2 Chronicles 33:12
And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
Manasseh heard the word of the Lord but did not heed it, and he with Judah refused divine warnings, which led to his capture, bondage, and affliction in captivity. Affliction became the turning point that brought him to his senses. In that affliction he sought the Lord his God in prayer and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
His humble prayer was heard and he was restored to his kingdom. When warnings are rejected, punishment may be used to turn the erring back. This dealing reveals patient and compassionate mercy that does not abandon the sinner to the power of enemies.
His repentance was sincere, yet it followed years of idolatry. It came too late to save the kingdom from the lasting corrupting effects of that evil course. His humbling of himself stands in contrast to his son Amon, who did not humble himself before the Lord as his father Manasseh had done.