Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 33:19

His prayer also, and [how God] was entreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they [are] written among the sayings of the seers.

19. groves and graven images, before he was humbled ] R.V. the Asherim and the graven images, before he humbled himself.

among the sayings of the seers ] Render, in the history of his seers; cp. R.V. mg. and LXX., slightly emending the Hebrew text. To take the Heb. word ( zai) as a proper name (so R.V.) is unsuitable, since the same word occurs as a common noun (“seers”) in the preceding verse.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

The seers – Most moderns adopt the translation given in the margin of the Authorized Version, making Hosai (or rather, Chozai) a proper name. The point is a doubtful one.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. His prayer also] What is called the Prayer of Manasseh, king of Judah, when he was holden captive in Babylon, being found among our apocryphal books, I have inserted it at the end of the chapter, without either asserting or thinking that it is the identical prayer which this penitent king used when a captive in Babylon. But, as I have observed in another place, there are many good sentiments in it; and some sinners may find it a proper echo of the distresses of their hearts; I therefore insert it.

Written among the sayings of the seers.] “They are written in the words of Chozai.” – Targum. So says the Vulgate. The Syriac has Hunan the prophet; and the Arabic has Saphan the prophet.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Or rather, of Hosai, a writer so called; for when the sacred penmen make a reference, they constantly refer us to some particular book or certain author, as to the chronicles of the kings of Israel, or Judah; to the prophecy of Ahijah, or Oded, &c.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

His prayer also,…. Was not only recorded in the above annals, but in the writings of another person after mentioned:

and how God was entreated of him; heard his prayer, and showed him favour both in a temporal and spiritual way; for though the Jews would not allow that he was saved, or had a part in the world to come, eternal life q, yet there appears no just reason why it should be so thought:

and all his sin, and his trespass; his impieties, idolatries, and murders: and the places wherein he built high places; see 2Ch 33:3

and set up groves; statues in groves:

and graven images, before he was humbled; see 2Ch 33:7,

behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers; or of Hosea, the name of a prophet who wrote the history of his own times; so the Targrim and Vulgate Latin version; and, according to the Jewish chronology r, there was a prophet of this name in the times of Amon the son of Manasseh.

q Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 11. sect. 2. r Seder Olam Zuta, p. 105. Ed. Meyer.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(19) His prayer also . . . of him.And his prayer, and the hearing him. Literally, and the being propitious to him (the same verb as in 2Ch. 33:13 and Gen. 25:21).

All his sins, and his trespass.All his sin and his unfaithfulness. 2Ki. 21:17 has, And his sin that he sinned. The chronicler, as usual, heightens the expression.

Groves.The Ashrim. (See Note on 2Ch. 33:3.)

Among the sayings of the seers.In the history of Hozai. This work was, therefore, the source from which the chronicler derived his additional information about the reign of Manasseh. (See Introduction.) The LXX. has the seers; but the Vulg., in sermonibus Hozai, and the Syriac, in the story of Hanan the prophet. It is pretty clear that Hozai is simply a mutilated form of ha-hzm, the seers, a term which occurred in 2Ch. 33:17.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

19. His prayer also The same prayer referred to in the previous verse. The writer simply adds in this verse that the prayer and other things concerning Manasseh were also written among the sayings of the seers Our translators took this to be a general reference to several well-known prophetical works which contained accounts of Manasseh’s reign, for the Hebrew word is the same as that rendered seers in the preceding verse. But the form of the word is different, and to sustain the common version we must assume a textual error, and read instead of . For this there is no external authority, and we have no other instance of such a general reference to written authorities. Whenever the chronicler refers to a written document he always mentions its author. Hence most modern critics take as a proper name, Chozai, (or Hosai, as in the margin,) and understand that the acts of Manasseh were written by one named Hozai, of whom, however, we have no other mention.

2Ch 33:21-25 describe the reign of Amon, but add nothing of importance to the account in 2Ki 21:19-26, where see notes.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2Ch 33:19 His prayer also, and [how God] was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they [are] written among the sayings of the seers.

Ver. 19. His prayer also ] Which was sure some excellent and eximious prayer, and is therefore so much mentioned. Affliction exciteth devotion: and then, if ever, men “pray in the Holy Ghost.”

And all his sin, and his trespass. ] His transgression against God, and his trespass against men. So St Paul, I was – as to the first table – “a blasphemer,” saith he, and – as to the second – “a persecutor”: and – as to both – “injurious,” one that wronged both God and man. 1Ti 1:13

Among the sayings of the seers. ] Or, Of Hosai, who might be some prophet, whose book is not now extant. Some Rabbis hold that Hosai is Isaiah. Others of them say, that Isaiah was slain by Manasseh, before his captivity. Seder Olam maketh mention of Ozai as a prophet under the reign of Amon.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

His prayer. Not recorded. That given in the Apocrypha not considered genuine.

images. Same word as 2Ch 33:22 and Deu 7:5. Always plural in O.T.

the seers = the chozai. See note on 1Ch 29:29.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

his prayer also: 2Ch 33:11, 2Ch 33:12, 2Ch 33:19, Pro 15:8, Act 9:11, 1Jo 1:9

all his sins: 2Ch 33:1-10, Rom 5:16

before he: 2Ch 33:12, 2Ch 30:11, 2Ch 36:12, Psa 119:67, Psa 119:71, Psa 119:75, Jer 44:10, Dan 5:22

the seers: or, Hosai, So the Targum and Vulgate: the Syraic has Hanun the prophet; and the Arabic, Saphan the prophet. This record is totally lost; for the captivity and repentance of Manasseh are related no where else; and the prayer of Manasseh in the Apocrypha was probably composed long afterwards: it is not acknowledged as canonical even by the Romish church, though it was anciently used as a form of confession, and as such still received by the Greek church.

Reciprocal: Exo 10:3 – humble Lev 26:41 – humbled Deu 8:2 – to humble Deu 17:20 – his heart Jdg 3:7 – the groves 2Ki 13:4 – the Lord 2Ki 22:19 – humbled 2Ch 7:14 – humble 2Ch 12:6 – humbled 2Ch 32:26 – Hezekiah 2Ch 33:18 – his prayer 2Ch 33:23 – humbled 2Ch 34:27 – humble 2Ch 35:27 – deeds Job 33:26 – pray Psa 107:13 – General Jer 13:18 – Humble Jer 17:2 – their altars Lam 3:56 – hast Dan 4:37 – those that walk Mic 6:8 – walk humbly Mat 5:3 – the poor Mat 7:8 – General Luk 15:18 – will arise Luk 18:13 – a sinner Joh 4:10 – thou wouldest Act 9:9 – General 1Ti 1:16 – for a Jam 4:6 – giveth grace 1Pe 5:6 – Humble

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2Ch 33:19. His prayer also Which is twice mentioned as remarkable. We have a prayer which, it is pretended, he made in prison. The church does not receive it as canonical; but it has a place among the apocryphal pieces, and, in our collection, stands before the books of Maccabees. The Greek church has received it into its book of prayers, and it is there sometimes used as a devout form, and which contains nothing in it deserving censure. And how God was entreated of him Which was written for the generations to come, that the people that should be created might praise the Lord, for his readiness to receive returning prodigals. They are written among the sayings of the seers To those seers that spake to him, (2Ch 33:18,) to reprove him for his sin, he sent his confession, when he repented, to be inserted in their memoirs, as a token of his gratitude to them for their kindness in reproving him. Thus it becomes penitents to take shame to themselves, and to give thanks to their reprovers, and warning to others.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments