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Hezekiah's tunnel
2 Kings 20:20 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah — all his might, and how he made a pool and a tunnel and brought water into the city — are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
The story of Hezekiah’s tunnel is given a little more insight in 2 Chronicles 32:2 “And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city..”
Hezekiah’s Tunnel, also known as the Siloam Tunnel, is an ancient water tunnel in Jerusalem that still exists today. The tunnel is a significant engineering feat, considered one of the greatest water engineering technologies of the pre-Classical period, and is a popular tourist destination if you were ever to visit Jerusalem. The tunnel’s construction is considered an early example of water engineering, particularly because the workers dug simultaneously from both ends and met in the center. By diverting the waters of the Gihon, he prevented the enemy forces under Sennacherib from gaining access to water.
Listen and watch this short youtube video about Hezekiah’s tunnel:
Manasseh
2 Kings 21:2-9 He did what YHWH considered evil by copying the disgusting things done by the nations that YHWH had forced out of the Israelites’ way.. altars, poles.. worshiped the entire army of heaven.. he burned his son as a sacrifice, consulted fortune-tellers, cast evil spells, and appointed royal mediums and psychics. He did many things that made YHWH furious… Manasseh misled Israel so that they did more evil things than the nations that YHWH had destroyed..
Manasseh had a reign of 55 years, the longest in the history of Judah. Manasseh’s name in Hebrew H4519 – mᵊnaššê, means “causing to forget“. This is the same name that Joseph gave his first son born in Egypt, whom he called Manasseh because Joseph was so bitter about being sold into slavery by his brothers. Genesis 41:51, “And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: H4519 For Elohim, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.”
It seems like this time, Manasseh forgot all the great his father Hezekiah has done, and what he stood for. Manasseh’s rule was marked by idolatry, foreign worship practices, and even child sacrifice, contrasting greatly with his father Hezekiah’s righteousness. He is often portrayed as the most wicked king of Judah. This story of Manasseh in 2 Kings 21 is repeated almost exactly in 2 Chronicles 33. However in 2 Chronicles, there is another paragraph added about how Manasseh repented after being taken captive to Babylon. Verse 12-13, “And when he was in distress, he sought the face of YHWH his Elohim, and humbled himself greatly before the Elohim of his fathers, and prayed to Him. And He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his reign. And Menashsheh knew that YHWH was Elohim.”
According to the Second Book of Chronicles, it appears that King Manasseh’s change of heart was real. Once he was back home, he restored worship of YHWH in his kingdom, and destroyed many idols, and tried to make peace with YHWH. But with the last few chapters in 2nd Kings, we will read that the consequences on Manasseh’s actions still stands – the final fall of Jerusalem. 2 Kings 23:26 “Nevertheless YHWH did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, with which His anger was aroused against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him.”
