Manasseh’s apostasy had left a stamp of evil upon Amon that shaped his life beyond recall. During the latter part of Manasseh’s reign the idolatrous party had been held in check (2 Chron. 33:16), but now it regained control, and the entire land was swept along in a tide of iniquity. As usual, moral and religious license went hand in hand. The prophet Zephaniah, who wrote during the time of Josiah, has given a graphic description of the unhappy situation (see Zeph. 1:8, 9; 3:1-4).