2 Chronicles 33:6

And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

And he caused {H5674} his children {H1121} to pass through {H5674} the fire {H784} in the valley {H1516} of the son {H1121} of Hinnom {H2011}: also he observed times {H6049}, and used enchantments {H5172}, and used witchcraft {H3784}, and dealt {H6213} with a familiar spirit {H178}, and with wizards {H3049}: he wrought {H6213} much {H7235} evil {H7451} in the sight {H5869} of the LORD {H3068}, to provoke him to anger {H3707}.

He made his children pass through the fire [as a sacrifice] in the Ben-Hinnom Valley. He practiced soothsaying, divination and sorcery; and he appointed mediums and persons who used spirit guides. He did much that was evil from ADONAI's perspective, thus provoking him to anger.

He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he practised augury, and used enchantments, and practised sorcery, and dealt with them that had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.

Commentary

Context

This verse describes the abominable practices of King Manasseh of Judah, the son of the righteous King Hezekiah. Manasseh reigned for 55 years, the longest of any king in Judah, and his rule was marked by a profound reversal of his father's godly reforms. He actively promoted idolatry and engaged in practices explicitly forbidden by God's law, leading the nation into deep spiritual apostasy. His actions represent a stark contrast to the devotion of his father, King Hezekiah, whose reign saw significant religious revival and trust in the Lord.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Extreme Idolatry and Apostasy: Manasseh's actions, particularly "causing his children to pass through the fire," signify the ultimate rejection of the God of Israel and a horrific embrace of pagan worship, specifically associated with the Ammonite god Molech. This was a direct violation of the covenant God made with Israel.
  • Forbidden Occult Practices: The verse lists a litany of practices condemned by God: "observed times" (divination, astrology), "enchantments" (sorcery, magic), "witchcraft," dealing with "familiar spirits" (necromancy, consulting mediums), and "wizards." These were all attempts to gain knowledge or power outside of God, relying on demonic or deceptive forces.
  • Provoking God's Anger: The phrase "he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger" underscores the severity of Manasseh's sin. His actions were not merely ceremonial transgressions but direct affronts to God's holiness, justice, and exclusive claim to Israel's worship. God's anger here is a righteous response to profound betrayal and spiritual rebellion.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "caused his children to pass through the fire" (Hebrew: he'ebir banaw ba'esh) refers to child sacrifice, a gruesome ritual often performed in the worship of Molech. This practice was strictly forbidden in the Mosaic Law, as seen in Leviticus 18:21 and Deuteronomy 18:10, which lists it among "abominations." The "valley of the son of Hinnom" (Gehenna) was a literal valley just south of Jerusalem that became infamous for these horrific acts, and later became a symbol of judgment.

The various terms for occult practices—"observed times" ('onen, relating to omens or clouds for divination), "enchantments" (nachash, often serpent-like divination), "witchcraft" (kashaph, spell-casting), "familiar spirit" ('ov, a necromancer or medium), and "wizards" (yidde'oni, those who know by occult means)—highlight the comprehensive nature of Manasseh's spiritual perversion. These were all direct violations of God's command against pagan practices and seeking guidance from sources other than Him (cf. Deuteronomy 18:10-12).

Practical Application

Manasseh's egregious sins serve as a powerful warning against the dangers of idolatry and spiritual compromise. This verse reminds us that:

  • God Hates Idolatry and Occult Practices: Any attempt to seek power, knowledge, or comfort outside of God, whether through ancient rituals or modern spiritualism, is an affront to His sovereignty and provokes His righteous anger.
  • Influence of Leadership: Manasseh's actions illustrate the immense influence of leaders, for good or ill. His wickedness led an entire nation astray.
  • The Seriousness of Sin: The detailed list of Manasseh's sins emphasizes that even seemingly subtle forms of spiritual rebellion are grave in God's sight.
  • Hope for Repentance: While this verse highlights Manasseh's depravity, the broader narrative of 2 Chronicles reveals his later, profound repentance during captivity (2 Chronicles 33:12-13). This offers a powerful message of God's mercy and willingness to forgive even the most heinous sins when true repentance occurs.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 19:31 (4 votes)

    Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I [am] the LORD your God.

  • 2 Chronicles 28:3 (4 votes)

    Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

  • Leviticus 19:26 (4 votes)

    Ye shall not eat [any thing] with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.

  • 2 Kings 21:6 (4 votes)

    And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke [him] to anger.

  • Leviticus 18:21 (4 votes)

    And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through [the fire] to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I [am] the LORD.

  • Leviticus 20:6 (4 votes)

    And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

  • Jeremiah 7:31 (3 votes)

    And they have built the high places of Tophet, which [is] in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded [them] not, neither came it into my heart.