17 Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only to Yahweh their God.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Compare 2-Kings 21:2, note; 2-Kings 18:4, note.
The people did sacrifice - "Nevertheless the people did sacrifice on the high places, but only to the name of the Word of the Lord their God." - Targum.
Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, [yet] unto the (h) LORD their God only.
(h) Thus by ignorance they were deceived, thinking it nothing to keep the altars, so that they worshipped God: but it is idolatry to worship God any other way than he has appointed.
Nevertheless, the people did sacrifice still in the high places,.... Not in those that were built for idols, at least did not sacrifice to them; for it follows:
yet unto the Lord their God only; the Targum is,"to the name of the Word of the Lord their God.''
the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the Lord their God only--Here it appears that the worship on high places, though it originated in a great measure from the practice of heathenism, and too often led to it, did not necessarily imply idolatry.
Still - Manasseh could not carry the reformation so far as he had carried the corruption. It is an easy thing to debauch men's manners; but not so easy to reform them again.
*More commentary available at chapter level.