« | 2 Kings 21 | » |
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to rule. He ruled 55 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.
2 Manasseh did what the Lord said was wrong. He did the terrible things the other nations did. (And the Lord forced those nations to leave their country when the Israelites came.)
3 Manasseh rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He also built altars for Baal and made an Asherah pole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. Manasseh worshiped and served the stars of heaven.
4 He built altars {to honor false gods} in the Lord's Temple. (This is the place the Lord was talking about when he said, "I will put my name in Jerusalem.")
5 Manasseh built altars for the stars of heaven in the two courtyards of the Lord's Temple.
6 He sacrificed his own son and burned him on the altar. He used different ways of trying to know the future. He visited mediums and wizards. Manasseh did more and more things that the Lord saw as evil, which made the Lord angry.
7 Manasseh made a carved statue of Asherah. He put this statue in the Temple. The Lord had said to David and to David's son Solomon about this Temple: "I have chosen Jerusalem from all the cities in Israel. I will put my name in the Temple in Jerusalem forever.
8 I will not cause the Israelites to leave the land that I gave to their ancestors. I will let the people stay in their land if they obey everything I commanded them and all the teachings that my servant Moses gave them."
9 But the people did not listen to God. Manasseh did more evil things than all the nations that lived in Canaan before Israel came. And the Lord destroyed those nations when the Israelites came to take their land.
10 The Lord used his servants the prophets to say this:
11 "King Manasseh of Judah has done these hated things and has done more evil than the Amorites before him. He also has caused Judah to sin because of his idols.
12 So the Lord, the God of Israel, says, 'Look! I will bring so much trouble against Jerusalem and Judah that anyone who hears about it will be shocked.
13 I will stretch the measuring line of Samaria and the plumb line of Ahab's family over Jerusalem. A man wipes a dish, and then he turns it upside down. I will do that to Jerusalem.
14 There will still be a few of my people left, but I will leave them. I will give them to their enemies. Their enemies will take them prisoners— they will be like the valuable things soldiers take in war.
15 This is because my people did what I said was wrong. They have made me angry with them since the day their ancestors came up out of Egypt.
16 And Manasseh killed many innocent people. He filled Jerusalem from one end to another with blood. And all these sins are in addition to the sins that caused Judah to sin. Manasseh caused Judah to do what the Lord said was wrong.'"
17 All the things that Manasseh did, including the sins that he committed, are written in the book, The History of the Kings of Judah.
18 Manasseh died and was buried with his ancestors. He was buried in the garden at his house. It was called the "Garden of Uzza." His son Amon became the new king after him.
19 Amon was 22 years old when he began to rule. He ruled two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz from Jotbah.
20 Amon did what the Lord said was wrong, just as his father Manasseh had done.
21 Amon lived just as his father had lived. He worshiped and served the same idols his father had worshiped.
22 Amon left the Lord, the God of his ancestors, and did not live the way the Lord wanted.
23 Amon's servants made plans against him and killed him in his palace.
24 The common people killed all the officers who made plans against King Amon. Then the people made Amon's son Josiah the new king after him.
25 The other things that Amon did are written in the book, The History of the Kings of Judah.
26 Amon was buried in his grave at the Garden of Uzza. His son Josiah became the new king.
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.