Slaughter of Worshipers of Baal

¹⁸ Then Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab offered Baal small service, but Jehu will offer much more.^{(A) 19} Now therefore summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal; whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu was acting with cunning in order to destroy the servants of Baal.^{(B) 20} Jehu decreed, “Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they proclaimed it.^{(C) 21} Jehu sent word throughout all Israel; all the servants of Baal came, so that there was no one left who did not come. They entered the temple of Baal until the temple of Baal was filled from wall to wall.^{(D) 22} He said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring out the vestments for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out the vestments for them. ²³ Then Jehu entered the temple of Baal with Jehonadab son of Rechab; he said to the servants of Baal, “Search and see that there is no servant of the Lord here among you but only servants of Baal.” ²⁴ Then they proceeded to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.

Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside, saying, “Whoever allows any of those to escape whom I deliver into your hands shall forfeit his life.”^{(E) 25} As soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and to the officers, “Come in and kill them; let no one escape.” So they put them to the sword. The guards and the officers threw them out and then went into the citadel of the temple of Baal.^{(F) 26} They brought out the pillar^[a] that was in the temple of Baal and burned it.^{(G) 27} Then they demolished the pillar of Baal and destroyed the temple of Baal and made it a latrine to this day.^(H)

²⁸ Thus Jehu wiped out Baal from Israel.