Manasseh, King of Judah
Manasseh was the son of Hezekiah and king of Judah. The Ascension of Isaiah opens with Hezekiah summoning him, his only son, in the twenty-sixth year of his reign. After Hezekiah died Manasseh forgot his father's commands; Sammael abode in him and he turned his heart to serve Beliar. Witchcraft, magic and the persecution of the righteous increased in Jerusalem, and Isaiah withdrew to Bethlehem. When the false prophet Belchira accused Isaiah before him, Manasseh had the prophet sawn in sunder with a wooden saw.
The Cave of Treasures says Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, that he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem, and that his mother was Hephzibah. It adds that he repented after he had slain Isaiah, put sackcloth on his body, decreed a fast for himself and ate bread with tears all the days of his life. The Kebra Nagast sets its story of Karmin in his reign.
He is a different person from Manasseh the son of Joseph.
Biography
- Occupation
- King of Judah
- Father
- Hezekiah
- Mother
- Hephzibah
- Era
- Kingdom of Judah
Family
Key Chapters
Key Passages
Manasseh in Ascension of Isaiah 1
The Ascension of Isaiah 1:1
And it came to pass in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah that he called Manasseh his son. Now...
1nd it came to pass in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah that he called Manasseh his son. Now he was his only one.
Manasseh in Ascension of Isaiah 2
The Ascension of Isaiah 2:1
And it came to pass after that Hezekiah died and Manasseh became king, that he did not remember the commands of Hezekiah...
1nd it came to pass after that Hezekiah died and Manasseh became king, that he did not remember the commands of Hezekiah his father but forgat them, and Sammael abode in Manasseh and clung fast to him.
Manasseh in Ascension of Isaiah 3
The Ascension of Isaiah 3:1
And Belchira recognized and saw the place of Isaiah and the prophets who were with him; for he dwelt in the region of Be...
1nd Belchira recognized and saw the place of Isaiah and the prophets who were with him; for he dwelt in the region of Bethlehem, and was an adherent of Manasseh. And he prophesied falsely in Jerusalem, and many belonging to Jerusalem were confederate with him, and he was a Samaritan.
Manasseh in Ascension of Isaiah 5
The Ascension of Isaiah 5:1
On account of these visions, therefore, Beliar was wroth with Isaiah, and he dwelt in the heart of Manasseh and he sawed...
1n account of these visions, therefore, Beliar was wroth with Isaiah, and he dwelt in the heart of Manasseh and he sawed him in sunder with a wooden saw.
Manasseh in Ascension of Isaiah 11
The Ascension of Isaiah 11:41
On account of these visions and prophecies Sammael Satan sawed in sunder Isaiah the son of Amos, the prophet, by the han...
41n account of these visions and prophecies Sammael Satan sawed in sunder Isaiah the son of Amos, the prophet, by the hand of Manasseh.
Manasseh in Cave of Treasures 62
The Cave of Treasures 62:4
This was [the cause of] the sorrow of Hezekiah. And after he recovered from his sickness he waited fourteen years, and [...
4his was [the cause of] the sorrow of Hezekiah. And after he recovered from his sickness he waited fourteen years, and [then] Manasseh was born to him. And Hezekiah died in great content, and left a son to sit upon the throne of David his father. [Manasseh.] Manasseh was twelve years old when [he began] to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem; and the name of his mother was Habhsibhah (Hephziba).
Manasseh in Kebra Nagast 75
The Kebra Nagast 75:1
Now the King of Babylon is of the seed of Shem, and we will show you clearly that the King of Babylon is of the seed of ...
1ow the King of Babylon is of the seed of Shem, and we will show you clearly that the King of Babylon is of the seed of Shem. It came to pass in days of old that there lived in the kingdom of Manasseh, the King of Israel, a certain man whose name was Karmin, and he was a fearer of God, and he gave many alms and oblations to the poor of Israel.
Did You Know?
Manasseh was the only son of Hezekiah, who charged him in the presence of Isaiah in the twenty-sixth year of his reign.
Once he was king he forgot his father's commands and served Satan, his angels and his powers.
Under Manasseh witchcraft, magic, divination and the persecution of the righteous increased in Jerusalem.
According to Belchira, Isaiah had prophesied that the king would be led away bound with hooks and iron chains.
The book ends by saying that Manasseh did not keep these things in his heart, became the servant of Satan and was destroyed.