Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 21:7
And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name forever:
7. A graven image of the grave ] R.V. the graven image of Asherah. Though usually of wood, such images were also made of silver and carved in stone. The image in question here would be specially grand in view of the position it was to occupy.
the Lord said to David ] For the words to David cf. 2Sa 7:13; and to Solomon 1Ki 8:20.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A graven image of the grove – Rather, the carved work of the Asherah. This Asherah which Manasseh placed in the very temple itself, from where it was afterward taken by Josiah to be destroyed 2Ki 23:6. Such a profanation was beyond anything that had been done either by Athaliah 2Ki 11:18, or by Ahaz 2Ki 16:14-18; 2Ch 29:5-7.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. He set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house] Every one may see that Asherah here must signify an idol, and not a grove; and for the proof of this see the observations at the end of the chapter. 2Kg 21:26.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He set a graven image of the grove; either, first, The image of that Baal which was worshipped in the grove. Or, secondly, A representation of the grove, as may seem by comparing 2Ki 23:6. Or, thirdly, The graven image of Asherah, a god or goddess so called, possibly the same called elsewhere Ashtaroth. See Jdg 6:25,28; 2Ki 23:6; 2Ch 15:16.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. And he set a graven imageTheplacing of the Asherah within the precincts of the temple, which wasdedicated to the worship of the true God, is dwelt upon as the mostaggravated outrage of the royal idolater.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Ver. 7 And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house,…. Which was either an image that had been placed in a grove planted by him, and now removed into the house or temple of the Lord; or, as some think, this was a representation of a grove, a carved grove of gold or silver, in the midst of which an image was placed in the temple; though what Selden observes b, seems best of all, that this was an image of Asherah, as in the original text; that is, of Astarte or Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, 1Ki 11:5, the same the Phoenicians are said to call Astroarche, and affirm it to be the moon c: in 2Ch 33:7 it is called a carved image the idol he had made; and an Arabic writer d says, it had four faces, which seems to be a figure of the cherubim; but, according to Suidas e, it was the statue of Jupiter, who also says it had four faces:
of which the Lord said to David, and to Solomon his son: that is, of which house or temple:
in this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name forever; see 1Ki 8:29
[See comments on 2Ki 21:3].
b De Dis Syris, Syntagm. 2. c. 2. p. 233. c Herodian. l. 5. c. 15. d Abulpharag. Hist. Dynast. Dyn. 3. p. 66. e In voce .
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(7) A graven image of the grove.The graven image of the Ashrah (2Ki. 21:3).
In the house of which the Lord said . . .See 1Ki. 8:16; 1Ki. 9:3. It is meant that the Asherah was erected within the Temple itself, probably in the holy placean act which was the climax of Manassehs impiety. (Comp. 23:4; Eze. 43:7; Jer. 7:30 seq.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. A graven image of the grove Rather, the image of the Asherah; that is, the Asherah-pillar, or image, already mentioned in 2Ki 21:3. (English version, incorrectly, “grove.”) He refrained not even from setting up this abominable image in the very temple which had been consecrated to the pure worship of Jehovah.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 21:7. Image of the grove, &c, Image of Aschera, [Astarte] which he had made by the house, &c. Houbigant.
REFLECTIONS.Like the seven years famine of Egypt, which made the former plenty forgotten, the wickedness of Manasseh blots out all the glorious work that his father had so piously accomplished.
1. Manasseh was young when he began his reign, and continued longest of any of the kings of Judah, reckoning the years of his captivity in Babylon. Whether he was immediately corrupted by those at court, who, amidst their pretended reformation, retained their love for the old abominations, and by flattery gained the ear of the unexperienced king; or whether only after he had children, 2Ki 21:6 he apostatized, is uncertain. Note; It is very dangerous to come too young to the possession of honour and greatness; so many are in wait to flatter such persons to their ruin.
2. His wickedness was beyond that of all his predecessors. Not warned by Israel’s punishment, he adopted all their sins with circumstances of peculiar aggravation; despising, or rather as if designing to cast reproach on his father’s proceedings, he began with rebuilding the high places that Hezekiah had destroyed. Baal and Ashtoreth once more reared up their hateful heads, and the hosts of heaven were the objects of his worship, instead of that God who made them. To profane God’s holy temple, he dared there erect his idol altars, filled the house and courts with these abominations, and there sacrificed to his gods. In the temple itself he placed the image of Ashtoreth, 2Ki 21:7 in opposition and defiance to God, provoking him to cast them off for ever, whom, on their fidelity, he had promised ever to protect and preserve. Madly attached to his idols, he made his son to pass through the fire, in honour to these false deities; and, superstitious as impious, he trusted in charms, and consulted wizards, as if the devil was a better oracle than the God who spoke from between the cherubims. Seduced by their king’s example, the people in general followed him, and Judah was filled with idolatry, worse than the very heathen nations around them. Note; (1.) They who have had a religious education, when they give themselves up to evil, usually grow of all others the most profligate. (2.) Irreligion and superstition are nearly allied. They who cast off all fear of God, are often seen to be the greatest slaves to the illusions of the devil. (3.) A bad example is mortally infectious, and especially in kings: how much will they have to answer in the day of God, who are chargeable not only with their own blood, but with the murder of thousands of souls, whom they have seduced and destroyed?
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ki 21:7 And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
Ver. 7. And he set a graven image of the grove, &c:] An image with a carved grove about it, 2Ki 23:6 that not God in the temple, but the devil in the grove, might there be worshipped.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
a graven image of the grove = a carved ‘Asherah (2Ki 21:3). Removed by Josiah (2Ki 23:6). See App-42.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
am 3306-3327, bc 698-677
he set: 2Ki 23:6, 2Ch 33:7, 2Ch 33:15
In this house: 2Ki 21:4, 2Ki 23:27, 2Sa 7:13, 1Ki 8:29, 1Ki 8:44, 1Ki 9:3, 1Ki 9:7, 2Ch 7:12, 2Ch 7:16, 2Ch 7:20, Neh 1:9, Psa 74:2, Psa 78:68, Psa 78:69, Psa 132:13, Psa 132:14, Jer 32:34
Reciprocal: 2Ki 21:2 – And he did 2Ki 21:16 – beside his sin 2Ki 23:4 – to bring Jer 7:30 – they Jer 19:4 – estranged Eze 5:11 – thou hast Eze 7:20 – but Eze 8:3 – the image Eze 23:38 – they have
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 21:7. He set an image of the grove, &c. The image of that Baal which was worshipped in the grove, or of some other of his idols. The word Asherah, here rendered grove, is nearly the same with Ashtaroth, or Astarte, the imaginary female deities, which were worshipped along with Baalim. This image seems to have been set up in the very temple itself, probably in the holy place; as if designed purposely to affront the Lord to his face, and set him at defiance: desecrating, says Henry, what had been consecrated to God, and, in effect, turning him out of his own house, and putting the rebels in possession of it.