בֶּן־שְׁתֵּ֨ים עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה שָׁנָה֙ מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה בְמָלְכ֔וֹ וַחֲמִשִּׁ֤ים וְחָמֵשׁ֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְשֵׁ֥ם אִמּ֖וֹ חֶפְצִי־בָֽהּ׃
Manasse war zwölf Jahre alt, als er König wurde; fünfundfünfzig Jahre regierte er in Jerusalem. Seine Mutter war Hefziba.
From David to Destruction
Chazal (Berachot 10a) teach that Chizkiyahu HaMelech is punished with a deadly illness (recorded in Melachim II 20) for his refusal to marry. Radak (Melachim II 20:1) notes that the Pesukim support Chazal’s assertion. Chizkiyahu HaMelech’s life is extended fifteen years after his Tefillah for recovery is accepted. Menashe, who is presumably Chizkiyahu’s firstborn son (since he is the successor to the crown) ascends the throne at age twelve (Melachim II 21:1).285Radak writes that the words of Chazal are “Emet,” “truth.” Presumably, he means to say that they may be taken literally. Radak writes this since he is a follower of Rambam, who believes that not every Aggadic statement of Chazal is meant to be taken literally. Thus, it appears that Chizkiyahu does not have any children who are eligible for the throne until three years after his recovery.