Melachim II Perek 21

Melachim II Perek 21-
Sefer Melachim II is taught by Adele Chabot, Judaic Studies teacher at Barkai Yeshiva; Author of “The Best Secret Revealed”.

A summary by Rabbi Jack Abramowitz of the Orthodox Union:
If Hizkiyah was one of the greatest kings of Judah, his son Menashe was one of the worst. Menashe surpassed the worst kings of Israel when it came to idolatry. He restored Baal worship, Ashera worship, and Molech worship. He introduced the worship of heavenly spheres and put altars to them in the Temple. He practiced astrology, necromancy and divination. And he did much of it just to antogonize G-d. Menashe seriously led his people astray. 

G-d sent the prophets Nachum, Yoel and Habakkuk to Menashe with a dire message: Because Menashe exceeded all his idoltrous predecessors, G-d would punish Judah and Jerusalem so severely that just hearing about it would be enough to make one’s ears ring! G-d would judge Menashe and Judah the way He did Ahab and Israel. He will wipe out Jerusalem like one wipes a dish then turns it upside down. The Jews will be at the mercy of their enemies. 

Almost as an afterthought to Menashe’s evil, the Navi mentions that he also spilled innocent blood. Menashe reigned 55 years – longer than any other king of Israel or Judah! When he died, he was succeeded by his son Amon. 

Amon was an idolator like his father. He reigned for a mere two years, when he was assassinated by his servants. The people of the nation executed the assassins and installed Amon’s young son Yoshiyah as king.

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