Manasseh
“Causing to forget”
Summary
Manasseh refers to the eldest son of Joseph who became patriarch of one of Israel's tribes, and also to a king of Judah notorious for idolatry who later repented.
☩Joseph's Son
Manasseh was the elder of Joseph's two sons, born in Egypt to Asenath, daughter of the priest of Heliopolis. His name means 'causing to forget,' commemorating how God made Joseph forget his hardship and separation from his father's house. When Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, he crossed his hands to place his right hand on the younger Ephraim, indicating that Ephraim would become greater. Despite being the firstborn, Manasseh's tribe would be 'thousands' while Ephraim's would be 'ten thousands.' Manasseh married a Syrian concubine and through his son Machir became ancestor to a significant portion of the tribe.
☩The Tribe of Manasseh
The tribe of Manasseh received a unique inheritance divided between east and west of the Jordan River. The eastern half-tribe, along with Reuben and Gad, conquered and settled the mountainous region of Gilead, Bashan, and Argob east of the Jordan. The western half-tribe settled in the central region between Ephraim and Issachar. Notable warriors from Manasseh included Gideon, who delivered Israel from the Midianites, and Jephthah. The eastern portion was among the first Israelites carried into Assyrian captivity by Tiglath-Pileser due to their apostasy.
☩King Manasseh of Judah
Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, became king of Judah at age twelve and reigned fifty-five years, the longest reign of any Judean king. His rule marked a wholesale return to idolatry—he restored Baal worship, built altars to the host of heaven in the temple courts, practiced child sacrifice, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He filled Jerusalem with innocent blood and led Judah into wickedness exceeding even the Canaanite nations God had driven out. Under divine judgment, he was captured by the Assyrians and taken to Babylon in chains.
☩Repentance and Restoration
In his affliction at Babylon, Manasseh humbled himself greatly before God and prayed earnestly. God heard his prayer and restored him to Jerusalem, whereupon Manasseh acknowledged that 'Jehovah was God.' He removed the foreign idols from the temple, repaired the altar of the Lord, and commanded Judah to serve Yahweh. Though his repentance was genuine, it was incomplete—the high places remained, and his son Amon continued in wickedness. Nevertheless, Manasseh stands as a remarkable testimony to divine mercy, often compared to Saul of Tarsus and the thief on the cross as trophies of God's grace.
Related Verses146 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Manasseh," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Manasseh (3)," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Manasseh," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Manasseh," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 5.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Manasseh (1)," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).