2 Kings 10:18-27

Expanded Bible

Baal Worshipers Killed

¹⁸ Then Jehu gathered all the people together and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve Baal ·much [greatly]. ¹⁹ Now ·call for me [summon; assemble] all Baal’s prophets and priests and all the people who ·worship [serve] Baal. Don’t let anyone miss this meeting, because I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Anyone who is not there will not live.” But Jehu was ·tricking them [deceiving them; ^Lacting cunningly] so he could destroy ·the worshipers of [those who served] Baal. ²⁰ He said, “Prepare a ·holy [sacred; solemn] meeting for Baal.” So they ·announced [proclaimed] the meeting. ²¹ Then Jehu sent word through all Israel, and all ·the worshipers of [who served] Baal came; not one stayed ·home [behind]. They came into the ·temple [^Lhouse] of Baal, and the ·temple [^Lhouse] was filled from one side to the other.

²² Jehu said to the man who kept the robes, “Bring out ·robes [garments; vestments] for all ·the worshipers of [those who serve] Baal.” After he brought out ·robes [garments; vestments] for them, ²³ Jehu and Jehonadab son of Recab went into the ·temple [^Lhouse] of Baal. Jehu said to ·the worshipers of [those who served] Baal, “Look around, and make sure there are no servants of the Lord with you. Be sure there are only ·worshipers of [those who serve] Baal.” ²⁴ Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.

Jehu had eighty men waiting outside. He had told them, “·Don’t let anyone escape. If you do, you [The one who allows any of these men who I have put in your hands to escape] must ·pay with [exchange] your own life.”

²⁵ As soon as Jehu finished offering the burnt offering, he ordered the guards and the ·captains [officers], “Go in and kill ·the worshipers of [those who serve] Baal. Don’t let anyone ·come out [escape].” So the guards and ·captains [officers] killed ·the worshipers of [those who served] Baal with the sword and threw their bodies out. Then they went to the inner rooms of the ·temple [^Lhouse of Baal] ²⁶ and brought out the ·pillars [sacred poles/stone; ^Cused in worship] of the ·temple [^Lhouse] of Baal and burned them. ²⁷ They ·tore down [smashed] the stone pillar of Baal, as well as the ·temple [^Lhouse] of Baal. And they made it into a ·sewage pit [public toilet; latrine], as it is today.