the temple and centralizing worship. This signifies a reaction against the preceding evils.
c. 642 BC— this verse
Manasseh's extreme idolatry and child sacrifice
During his reign, Manasseh actively promoted the worship of foreign gods, built high places for them, and even sacrificed his own son as an offering, embodying the extreme spiritual decay described in the text.
This verse directly condemns giving one's children to be sacrificed to idols, highlighting the severity of Manasseh's sin as described in 2 Kings 21:6.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12These verses explicitly prohibit the practices Manasseh engaged in—fortune-telling, omens, mediums, and necromancers—showing they were deeply offensive to God.
Jeremiah 7:31The prophet Jeremiah condemns similar practices, including burning sons as offerings, in the very valley associated with Jerusalem's idolatry, underscoring the pervasive nature of this sin.
Romans 1:28-32This passage describes people who, because they rejected God, were given over to various sinful practices, including divination and a lack of natural affection, mirroring the wickedness seen in 2 Kings 21.
Manasseh's extreme wickedness wasn't just doing bad things; the text highlights he used his own son in a horrific ritual, showing how deeply he'd sunk into the occult, even resorting to the ultimate act of pagan sacrifice to consult the spirit world. This wasn't just a personal failing, but a deliberate attempt to provoke God, deliberately choosing to anger the One who had established Israel.
King Manasseh has been given a terrible description in the verses right before this, detailing his deeply wicked actions like setting up idols in the Temple and sacrificing his own sons. This verse continues that shocking account by listing even more detestable practices Manasseh engaged in, like sorcery and consulting the dead, all of which fiercely angered God. The narrative sets the stage for the severe judgment God would eventually bring upon Judah because of Manasseh's prolonged evil.
King Manasseh has been given a terrible description in the verses right before this, detailing his deeply wicked actions like setting up idols in the Temple and sacrificing his own sons. This verse continues that shocking account by listing even more detestable practices Manasseh engaged in, like sorcery and consulting the dead, all of which fiercely angered God. The narrative sets the stage for the severe judgment God would eventually bring upon Judah because of Manasseh's prolonged evil.
"And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger." — Manasseh's extreme wickedness wasn't just doing bad things; the text highlights he used his own son in a horrific ritual, showing how deeply he'd sunk into the occult, even resorting to the ultim…
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