The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

2 Kings 21

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

2 Kings chapter 21 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned five and fifty years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hephzi-bah.” — the complete text of all 26 verses is below, free to read online.

1Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned five and fifty years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hephzi-bah.

2And he did that which was evil in the sight of HaShem, after the abominations of the nations, whom HaShem cast out before the children of Israel.

3For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as did Ahab king of Israel, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

4And he built altars in the house of HaShem, whereof HaShem said: 'In Jerusalem will I put My name.'

5And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of HaShem.

6And he made his son to pass through the fire, and practised soothsaying, and used enchantments, and appointed them that divined by a ghost or a familiar spirit: he wrought much evil in the sight of HaShem, to provoke Him.

7And he set the graven image of Asherah, that he had made, in the house of which HaShem said to David and to Solomon his son: 'In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put My name for ever;

8neither will I cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.'

9But they hearkened not; and Manasseh seduced them to do that which is evil more than did the nations, whom HaShem destroyed before the children of Israel.

10And HaShem spoke by His servants the prophets, saying:

11'Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, that were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols;

12therefore thus saith HaShem, the G-d of Israel: Behold, I bring such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.

13And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.

14And I will cast off the remnant of Mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies;

15because they have done that which is evil in My sight, and have provoked Me, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.'

16Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of HaShem.

17Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

18And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza; and Amon his son reigned in his stead.

19Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.

20And he did that which was evil in the sight of HaShem, as did Manasseh his father.

21And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them.

22And he forsook HaShem, the G-d of his fathers, and walked not in the way of HaShem.

23And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and put the king to death in his own house.

24But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.

25Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

26And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza; and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.

26 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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