Prayer of Manasseh facts for kids

The Prayer of Manasseh is a short, special prayer with 15 verses. It is a prayer of penitence, which means asking for forgiveness. This prayer was said by King Manasseh, who ruled the ancient Kingdom of Judah.

King Manasseh is described in the Bible as a king who did many things that were against God's rules. He worshiped idols and led his people to do the same. However, after he was captured by the Assyrians, a powerful ancient empire, he prayed to God for mercy. The Bible says he changed his ways and stopped worshiping idols.

What is the Prayer of Manasseh?

The Prayer of Manasseh is a short, powerful prayer. It shows a king asking God for forgiveness. This prayer is not found in all versions of the Bible. It is part of a group of writings called the Apocrypha. These are books that are considered important by some Christian groups but not by others.

Why is it called a "penitential prayer"?

A penitential prayer is a prayer where someone admits they have done wrong. They show sorrow for their actions. Then, they ask God for forgiveness and mercy. King Manasseh's prayer is a perfect example of this. He talks about his sins and asks God to forgive him.

Who Was King Manasseh?

King Manasseh was a king of the ancient Kingdom of Judah. He ruled for a very long time, about 55 years. This was one of the longest reigns of any king in Judah. He became king when he was only 12 years old.

Manasseh's Early Rule

When Manasseh first became king, he did many things that were considered bad. The Bible says he rebuilt high places for idol worship. He also set up altars for a god called Baal. He even worshiped the stars and planets. These actions were seen as very wrong by the people who followed God.

What did Manasseh do wrong?

Manasseh allowed many different kinds of idol worship in Judah. He even put an idol in God's temple in Jerusalem. The Bible also mentions that he shed much innocent blood. This means he was responsible for many people being killed. Because of these actions, Manasseh is often remembered as one of the worst kings of Judah.

Manasseh's Capture and Change

The Bible tells us that because of Manasseh's bad actions, God allowed the Assyrian army to capture him. The Assyrians took Manasseh to Babylon. This was a very difficult time for the king.

How did Manasseh change?

While he was a prisoner, Manasseh had time to think about his life. He realized how wrong his actions had been. He humbled himself and prayed to God. He asked for forgiveness. The Bible says that God heard his prayer.

Manasseh's Return to Judah

After his prayer, God allowed Manasseh to return to Jerusalem. When he came back, he was a changed man. He removed the idols from the temple. He also destroyed the altars he had built for other gods. He tried to lead his people back to worshiping God. This shows that even people who make big mistakes can change and seek forgiveness.

Where is the Prayer of Manasseh found?

The Prayer of Manasseh is found in some versions of the Bible. It is often placed after the book of 2 Chronicles. It is part of the Apocrypha, which means "hidden" or "secret" books. These books are not in the main part of the Hebrew Bible.

Why is it not in all Bibles?

Different religious traditions have different collections of books in their Bibles. Some Christian churches, like the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, include the Prayer of Manasseh. Other churches, especially Protestant ones, do not include it. They see it as a good prayer but not as part of the official Bible.

Importance of the Prayer

The Prayer of Manasseh is important because it shows a powerful message. It teaches that God is merciful and willing to forgive. Even someone who has done many wrong things can be forgiven if they truly repent.

What does the prayer teach us?

The prayer teaches us about:

• God's great mercy and forgiveness.
• The importance of admitting our mistakes.
• That it's never too late to change and seek a better path.
• How a person can turn from bad ways to good ones.

Images for kids

• Manasseh.jpg

  King Manasseh was a king of Judah who ruled for a long time.