Bible Study

2 Chronicles / Book of Chronicles
Bible Study – 17.

Research Article.

Was the Jewish King Manasseh Really Taken to Babylon?

There are numerous allegations claiming that the Bible, though said to be written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, contains historical errors and therefore cannot be considered inerrant. One such allegation centers on the statement that “Manasseh was taken to Babylon.”

Let us first examine who Manasseh was.

His father was King Hezekiah, one of the greatest kings who ever ruled the kingdom of Judah. However, his son Manasseh turned out to be a king who committed exceedingly great evils.
We read in detail about Manasseh’s sinful life in 2 Chronicles 33:1–10.
His abominations included:
Making idols for Baal
Worshiping the host of heaven
Making his son pass through the fire
Practicing sorcery and witchcraft
Doing many things that were evil in the sight of the Lord
Although God warned him repeatedly, Manasseh refused to turn away from his wicked ways.

Therefore, the Lord brought against them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria. They captured Manasseh, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze chains, and took him to Babylon.
At this point, the phrase “Manasseh was taken to Babylon” becomes the subject of significant debate.
Why?
The capital city of the Assyrian Empire that captured Manasseh was Nineveh. It was customary to take political prisoners to the capital of the empire.
Babylon was not the capital of Assyria.
Therefore, critics argue that:
The statement “Manasseh was taken to Babylon” is incorrect,
The Bible has recorded erroneous information, and
The claim that the Bible is inerrant is therefore false.
Many raise serious questions about the inerrancy of Scripture based on this passage.
But is this objection valid?
Or is it a mistaken conclusion arising from an incomplete understanding of historical facts?
That is what we will examine in this article.
It is indeed true that Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire.
However, this information must be verified in light of historical records.
When we examine the political developments of that period, it becomes clear that Babylon had been conquered and was under Assyrian control at that time.
Historical–Political Context
Period of Manasseh: 697–642 B.C.
The Assyrian kings during Manasseh’s lifetime were:
Esarhaddon
Ashurbanipal
The king who captured Manasseh was Esarhaddon.
Regarding Esarhaddon:
He built a palace in Babylon
He resided there and ruled from that city
For a period of time, Babylon functioned as his royal residence and political center
Before and after his reign, Assyrian kings ruled primarily from Nineveh.
However, Esarhaddon alone chose to live and govern from Babylon.
Therefore, when Manasseh was captured, he was taken to Babylon, which functioned as the Assyrian king’s political headquarters at that time.
Historical records confirm this fact.
Hence, there is no historical error whatsoever in the biblical statement that “Manasseh was taken to Babylon.”
Through this incident, the trustworthiness of Scripture is once again demonstrated.
The Bible is inerrant in its original manuscripts and is infallible.
At this point, one more important truth must be highlighted.
According to the biblical evaluation, among all the kings who ruled Judah, Manasseh is identified as the one who walked in the most wicked ways.
“He did more evil than all who were before him.”
— 2 Kings 21:9
Yet, when he realized his sins, humbled himself, and earnestly prayed to God, the Lord heard his plea.
God restored him once again to his kingdom in Jerusalem.

“Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.”
— 2 Chronicles 33:13

“Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.”
— Oscar Wilde