Manasseh of Judah
| Manasseh (Menasheh ben Hizqiyah) |
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|---|---|
| King of Judah (Melekh Yehudah) |
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| Reign | coregency 697–687 BC sole reign 687–643 BC |
| Predecessor | King Hezekiah |
| Successor | Amon |
| Born | c. 709 BC probably Jerusalem |
| Died | c. 643 BC (aged 65 or 66) probably Jerusalem |
| Spouse | Meshullemeth |
| Issue | Amon |
| House | House of David |
| Father | King Hezekiah |
| Mother | Hephzibah |
Manasseh (/məˈnæsə/; Hebrew: מְנַשֶּׁה Mənaššeh; Akkadian: Menašši (written me-na-si-i); Greek: Μανασσῆς; Latin: Manasses) was a king of the Kingdom of Judah. He was the only son of Hezekiah with Hephzibah. He became king at the age of 12 and reigned for 55 years (2 Kings 21:1; 2 Chronicles 33:1). Edwin Thiele has concluded that he commenced his reign as co-regent with his father Hezekiah in 697/696 BC, with his sole reign beginning in 687/686 BC and continuing until his death in 643/642 BC.William F. Albright has dated his reign from 687–642 BC.
Manasseh was the first king of Judah who would not have had a direct experience with the Kingdom of Israel (Samaria), which had been destroyed by the Assyrians in c. 720 BC with much of its population deported. He re-instituted polytheistic worship and reversed the religious changes made by his father Hezekiah; for which he is condemned by several Biblical texts.
He was married to Meshullemeth, daughter of Haruz of Jotbah, and they had a son Amon, who succeeded him as king of Judah upon his death.
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