Jehu Kills the Baal Worshipers

¹⁸ Then Jehu brought all the people together and said to them, “Ahab served Baal^(A) a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot. ¹⁹ Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests.^(B) 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. ²⁰ Jehu commanded, “Consecrate a solemn assembly^(C) for Baal.” So they called one.

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

²³ Then 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.” ²⁴ Then 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.”^{(F) 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.”^(G) 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. ²⁶ They brought out the pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it, ²⁷ and they tore down the pillar^(H) of Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it a latrine^(I)—which it still is today.

Evaluation of Jehu’s Reign

²⁸ Jehu eliminated Baal worship from Israel,