Bible Strands
2 Kings 21:1
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the accession and reign of Manasseh immediately following the death of his father Hezekiah. This historical note establishes the chronological transition in the Davidic line before detailing his subsequent religious failures.
The words — The phrase בֶּן־שְׁתַּיִם עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה (ben-shetei esreh shanah) literally renders "a son of twelve years," indicating the king's age at coronation. The form בְּמָלְכּוֹ (b'mal'kho) marks the precise temporal point of his enthronement.
The thread — The direct paternal link to Hezekiah appears in 2 Kings 20:21 and 1 Chronicles 3:13, while the maternal name Hephzibah is later deployed in Isaiah 62:4 as a prophetic title for restored Jerusalem. These citations anchor the royal succession and the geographic-theological weight of the mother's name.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to register that a child's accession initiated a prolonged reign that immediately precedes explicit covenant violation. It demands a historical reckoning of the king's age and duration before evaluating the moral consequences detailed in the following verse.
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
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hephzi–bah.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 62:4 No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride.
- 2 Kings 20:21 And Hezekiah rested with his fathers, and his son Manasseh reigned in his place.
- 1 Chronicles 3:13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
- 2 Chronicles 32:33 And Hezekiah rested with his fathers and was buried in the upper tombs of David’s descendants. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem paid him honor at his death. And his son Manasseh reigned in his place.
- Proverbs 5:19 A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.
- Matthew 1:10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,