One commentator describes Manasseh as "an idolatrous Solomon on steroids." (Leithart) The other way of saying it is, "the Ahab of the South." Think back to the Omri – and his dynasty (the third story in the book of Kings). Omri was a parody of David. Everything about Omri reminded us of David – he was the general of the previous king, and a few years after he took power he built a new capital city. And then Omri's son built a temple for his god. Omri's son was Ahab. And we saw that Ahab was very much like Solomon – except the temple he built was for Baal. If Hezekiah is the greatest king since David, one would expect his son to be like Solomon. And Manasseh was a great temple builder – but his building projects are all idolatrous. Indeed, Manasseh is rightly compared to both Solomon and Ahab – he is truly an idolatrous Solomon on steroids! Manasseh reminds us – over and over – for 55 years – that the wages of sin is death, but – for 55 years – this most wicked king in all of Jerusalem's history – refuses to die. Why does God do this? Kings never answers this question. Only the book of Chronicles will point out that Manasseh repented! The book of Kings never mentions Manasseh's repentance! Why not? Because the book of King is focused on how Jerusalem wound up in exile. Manasseh's repentance is irrelevant to the story of the book of Kings. The book of Kings wants you to see that Manasseh's sin resulted in the death of Jerusalem. The Chronicler wants you to see that there is hope even for sinners like Manasseh! But the book of Kings wants you to see that in the middle of the story, sometimes we don't understand why God allows wickedness to prosper...