2 Kings 21 17

2 Kings 21:17 kjv

Now 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?

2 Kings 21:17 nkjv

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

2 Kings 21:17 niv

As for the other events of Manasseh's reign, and all he did, including the sin he committed, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

2 Kings 21:17 esv

Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh and all that he did, and the sin that he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

2 Kings 21:17 nlt

The rest of the events in Manasseh's reign and everything he did, including the sins he committed, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.

2 Kings 21 verses

2 Kings 21 17 Meaning

This verse serves as a concluding summary statement for the extensive reign of King Manasseh of Judah. It affirms that the details of his rule, particularly his numerous wicked deeds and grievous sin against YHWH, were meticulously documented. By pointing to "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah," the biblical author both authenticates the historical account and indicates where further specifics could be found by the original audience, while emphasizing that his moral failings were public and recorded.

2 Kings 21 17 Context

The immediate context of 2 Kings 21:17 is the concluding summary of Manasseh's fifty-five-year reign, which immediately precedes the account of his death and burial. Chapter 21 provides a detailed condemnation of Manasseh's reign (2 Kgs 21:1-18), portraying him as Judah's most wicked king. He systematically reversed the reforms of his father Hezekiah, reintroduced extensive idolatry including Asherah poles and cultic prostitution, practiced child sacrifice, built altars to foreign gods within the Temple precincts, engaged in divination, and shed an immense amount of innocent blood. This verse marks the typical conclusion to a king's account in the Books of Kings, signaling a transition to his successor and affirming the documentation of his life, especially his sin, in state archives. The broader historical context is Judah's declining power, overshadowed by the rising Assyrian Empire, which often influenced client states to adopt their religious practices. Manasseh's idolatry reflects a significant capitulation to these external pressures, directly violating the covenant with YHWH and profoundly corrupting the nation, setting the stage for future divine judgment and ultimately the Babylonian exile.

2 Kings 21 17 Word analysis

• Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh: This is a formulaic transition phrase, frequently used throughout the Books of Kings. It signifies that while the biblical text provides a theologically focused summary, more extensive records of the king's general administration, military campaigns, and construction projects exist elsewhere. It points to the comprehensive nature of ancient record-keeping.
• and all that he did: This phrase emphasizes the totality of Manasseh's actions during his long reign. It encompasses not just his religious innovations but every aspect of his rule, suggesting that his wickedness permeated his entire kingship. It highlights the vast scope of his deviation from YHWH's ways.
• and his sin that he sinned: This is a particularly strong Hebrew construction using the verb chata (חָטָא - to sin) both as a noun (chattat) and a verb (chata). The repetition, often translated "sin he sinned," emphasizes the profound gravity, deliberate nature, and immense quantity of his transgression. It signifies not merely isolated acts, but a pervasive, defining characteristic of his reign. This specific focus elevates the religious and moral failures above his secular accomplishments.
• are they not written: This rhetorical question is a common literary device. It expects an affirmative answer ("Yes, they are written!"), serving to validate the preceding statements and establish the reliability of the information presented. It assures the audience that these facts are not mere claims but verifiable records.
• in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah: The Hebrew phrase is sepher divrei hayamim le-malchei Yehudah (סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים לְמַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה). This refers to the official royal annals or state archives kept by the Judean kingdom. These would have contained official state records, court histories, diplomatic exchanges, and significant events, often written by court scribes or royal historiographers. It is crucial to distinguish this official secular record from the canonical biblical Book of Chronicles, which is a theological retelling of Israel's history. The reference underscores the historical basis of the biblical narrative and highlights that Manasseh's profound spiritual failure was also a matter of public and historical record. This acts as an indirect polemic against those who might wish to forget or rationalize away the egregious idolatry and evil of Manasseh, stating that even secular records attest to his deeds.

2 Kings 21 17 Bonus section

The chronicler of 2 Kings (part of the Deuteronomistic history) presents Manasseh's reign almost exclusively as a catalog of evil, seeing his idolatry and bloodshed as so profound that they set Judah on an irreversible path toward exile, despite later reforms by kings like Josiah. The very reference to the "Book of the Chronicles" might implicitly challenge any secular account that omitted or downplayed his severe religious transgressions. Unlike the biblical Book of Chronicles (2 Chr 33), 2 Kings does not mention Manasseh's later repentance during his captivity in Assyria, underscoring 2 Kings' theological perspective that the long-term, detrimental effects of his sin on the nation were so deep as to be irrevocable. This highlights that while individual repentance is possible, national sin can incur societal consequences that transcend an individual's personal redemption.

2 Kings 21 17 Commentary

2 Kings 21:17 concludes the account of King Manasseh, one of Judah's longest and most infamously wicked rulers. This verse employs the standardized Deuteronomistic formula to mark the end of a king's reign, summarizing his actions and pointing to external records for further details. The deliberate repetition of "his sin that he sinned" emphasizes the extreme and unprecedented nature of Manasseh's rebellion against YHWH, particularly his reintroduction of idolatry and the shedding of innocent blood (2 Kgs 21:1-16).

By referring to "the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah," the biblical author validates his narrative by appealing to accessible, official historical records of the kingdom. This indicates that even outside of the prophetically informed history, Manasseh's actions, including his immense wickedness, were matters of public, documented fact. This specific documentation underscored the accountability of rulers, not just to their people but ultimately to God, whose judgment was tied to their fidelity to the covenant. While the secular records likely detailed political and military accomplishments, the biblical narrative's primary concern, reflected in this verse, is the king's spiritual and moral standing before YHWH. Manasseh's sin became a permanent stain on Judah's history, whose repercussions extended beyond his death and greatly contributed to the nation's eventual destruction (Jer 15:4; 2 Kgs 24:3-4). The existence of these external records reinforces the reliability of the biblical historical account while focusing the reader's attention on the theological implications of his rule.