Jehu Executes the Prophets and Priests of Baal

10:18 Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab worshiped36 Baal a little; Jehu will worship37 him with great devotion.38 10:19 So now, bring to me all the prophets of Baal, as well as all his servants and priests.39 None of them must be absent, for I am offering a great sacrifice to Baal. Any of them who fail to appear will lose their lives.” But Jehu was tricking them40 so he could destroy the servants of Baal. 10:20 Then Jehu ordered, “Make arrangements for41 a celebration for Baal.” So they announced it. 10:21 Jehu sent invitations throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; not one was absent. They arrived at the temple of Baal and filled it up from end to end.42 10:22 Jehu ordered the one who was in charge of the wardrobe,43 “Bring out robes for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out robes for them. 10:23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rekab went to the temple of Baal. Jehu44 said to the servants of Baal, “Make sure there are no servants of the Lord here with you; there must be only servants of Baal.”45 10:24 They went inside to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside. He had told them, “If any of the men inside get away, you will pay with your lives!”46

10:25 When he finished offering the burnt sacrifice, Jehu ordered the royal guard47 and officers, “Come in and strike them down! Don’t let any escape!” So the royal guard and officers struck them down with the sword and left their bodies lying there.48 Then they entered the inner sanctuary of the temple of Baal.49 10:26 They hauled out the sacred pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it. 10:27 They demolished50 the sacred pillar of Baal and51 the temple of Baal; it is used as52 a latrine53 to this very day. 10:28 So Jehu eradicated Baal worship54 from Israel.