DIDASCALIA. 37 in your judgments. Hear therefore, O Bishop, in regard to these things, an example that is congruous and helpful. It is written in the fourth Book of Kingdoms, and in the second Book of Days thus, that "in these f. 24 b days Manasseh reigned, being twelve years old, and for fifty years he ^^ reigned in Jerusalem ; the name of his mother was Apheeba (Hephzi-bah). 2 Chron. He did that which was evil before the Lord, like the abomination of 2 the peoples, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel." He returned and built the high places for the sacrifices which Hezekiah 3 his father had thrown down. He raised statues to Baal, and made abominations like as Ahab king of Israel had done. He made altars to all the army of Heaven, and worshipped all the powers of Heaven. He built an altar to demons in the house of the Lord, where the Lord 4 had said, "In Jerusalem is My house, I will put My name there for ever." Manasseh served the high places and said, My name shall endure for ever. He built an altar to all the army of Heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. " He caused his children to pass through the fire ^^ong in the valley of the son of Hinnom ; he used auguries and sorceries ; he made soothsayings and incantations and divinations, and wrought many evil things in the eyes of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. He set a molten and carved image of the abomination which he had i made, in the house of the Lord, where the Lord had said to David and to Solomon his son, that in this house, and in Jerusalem which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name for ever. Nor will I 8 any more restrain My feet from the land of Israel which I have given to your fathers, only if they keep all that I have commanded them, according to all the commandments which I commanded my servant Moses, and they did not hear. Manasseh caused them to err, to do 9 evil before the Lord, according to the works of the nations whom the 2 Kings xxi. 10 Lord had destroyed before -the children of Israel." "The Lord spake with f. 25 a Manasseh, and to his people by the hand of his servants the prophets, and said, Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations 11 in Jerusalem, like as did the Amorites who were before him, and has also made Judah to sin by his idols; therefore thus saith the Lord God 12 of Israel, Behold I bring such evil things upon Jerusalem and upon Judah, that the two ears of every one that heareth them shall tingle. I will is stretch over Jerusalem that measure of Samaria, and the weight of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipeth a water- vessel when he turneth it on its face. I will give the remnant of Mine i* inheritance to the sword, and will deliver them into the hand of their