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[40]
And when they persevered in the same course of life, God raised up
war against them from the king of Babylon and Chaldea, who sent an army
against Judea, and laid waste the country; and caught king Manasseh by
treachery, and ordered him to be brought to him, and had him under his
power to inflict what punishment he pleased upon him. But then it was that
Manasseh perceived what a miserable condition he was in, and esteeming
himself the cause of all, he besought God to render his enemy humane and
merciful to him. Accordingly, God heard his prayer, and granted him what
he prayed for. So Manasseh was released by the king of Babylon, and escaped
the danger he was in; and when he was come to Jerusalem, he endeavored,
if it were possible, to cast out of his memory those his former sins against
God, of which he now repented, and to apply himself to a very religious
life. He sanctified the temple, and purged the city, and for the remainder
of his days he was intent on nothing but to return his thanks to God for
his deliverance, and to preserve him propitious to him all his life long.
He also instructed the multitude to do the same, as having very nearly
experienced what a calamity he was fallen into by a contrary conduct. He
also rebuilt the altar, and offered the legal sacrifices, as Moses commanded.
And when he had re-established what concerned the Divine worship, as it
ought to be, he took care of the security of Jerusalem: he did not only
repair the old walls with great diligence, but added another wall to the
former. He also built very lofty towers, and the garrisoned places before
the city he strengthened, not only in other respects, but with provisions
of all sorts that they wanted. And indeed, when he had changed his former
course, he so led his life for the time to come, that from the time of
his return to piety towards God he was deemed a happy man, and a pattern
for imitation. When therefore he had lived sixty-seven years, he departed
this life, having reigned fifty-five years, and was buried in his own garden;
and the kingdom came to his son Amon, whose mother's name was Meshulemeth,
of the city of Jotbath.
1
1 HOW AMON REIGNED INSTEAD OF MANASSEH; AND AFTER AMON REIGNED JOSIAH; HE WAS BOTH RIGHTEOUS AND RELIGIOUS. AS ALSO CONCERNING HULDAH THE PROPHETESS.
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