John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed , etc.] The temples and altars upon them, (see 2 Kings 18:4), and he reared up altars for Baal ; in the high places he rebuilt: and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel : which was either an idol itself, or a shade of trees where idols were placed; or rather Asherah, rendered “a grove”, is the same with Astarte, the goddess of the Zidonians, the figure of which he made and worshipped; for groves were not so soon and easily planted, raised, and made; so the same in ( 1 Kings 16:33) and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them : the sun, moon, and stars, particularly the planets Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, and Venus.
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 וישׁב7725 ויבן1129 את853 הבמות1116 אשׁר834 אבד6 חזקיהו2396 אביו1 ויקם6965 מזבחת4196 לבעל1168 ויעשׂ6213 אשׁרה842 כאשׁר834 עשׂה6213 אחאב256 מלך4428 ישׂראל3478 וישׁתחו7812 לכל3605 צבא6635 השׁמים8064 ויעבד5647 אתם׃853
