For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
He rebuilt the worship sites on hills that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he set up altars for the false gods called Baals. He also made sacred groves and worshiped all the stars and heavenly bodies, serving them as gods.
This verse describes how King Manasseh completely reversed his father's religious reforms by rebuilding pagan worship sites and serving false gods instead of the Lord.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, King Hezekiah of Judah was known for his reforms that removed idols and destroyed high places to restore pure worship of God, as described in earlier chapters of 2 Chronicles. His son, Manasseh, ascended to the throne after him and quickly reversed these reforms by rebuilding the high places and introducing worship of pagan deities like Baal and the stars, which were common in the surrounding ancient Near Eastern cultures. This act reflected a broader pattern of spiritual rebellion in Judah, influenced by political pressures and the allure of foreign religions during a time of Assyrian dominance.
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