2 Kings 21
Commentary from 2 fathers
And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations which the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel.
καὶ ἐποίησε τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Κυρίου κατὰ τὰ βδελύγματα τῶν ἐθνῶν, ὧν ἐξῇρε Κύριος ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραήλ,
И҆ сотворѝ лꙋка́вое пред̾ ѻ҆чи́ма гдⷭ҇нима, и҆ хожда́ше в̾слѣ́дъ ме́рзостей ꙗ҆зы́кѡвъ, и҆̀хже ѿри́нꙋ гдⷭ҇ь ѿ лица̀ сынѡ́въ і҆и҃левыхъ:
For so Manasseh had perpetrated innumerable pollutions, having both stretched out his hands against the saints, and brought abominations into the temple, and filled the city with murders and wrought many other things beyond excuse; yet nevertheless after so long and so great wickedness, he washed away from himself all these things. How and in what matter? By repentance and self-examination. For there is no sin that does not yield and give way to the power of repentance, or rather to the grace of Christ. Since if we would but only change, we have him to assist us. And if you are desirous to become good, there is none to hinder us; or rather there is one to hinder us, the devil, yet he has no power, so long as you choose what is best and so attract God to your aid.
HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 22.6And he built again the high places, which Ezekias his father [had] demolished; and set up an altar to Baal, and made groves as Achaab king of Israel [made them]; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
καὶ ἐπέστρεψε καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε τὰ ὑψηλά, ἃ κατέσπασεν ᾿Εζεκίας ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνέστησε θυσιαστήριον τῇ Βάαλ καὶ ἐποίησε τὰ ἄλση, καθὼς ἐποίησε ᾿Αχαὰβ βασιλεὺς ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ προσεκύνησε πάσῃ τῇ δυνάμει τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἐδούλευσεν αὐτοῖς.
и҆ ѡ҆брати́сѧ, и҆ созда̀ высѡ́каѧ, и҆̀же разорѝ ѻ҆те́цъ є҆гѡ̀ є҆зекі́а, и҆ воздви́же же́ртвенникъ ваа́лꙋ, и҆ сотворѝ дꙋбра̑вы, ꙗ҆̀коже сотворѝ а҆хаа́въ ца́рь і҆и҃левъ, и҆ поклони́сѧ все́й си́лѣ небе́снѣй и҆ порабо́та и҆̀мъ:
And he built an altar in the house of the Lord, whereas he had said, In Jerusalem I will place my name.
καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε θυσιαστήριον ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου, ὡς εἶπεν· ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ θήσω τὸ ὄνομά μου,
и҆ созда̀ ѻ҆лта́рь въ домꙋ̀ гдⷭ҇ни, ꙗ҆́коже речѐ гдⷭ҇ь: во і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мѣ положꙋ̀ и҆́мѧ моѐ.
And he built an altar to all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε θυσιαστήριον πάσῃ τῇ δυνάμει τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐν ταῖς δυσὶν αὐλαῖς οἴκου Κυρίου
И҆ сотворѝ ѻ҆лта́рь все́й си́лѣ небе́снѣй на двꙋ̀ дворꙋ̀ до́мꙋ гдⷭ҇нѧ:
And he caused his sons to pass through the fire, and used divination and auspices, and made groves, and multiplied wizards, so as to do that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
καὶ διῆγε τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ ἐν πυρὶ καὶ ἐκληδονίζετο καὶ οἰωνίζετο καὶ ἐποίησε τεμένη καὶ γνώστας ἐπλήθυνε τοῦ ποιεῖν τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Κυρίου παροργίσαι αὐτόν.
и҆ провожда́ше сы́ны своѧ̑ чрез̾ ѻ҆́гнь, и҆ вража́ше, и҆ волшвє́нїѧ творѧ́ше, и҆ сотворѝ ка̑пища, и҆ волшє́бницы ᲂу҆мно́жи твори́ти лꙋка́вое пред̾ ѻ҆чи́ма гдⷭ҇нима, є҆́же прогнѣ́вати є҆го̀:
And he set up the graven image of the grove in the house of which the Lord 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 even place my name for ever.
καὶ ἔθηκε τὸ γλυπτὸν τοῦ ἄλσους ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ, ᾧ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Δαυὶδ καὶ πρὸς Σαλωμὼν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ· ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τούτῳ καὶ ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, ᾗ ἐξελεξάμην ἐκ πασῶν φυλῶν τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ θήσω τὸ ὄνομά μου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα
и҆ поста́ви и҆зва́ѧное дꙋбра́вы въ хра́мѣ, ѡ҆ не́мже речѐ гдⷭ҇ь къ даві́дꙋ и҆ къ соломѡ́нꙋ сы́нꙋ є҆гѡ̀: въ хра́мѣ се́мъ и҆ во і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мѣ, є҆го́же и҆збра́хъ ѿ всѣ́хъ колѣ́нъ і҆и҃левыхъ, и҆ положꙋ̀ тꙋ̀ и҆́мѧ моѐ на вѣ́ки,
And I will not again remove the foot of Israel from the land which I gave to their fathers, [even of those] who shall keep all that I commanded, according to all the commandments which my servant Moses commanded them.
καὶ οὐ προσθήσω τοῦ σαλεῦσαι τὸν πόδα ᾿Ισραὴλ ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς, ἧς ἔδωκα τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν, οἵτινες φυλάξουσι πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην κατὰ πᾶσαν τὴν ἐντολήν, ἣν ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς ὁ δοῦλός μου Μωυσῆς.
и҆ не приложꙋ̀ подви́гнꙋтисѧ но́зѣ і҆и҃левѣ ѿ землѝ, ю҆́же да́хъ ѻ҆тцє́мъ и҆́хъ, а҆́ще ті́и соблюдꙋ́тъ всѧ̑ є҆ли̑ка заповѣ́дахъ, по все́й за́повѣди, ю҆́же заповѣ́да и҆̀мъ ра́бъ мо́й мѡѷсе́й.
But they hearkened not; and Manasses led them astray to do evil in the sight of the Lord, beyond the nations whom the Lord utterly destroyed from before the children of Israel.
καὶ οὐκ ἤκουσαν, καὶ ἐπλάνησεν αὐτοὺς Μανασσῆς τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Κυρίου ὑπὲρ τὰ ἔθνη, ἃ ἠφάνισε Κύριος ἐκ προσώπου υἱῶν ᾿Ισραήλ.
И҆ не послꙋ́шаша, и҆ прельстѝ и҆̀хъ манассі́а, є҆́же сотвори́ти лꙋка́вое пред̾ ѻ҆чи́ма гдⷭ҇нима па́че ꙗ҆зы̑къ, ꙗ҆̀же и҆стребѝ гдⷭ҇ь ѿ лица̀ сынѡ́въ і҆и҃левыхъ.
And the Lord spoke by his servants the prophets, saying,
καὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος ἐν χειρὶ δούλων αὐτοῦ τῶν προφητῶν λέγων·
И҆ гл҃а гдⷭ҇ь рꙋко́ю рабѡ́въ свои́хъ прⷪ҇ро́кѡвъ, гл҃ѧ:
Forasmuch as Manasses the king of Juda has wrought all these evil abominations, beyond all that the Amorite did, who lived before [him], and has led Juda also into sin by their idols,
ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ὅσα ἐποίησε Μανασσῆς ὁ βασιλεὺς ᾿Ιούδα τὰ βδελύγματα ταῦτα τὰ πονηρὰ ἀπὸ πάντων, ὧν ἐποίησεν ὁ ᾿Αμορραῖος ὁ ἔμπροσθεν, καὶ ἐξήμαρτε καί γε τὸν ᾿Ιούδαν ἐν τοῖς εἰδώλοις αὐτῶν,
за сїѧ̑, є҆ли̑ка сотворѝ манассі́а ца́рь і҆ꙋ́динъ ме́рзѡсти сїѧ̑ лꙋка́выѧ, па́че всѣ́хъ ꙗ҆̀же сотвори́ша а҆морре́є, и҆̀же пре́жде сегѡ̀ бы́ша, и҆ введѐ во грѣ́хъ и҆ і҆ꙋ́дꙋ, въ кꙋмі́рѣхъ свои́хъ:
[it shall] not [be] so. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I bring calamities upon Jerusalem and Juda, so that both the ears of every one that hears shall tingle.
οὐχ οὕτως, τάδε λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ᾿Ισραήλ· ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ φέρω κακὰ ἐπὶ ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ καὶ ᾿Ιούδαν, ὥστε παντὸς ἀκούοντος ἠχήσει ἀμφότερα τὰ ὦτα αὐτοῦ,
не та́кѡ: си́це гл҃етъ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ і҆и҃левъ: сѐ, а҆́зъ наведꙋ̀ ѕла̑ѧ на і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мъ и҆ на і҆ꙋ́дꙋ, ꙗ҆́кѡ всѧ́комꙋ слы́шащемꙋ пошꙋмѧ́тъ ѻ҆боѧ̑ ᲂу҆́ха є҆гѡ̀,
And I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measure of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Achaab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a jar is wiped, and turned upside down in the wiping.
καὶ ἐκτενῶ ἐπὶ ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ τὸ μέτρον Σαμαρείας καὶ τὸ στάθμιον οἴκου ᾿Αχαάβ· καὶ ἀπαλείψω τὴν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, καθὼς ἀπαλείφεται ὁ ἀλάβαστρος ἀπαλειφόμενος καὶ καταστρέφεται ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ,
и҆ прострꙋ̀ на і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мъ мѣ́рꙋ самарі́йскꙋю и҆ вѣсы̀ до́мꙋ а҆хаа́влѧ: и҆ и҆стреблю̀ і҆ерⷭ҇ли́ма, ꙗ҆́коже и҆зглажда́етсѧ а҆лава́стръ и҆зглажда́емый и҆ превраща́етсѧ въ лицѐ своѐ:
And I will reject the remnant of my inheritance, and will deliver them into the hands of their enemies; and they shall be for a plunder and for a spoil to all their enemies:
καὶ ἀπώσομαι τὸ ὑπόλειμμα τῆς κληρονομίας μου καὶ παραδώσω αὐτοὺς εἰς χεῖρας ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔσονται εἰς διαρπαγὴν καὶ εἰς προνομὴν πᾶσι τοῖς ἐχθροῖς αὐτῶν,
и҆ и҆зри́нꙋ ѡ҆ста́нки достоѧ́нїѧ моегѡ̀ и҆ преда́мъ и҆́хъ въ рꙋ́ки врагѡ́въ и҆̀хъ, и҆ бꙋ́дꙋтъ въ расхище́нїе и҆ въ плѣ́нъ всѣ̑мъ врагѡ́мъ свои̑мъ:
forasmuch as they have done wickedly in my sight, and have provoked me from the day that I brought out their fathers out of Egypt, even until this day.
ἀνθ᾿ ὧν ὅσα ἐποίησαν τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς μου καὶ ἦσαν παροργίζοντές με ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας, ἧς ἐξήγαγον τοὺς πατέρας αὐτῶν ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.
поне́же сотвори́ша лꙋка́вое пред̾ ѻ҆чи́ма мои́ма и҆ бы́ша прогнѣвлѧ́юще мѧ̀ ѿ днѐ, во́ньже и҆зведо́хъ ѻ҆тцы̀ и҆̀хъ ѿ землѝ є҆гѵ́петскїѧ, и҆ до днѐ сегѡ̀.
Moreover Manasses shed very much innocent blood, until he filled Jerusalem [with it] from one end to the other, beside his sins with which he caused Juda to sin, in doing evil in the eyes of the Lord.
καί γε αἷμα ἀθῷον ἐξέχεε Μανασσῆς πολὺ σφόδρα, ἕως οὗ ἔπλησε τὴν ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ στόμα εἰς στόμα, πλὴν ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτοῦ, ὧν ἐξήμαρτε τὸν ᾿Ιούδαν τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Κυρίου.
Є҆ще́ же кро́вь непови́ннꙋю и҆злїѧ̀ манассі́а мно́гꙋ ѕѣлѡ̀, до́ндеже напо́лни і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мꙋ ᲂу҆ста̀ до ᲂу҆́стъ, кромѣ̀ грѣхѡ́въ є҆гѡ̀, и҆́миже во грѣ́хъ введѐ і҆ꙋ́дꙋ, сотвори́ти лꙋка́вое пред̾ ѻ҆чи́ма гдⷭ҇нима.
And the rest of the acts of Manasses, and all that he did, and his sin which he sinned, [are] not these things written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Juda?
καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τῶν λόγων Μανασσῆ καὶ πάντα, ὅσα ἐποίησε, καὶ ἡ ἁμαρτία αὐτοῦ, ἣν ἥμαρτεν, οὐχὶ ταῦτα γεγραμμένα ἐπὶ τῷ βιβλίῳ λόγων τῶν ἡμερῶν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν ᾿Ιούδα;
И҆ прѡ́чаѧ слове́съ манассі́иныхъ, и҆ всѧ̑ є҆ли̑ка сотворѝ, и҆ грѣ́хъ є҆гѡ̀, и҆́мже согрѣшѝ, не сїѧ̑ ли напи̑сана въ кни́зѣ слове́съ дні́й царе́й і҆ꙋ́диныхъ;
And Manasses slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his house, [even] in the garden of Oza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
καὶ ἐκοιμήθη Μανασσῆς μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐτάφη ἐν τῷ κήπῳ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ, ἐν κήπω ᾿Οζά, καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν ᾿Αμὼν υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἀντ᾿ αὐτοῦ.
И҆ ᲂу҆́спе манассі́а со ѻ҆тцы̑ свои́ми, и҆ погребе́нъ бы́сть въ вертогра́дѣ до́мꙋ своегѡ̀, въ вертогра́дѣ ѻ҆́зы. И҆ воцари́сѧ а҆ммѡ́нъ сы́нъ є҆гѡ̀ вмѣ́стѡ є҆гѡ̀:
Twenty and two years old [was] Amon when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name [was] Mesollam, daughter of Arus of Jeteba.
Υἱὸς εἴκοσι καὶ δύο ἐτῶν ᾿Αμὼν ἐν τῷ βασιλεύειν αὐτὸν καὶ δύο ἔτη ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, καὶ ὄνομα τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ Μεσολλὰμ θυγάτηρ ᾿Αροῦς ἐξ ᾿Ιετέβα.
сы́нъ два́десѧти двꙋ̀ лѣ́тъ бѣ̀ а҆ммѡ́нъ, є҆гда̀ нача̀ ца́рствовати и҆ два̀ лѣ̑та ца́рствова во і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мѣ. И҆́мѧ же ма́тери є҆гѡ̀ месолла́мъ, дщѝ а҆рꙋ́сова и҆з̾ і҆ете́вы.
There is no sin more grievous than idolatry, for it is an impiety against God, and yet even this sin has been forgiven, on sincere repentance. But if anyone sins in direct opposition and on purpose to try whether God will punish the wicked or not, such a one shall have no remission, although he says to himself, "All is well, and I will walk according to the customs of my evil heart." Such a one was Amon the son of Manasseh. For the Scripture says, "And Amon reasoned an evil reasoning of transgression and said, My father from his childhood was a great transgressor and repented in his old age; and now I will walk as my soul lusts, and afterwards I will return to the Lord." And he did evil in the sight of the Lord above all who were before him. And the Lord God soon destroyed him utterly from his good land. And his servants conspired against him and killed him in his own house, and he reigned two years only.
CONSTITUTIONS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES 2.23And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasses his father did.
καὶ ἐποίησε τὸ πονηρὸν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Κυρίου, καθὼς ἐποίησε Μανασσῆς ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ.
И҆ сотворѝ лꙋка́вое пред̾ ѻ҆чи́ма гдⷭ҇нима, ꙗ҆́коже сотворѝ манассі́а ѻ҆те́цъ є҆гѡ̀,
And he walked in all the way in which his father walked, and served the idols which his father served, and worshipped them.
καὶ ἐπορεύθη ἐν πάσῃ ὁδῷ, ᾗ ἐπορεύθη ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐλάτρευσε τοῖς εἰδώλοις, οἷς ἐλάτρευσεν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ, καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτοῖς
и҆ хожда́ше по всемꙋ̀ пꙋтѝ, и҆́мже ходѝ ѻ҆тє́цъ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ порабо́та кꙋмі́рѡмъ, и҆̀мже порабо́та ѻ҆те́цъ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ поклони́сѧ и҆̀мъ:
And he forsook the Lord God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the Lord.
καὶ ἐγκατέλιπε τὸν Κύριον Θεὸν τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐπορεύθη ἐν ὁδῷ Κυρίου.
и҆ ѡ҆ста́ви гдⷭ҇а бг҃а ѻ҆тє́цъ свои́хъ, и҆ не ходѝ пꙋте́мъ гдⷭ҇нимъ.
And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his house.
καὶ συνεστράφησαν οἱ παῖδες ᾿Αμὼν πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ ἐθανάτωσαν τὸν βασιλέα ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτοῦ.
И҆ воста́ша ѻ҆́троцы а҆ммѡ́новы на́нь и҆ ᲂу҆мертви́ша царѧ̀ въ домꙋ̀ є҆гѡ̀.
And the people of the land slew all that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josias king in his room.
καὶ ἐπάταξεν ὁ λαὸς τῆς γῆς πάντας τοὺς συστραφέντας ἐπὶ τὸν βασιλέα ᾿Αμὼν καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν ὁ λαὸς τῆς γῆς τὸν ᾿Ιωσίαν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἀντ᾿ αὐτοῦ.
Лю́дїе же землѝ (тоѧ̀) и҆зби́ша всѣ́хъ воста́вшихъ на царѧ̀ а҆ммѡ́на, и҆ воцари́ша лю́дїе землѝ тоѧ̀ і҆ѡсі́ю сы́на є҆гѡ̀ вмѣ́стѡ є҆гѡ̀.
And the rest of the acts of Amon, [even] all that he did, behold, [are] not these written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Juda?
καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τῶν λόγων ᾿Αμών, ὅσα ἐποίησεν, οὐκ ἰδοὺ ταῦτα γεγραμμένα ἐπὶ βιβλίῳ λόγων τῶν ἡμερῶν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν ᾿Ιούδα;
И҆ прѡ́чаѧ слове́съ а҆ммѡ́новыхъ, є҆ли̑ка сотворѝ, не се́ ли, сїѧ̑ напи̑сана въ кни́зѣ слове́съ дні́й царе́й і҆ꙋ́диныхъ;
And they buried him in his tomb in the garden of Oza: and Josias his son reigned in his stead.
καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν ἐν τῷ τάφῳ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ κήπῳ ᾿Οζά, καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν ᾿Ιωσίας υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἀντ᾿ αὐτοῦ.
И҆ погребо́ша є҆го̀ во гро́бѣ є҆гѡ̀ въ вертогра́дѣ ѻ҆́зинѣ. И҆ воцари́сѧ і҆ѡсі́а сы́нъ є҆гѡ̀ вмѣ́стѡ є҆гѡ̀.
Manasses [was] twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name [was] Apsiba.
ΥΙΟΣ δώδεκα ἐτῶν Μανασσῆς ἐν τῷ βασιλεύειν αὐτὸν καὶ πεντήκοντα καὶ πέντε ἔτη ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, καὶ ὄνομα τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ ᾿Οψιβά.
Сы́нъ двана́десѧти лѣ́тъ манассі́а, є҆гда̀ нача̀ ца́рствовати, и҆ пѧтьдесѧ́тъ пѧ́ть лѣ́тъ ца́рствова во і҆ерⷭ҇ли́мѣ. И҆́мѧ ма́тере є҆гѡ̀ ѻ҆фові́а.
For it is written thus in the fourth book of Kings and the second book of Chronicles, or of Days: "Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, following the abominable practices of the nations that the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he erected altars for Baal, made a sacred pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done, worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. He built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, 'In Jerusalem I will put my name.' He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord." And Manasseh raised altars and served Baal there and said, "My name will last forever." "He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. He made his son pass through fire; he practiced soothsaying and augury and dealt with mediums and with wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. The carved image of Asherah that he had made he set in the house of which the Lord said to David and to his son Solomon, 'In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever; I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land that I gave to their ancestors, if only they will be careful to do according to all that I have commanded them and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.' " But they did not listen; Manasseh misled them to do more evil than the nations had done that the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.The Lord said by his servants the prophets, "Because King Manasseh of Judah has committed these abominations, has done things more wicked than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has caused Judah also to sin with his idols; therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I am bringing on Jerusalem and Judah such evil that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line for Samaria and the plumb line for the house of Ahab; I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. I will cast off the remnant of my heritage and give them into the hand of their enemies; they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies, because they have done what is evil in my sight and have provoked me to anger, since the day their ancestors came out of Egypt, even to this day." Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides the sin that he caused Judah to sin so that they did what was evil in the sight of the Lord." "Therefore the Lord brought against them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh captive in manacles, bound him with fetters and brought him to Babylon." And he was bound and shackled all over with iron in the house of the prison. And bread made of bran was given to him scantly and by weight, and water mixed with vinegar but a little and by measure, so much as would keep him alive; and he was in straits and sore afflictions. "While he was in distress he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. He prayed to him," saying, "O Lord, almighty God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and of their righteous seed, who have made heaven and earth, with all the ornaments thereof, who have bound the sea by the word of your commandment, who have shut up the deep and sealed it by your terrible and glorious name, whom all people fear and tremble before your power; for the majesty of your glory cannot be borne, and your angry threatening toward the sinner is insupportable. But your merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable; for you are the most high Lord, of great compassion, long suffering, very merciful and who repents of the evils of humankind. You, O Lord, according to your great goodness, have promised repentance and forgiveness to them who have sinned against you, and of your infinite mercy you have appointed repentance to sinners, that they may be saved. You therefore, O Lord, that are the God of the just, have not appointed repentance to the just as to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who have not sinned against you; but you have appointed repentance to me that am a sinner: for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea. My transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied; my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of my iniquity. I am bowed down with many iron bands; for I have provoked your wrath and done evil before you, setting up abominations and multiplying offenses. Now, therefore, I bow the knee of my heart, beseeching you of grace. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge my iniquities; wherefore I humbly beseech you, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and do not destroy me with my iniquities. Be not angry with me forever, by reserving evil for me; neither condemn me into the lower part of the earth. For you are the God, even the God of them that repent, and in me you will show your goodness; for you will save me that am unworthy, according to your great mercy. Therefore I will praise you forever all the days of my life; for all the powers of the heavens do praise you, and yours is the glory forever and ever. Amen." "And God heard his plea" and had compassion on him. And there appeared a flame of fire about him, and all the iron shackles and chains that were about him fell off; and the Lord healed Manasseh from his affliction and "restored him again to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord indeed was God." And he worshiped the Lord God alone with all his heart and with all his soul, and all the days of his life; and he was esteemed righteous. "He took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the Lord and all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, and he threw them out of the city. He also restored the altar of the Lord and offered on it sacrifices of well-being and of thanksgiving; and he commanded Judah to serve the Lord the God of Israel." … You have heard, our beloved children, how the Lord God for a while punished him who was addicted to idols and had slain many innocent persons; and yet that he received him when he repented, and forgave him his offenses and restored him to his kingdom. For he not only forgives the penitent, but also reinstates them in their former dignity.
CONSTITUTIONS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES 2.22