John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign , etc.] So that he was born three years after Hezekiah’s recovery from his sickness, and in the seventeenth year of his reign: and reigned fifty five years in Jerusalem : among which must be reckoned the time of his captivity in Babylon; his reign was the longest of any of the kings of Judah: and his mother’s name was Hephzibah; the name the church goes by, and signifies, “my delight or pleasure is in her”, ( Isaiah 62:4), no doubt she was a good woman, or Hezekiah would not have made choice of her for a wife; it is a tradition of the Jews f245 , that she was the daughter of Isaiah, whose name, they say, is not mentioned, because so wicked a king was unworthy of such a grandfather.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - Young persons generally desire to become their own masters, and to have early possession of riches and power. But this, for the most part ruins their future comfort, and causes mischief to others. It is muc happier when young persons are sheltered under the care of parents of guardians, till age gives experience and discretion. Though such youn persons are less indulged, they will afterwards be thankful. Manasse wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, as if on purpose to provoke him to anger; he did more evil than the nations whom the Lor destroyed. Manasseh went on from bad to worse, till carried captive to Babylon. The people were ready to comply with his wishes, to obtain his favour and because it suited their depraved inclinations. In the reformation of large bodies, numbers are mere time-servers, and in temptation fall away.
Original Hebrew בן1121 שׁתים8147 עשׂרה6240 שׁנה8141 מנשׁה4519 במלכו4427 וחמשׁים2572 וחמשׁ2568 שׁנה8141 מלך4427 בירושׁלם3389 ושׁם8034 אמו517 חפצי בה׃2657
