2 Kings 10:15–27

¹⁵When he left there, he found Jehonadab son of Rechab^t coming to meet him. He greeted him and then asked, “Is your heart one with mine?”^E

“It is,” Jehonadab replied.

Jehu said, “If it is,^F give me your hand.”^u

So he gave him his hand, and Jehu pulled him up into the chariot with him. ¹⁶Then he said, “Come with me and see my zeal^v for the Lord!” So he let him ride with him in his chariot. ¹⁷When Jehu came to Samaria, he struck down all who remained from the house of Ahab in Samaria until he had annihilated his house, according to the word of the Lord spoken to Elijah.^w

JEHU KILLS THE BAAL WORSHIPERS

¹⁸Then Jehu brought all the people together and said to them, “Ahab served Baal^x a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot. ¹⁹Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests.^a None must be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” However, Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal. ²⁰Jehu commanded, “Consecrate a solemn assembly^b for Baal.” So they called one.

²¹Then Jehu sent messengers throughout all Israel, and all the servants of Baal^A came; no one failed to come.^c They entered the temple of Baal,^d and it was filled from one end to the other. ²²Then he said to the custodian of the wardrobe, “Bring out the garments for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out their garments.

²³Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal, and Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Look carefully to see that there are no servants of the Lord here among you—only servants of Baal.” ²⁴Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.

Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside, and he warned them, “Whoever allows any of the men I am placing in your hands to escape will forfeit his life for theirs.”^{e 25}When he finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Don’t let anyone out.”^f So they struck them down with the sword. Then the guards and officers threw the bodies out and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal. ²⁶They brought out the pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it, ²⁷and they tore down the pillar^g of Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it a latrine^h—which it still is today.