2 Kings 10:18–28

Jehu Kills the Baal Worshipers

¹⁸Then Jehu brought all the people together and said to them, “Ahab served Baal ^oa 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. ^pNone 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 ^qfor Baal.” So they called one.

²¹Then Jehu sent messengers throughout all Israel, and all the servants of Baal ^rcame; there was not a man left who did not come. ^sThey entered the temple of Baal, ^tand 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 80 men outside, and he warned them, “Whoever allows any of the men I am delivering into your hands to escape will forfeit his life for theirs.” ^u25When he finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Don’t let anyone out.” ^vSo 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 pillars of the temple of Baal and burned them ²⁷and tore down the pillar ^wof Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it a latrine ^x—which it is to this day.

Evaluation of Jehu’s Reign

²⁸Jehu eliminated Baal worship from Israel,