2 Chronicles 33:12

“And when he was in affliction, etc.] In prison; however, in fetters; according to the Targum, the Chaldeans made an instrument of brass with holes in it, and put him in it, and fire about it, something like the brasen bull of Perillus; and the above Arabian writer f145 calls it a tower of brass: he besought the Lord his God; by prayer and supplication: and humbled himself greatly before the Lord God of his fathers; confessing his sins, expressing great sorrow and repentance for them.”

“when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God--In the solitude of exile or imprisonment, Manasseh had leisure for reflection. The calamities forced upon him a review of his past life, under a conviction that the miseries of his dethronement and captive condition were owing to his awful and unprecedented apostasy (Ch2 33:7) from the God of his fathers. He humbled himself, repented, and prayed for an opportunity of bringing forth the fruits of repentance. His prayer was heard; for his conqueror not only released him, but, after two years' exile, restored him, with honor and the full exercise of royal power, to a tributary and dependent kingdom. Some political motive, doubtless,…”

“Besought - It becomes sinners to humble themselves before that God, whom they have offended. It becomes sufferers to humble themselves before him that corrects them, and to accept of the punishment of their iniquity. 2 Chronicles 33:17”

“33:12-17 The book of Kings does not mention Manasseh’s repentance, telling only of the promise of judgment resulting from his wicked deeds (see 2 Kgs 21:10-16). Chronicles tells the good things he did after he repented, following his father Hezekiah’s example. However, Manasseh’s actions were unable to turn the hearts of the people back to the Lord or to avert God’s judgment on Judah (2 Chr 33:17). 33:12 Manasseh’s response followed the requirements of Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple (7:14).”

“And when: Ch2 28:22; Lev 26:39-42; Deu 4:30, Deu 4:31; Jer 31:18-20; Hos 5:15; Mic 6:9; Luk 15:16-18 he besought: Ch2 33:18, Ch2 33:19; Psa 50:15; Act 9:11 the Lord: Ch2 28:5 humbled: Ch2 33:19, Ch2 33:23, Ch2 32:26; Exo 10:3; Luk 18:14, Luk 18:15; Jam 4:10; Pe1 5:5, Pe1 5:6 2 Chronicles 33:13”

“לו וּכהצר = לו הצר וּבעת, Ch2 28:22. In this his affliction he bowed himself before the Lord God of his fathers, and besought Him; and the Lord was entreated of him, and brought him again to Jerusalem, into his kingdom. The prayer which Manasseh prayed in his need was contained, according to Ch2 33:18., in the histories of the kings of Israel, and in the sayings of the prophet Hozai, but has not come down to our day. The "prayer of Manasseh" given by the lxx is an apocryphal production, composed in Greek; cf. my Introduction to the Old Testament, 247. 2 Chronicles 33:14”