Then God "was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him back again to Jerusalem into his kingdom." The crime of defection was overlooked by the Assyrian monarch, Manasseh was pardoned, and sent back to Jerusalem: where he was allowed to resume the reins of government, but on the condition, if we may judge by the usual practice of the Assyrians in such cases, of paying an increased tribute.
It may have been in connection with this restoration of Manasseh to his throne--an act of doubtful policy from an Assyrian point of view--that Esar-haddon determined on a project by which the hold of Assyria upon Palestine was considerably strengthened.

Sargon, as has been already observed when he removed the Israelites from Sumaria, supplied their place by colonists from Babylon, Cutha, Sippara, Ava, Hamath, and Arabia; this planting a foreign garrison in the region which would be likely to preserve its fidelity.

Esar-haddon resolved to strengthen this element.

He gathered men from Babylon, Orchoe, Susa, Elymais, Persia, and other neighboring regions, and entrusting them to an officer of high rank--"the great and noble Asnapper"-- had them conveyed to Palestine and settled over the whole country, which until this time must have been somewhat thinly peopled.

The restoration of Manasseh, and the augmentation of this foreign element in Palestine, are thus portions, but counterbalancing portions, of one scheme--a scheme, the sole object of which was the pacification of the empire by whatever means, gentle or severe, seemed best calculated to effect the purpose.
The last years of Esar-haddon were, to some extent, clouded with disaster.