Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 33:2
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Chronicler narrates Manasseh’s actions immediately after his accession to the throne of Jerusalem at age twelve.
The words — The Hebrew `וַיַּעַשׂ (va.ya.'as)` literally means "and he did," while `תֹעֲבוֹת (to.'a.vot)` translates to "abominations," structuring the verse around the active adoption of forbidden practices.
The thread — This pattern of adopting displaced nations' practices echoes the warnings in Deuteronomy 18:9 and Leviticus 18:24, and repeats in 2 Chronicles 28:3 with King Ahaz.
Why it lands — It requires acknowledging that covenant failure originates in the deliberate adoption of prohibited cultural and religious systems rather than in isolated moral slips.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 28:3 Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
- Deuteronomy 18:9 When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.
- Leviticus 18:24 Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves.
- Leviticus 20:22 You are therefore to keep all My statutes and ordinances, so that the land where I am bringing you to live will not vomit you out.
- Deuteronomy 12:31 You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, because they practice for their gods every abomination which the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.
- Deuteronomy 18:14 Though these nations, which you will dispossess, listen to conjurers and diviners, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.
- 2 Kings 17:11 They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger.
- 2 Kings 17:15 They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.
- 2 Kings 21:2 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
- 2 Kings 21:9 But the people did not listen and Manasseh led them astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.