The story of King Manasseh is a wild ride, a testament to the idea that no one is beyond the reach of repentance.

See, Manasseh wasn't just a bad king; he was really bad. The text tells us he deserved the punishment he eventually received for his "sins and crimes." We're talking about a guy who, in the twenty-second year of his reign, ticked off the Assyrians so badly that they carted him off to Babylon in chains. And not just him, but also that old Danite idol, Micah's image. Talk about adding insult to injury!

Things went from bad to worse in Babylon. The king found himself thrown into an oven, heated from below. Can you imagine the desperation? According to Legends of the Jews, in this moment of sheer terror, Manasseh started pleading with every god he could think of. But nothing worked.

Finally, he remembered something his father had taught him: "When thou art in tribulation, if in the latter days thou shalt return to the Lord thy God, and hearken unto His voice, He will not fail thee." So, Manasseh figured, what did he have to lose? He cried out to God, thinking, "If He inclines His ear unto me, well and good; if not, then all kinds of god are alike." A pretty cynical prayer, right?

But here’s where it gets really interesting. The angels, understandably, weren't thrilled. "Lord of the world!" they protested, "Art Thou willing to give gracious hearing to one who has paid worship to idols, and set up an idol in the Temple?" They tried to block his prayer from reaching God.

God's response, though, is the heart of the story. He said, "If I did not accept the penance of this man, I should be closing the door in the face of all repentant sinners." God, in His infinite mercy, made a small opening under the Throne of His Glory and received Manasseh's prayer.

Suddenly, a wind swept through, carrying Manasseh all the way back to Jerusalem. According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, his return to God not only rescued him from his predicament, but also brought him complete forgiveness. So complete, in fact, that he didn’t even lose his share in the world to come, the Olam Ha-Ba.

So, what do we take away from the tale of Manasseh? It's a powerful reminder that repentance, teshuvah, is always possible. Even for the worst of us. Even when the angels themselves are protesting. It’s a testament to the boundless compassion of God, who is always willing to welcome us back, no matter how far we’ve strayed. Makes you think, doesn't it?