TRV
Translation
Berean Standard Bible
And Jehu commanded, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they announced it.
American Standard Version
And Jehu said, Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.
World English Bible Messianic
Jehu said, “Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal!” They proclaimed it.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And Iehu sayd, Proclaime a solemne assemblie for Baal. And they proclaimed it.
Young's Literal Translation
And Jehu saith, `Sanctify a restraint for Baal;' and they proclaim it .
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In the KJVVerse 9,814 of 31,102
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Commentary on 2 Kings 10 verses 15–28
15 ¶ And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.
16 And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.
17 And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah.
18 And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much.
19 Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
20 And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.
21 And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another.
22 And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments.
23 And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only.
24 And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him.
25 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.
26 And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them.
27 And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.
28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
Jehu, pushing on his work, is here,
I. Courting the friendship of a good man, Jehonadab the son of Rechab, Kg2 10:15, Kg2 10:16. This Jehonadab, though mortified to the world and meddling little with the business of it (as appears by his charge to his posterity, which they religiously observed 300 years after, not to drink wine nor dwell in cities, Jer 35:6, etc.), yet, upon this occasion, went to meet Jehu, that he might encourage him in the work to which God had called him. The countenance of good men is a thing which great men, if they be wise, will value, and value themselves by. David prayed, Let those that fear thee turn to me, Psa 119:79. This Jehonadab, though no prophet, priest, or Levite, no prince or ruler, was, we may suppose, very eminent for prudence and piety, and generally respected for that life of self-denial and devotion which he lived: Jehu, though a soldier, knew him and honoured him. He did not indeed think of sending for him, but when he met him (though it is likely he drove now as furiously as ever) he stopped to speak to him; and we are here told what passed between them. 1. Jehu saluted him; he blessed him (so the word is), paid him the respect and showed him the good-will that were due to so great an example of serious godliness. 2. Jehonadab assured him that he was sincerely in his interest and a hearty well-wisher to his cause. Jehu professed that his heart was right with him, that he had a true affection for his person and a veneration for the crown of his Nazariteship, and desired to know whether he had the same affection for him and satisfaction in that crown of royal dignity which God had put upon his head: Is thy heart right? a question we should often put to ourselves. "I make a plausible profession, have gained a reputation among men, but is my heart right? Am I sincere and inward with God?" Jehonadab gave him his word (It is), and gave him his hand as a pledge of his heart, yielded to him (so giving the hand is rendered, Ch2 30:8), concurred and covenanted with him, and owned him in the work both of revenge and of reformation he was now about. 3. Jehu took him up into his chariot and took him along with him to Samaria. He put some honour upon him, by taking him into the chariot with him (Jehonadab was not accustomed to ride in a chariot, much less with a king); but he received more honour from him, and from the countenance he gave to his present work. All sober people would think the better of Jehu when they saw Jehonadab in the chariot with him. This was not the only time in which the piety of some has been made to serve the policy of others, and designing men have strengthened themselves by drawing good men into their interests. Jehonadab is a stranger to the arts of fleshly wisdom, and has his conversation in simplicity and godly sincerity; and therefore, if Jehu be a servant of God and an enemy to Ball, he will be his faithful friend. "Come then" (says Jehu), "come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord; and then thou wilt see reason to espouse my cause." This is commonly taken as not well said by Jehu, and as giving cause to suspect that his heart was not right with God in what he did, and that the zeal he pretended for the Lord was really zeal for himself and his own advancement. For, (1.) He boasted of it, and spoke as if God and man were mightily indebted to him for it. (2.) He desired it might be seen and taken notice of, like the Pharisees, who did all to be seen of men. An upright heart approves itself to God and covets no more than his acceptance. If we aim at the applause of men, and make their praise our highest end, we are upon a false bottom. Whether Jehu looked any further we cannot judge; however Jehonadab went with him, and, it is likely, animated and assisted him in the further execution of his commission (Kg2 10:17), destroying all Ahab's friends in Samaria. A man may hate cruelty and yet love justice, may be far from thirsting after blood and yet may wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, Psa 58:10.
II. Contriving the destruction of all the worshippers of Baal. The service of Baal was the crying sin of the house of Ahab: that root of this idolatry was plucked up, but multitudes yet remained that were infected with it, and would be in danger of infecting others. The law of God was express, that they were to be put to death; but they were so numerous, and so dispersed throughout all parts of the kingdom, and perhaps so alarmed with Jehu's beginnings, that it would be a hard matter to find them all out and an endless task to prosecute and execute them one by one. Jehu's project therefore is to cut them all off together. 1. By a wile, by a fraud, he brought them together to the temple of Baal. He pretended he would worship Baal more than ever Ahab had done, Kg2 10:18. Perhaps he spoke this ironically, or to try the body of the people whether they would oppose such a resolution as this, and would resent his threatening to increase his predecessor's exactions, and say, "If it be so, we have no part in Jehu, nor inheritance in the son of Nimshi." But it rather seems to have been spoken purposely to deceive the worshippers of Baal, and then it cannot be justified. The truth of God needs not any man's lie. He issued a proclamation, requiring the attendance of all the worshippers of Baal to join with him in a sacrifice to Baal (Kg2 10:19, Kg2 10:20), not only the prophets and priests, but all, throughout the kingdom, who worshipped Baal, who were not nearly so many as they had been in Elijah's time. Jehu's friends, we may suppose, were aware of what he designed, and were not offended at it; but the bigoted besotted Baalites began to think themselves very happy, and that now they should see golden days again. Joram had put away the image of Baal, Kg2 3:2. If Jehu will restore it, they have what they would have, and come up to Samaria with joy from all parts to celebrate the solemnity; and they are pleased to see the house of Baal crowded (Kg2 10:21), to see his priests in their vestments (Kg2 10:22), and themselves perhaps with some badges or other to notify their relation to Baal, for there were vestments for all his worshippers. 2. He took care that none of the servants of the Lord should be among them, Kg2 10:23. This they took as a provision to preserve the worship of Baal from being profaned by strangers; but it was a wonder that they did not, by this, see themselves brought into a snare and discern a design upon them. No marvel if those that suffer themselves to be deceived by Baal (as all idolaters were by their idols), are deceived by Jehu to their destruction. 3. He gave order for the cutting of them all off, and Jehonadab joined with him therein, Kg2 10:23. When a strict search was made lest any of the servants of God should, either for company or curiosity, have got among them - lest any wheat should be mixed with those tares, and when eighty men were set to stand guard at all the avenues to Baal's temple, that none might escape (Kg2 10:24), then the guards were sent in to put them all to the sword and to mingle their blood with their sacrifices, in a way of just revenge, as they themselves had sometimes done, when, in their blind devotion, they cut themselves with knives and lancets till the blood gushed out, Kg1 18:28. This was accordingly done, and the doing of it, though seemingly barbarous, was, considering the nature of their crime, really righteous. The Lord, whose name is jealous, is a jealous God. 4. The idolaters being thus destroyed, the idolatry itself was utterly abolished. The buildings about the house of Baal (which were so many and so stately that they are here called a city), where Baal's priests and their families lived, were destroyed; all the little images, statues, pictures, or shrines, which beautified Baal's temple, with the great image of Baal himself, were brought out and burnt (Kg2 10:26, Kg2 10:27), and the temple of Baal was broken down, and made a dunghill, the common sink, or sewer, of the city, that the remembrance of it might be blotted out or made infamous. Thus was the worship of Baal quite destroyed, at least for the present, out of Israel, though it had once prevailed so far that there were but 7000 of all the thousands of Israel that had not bowed the knee to Baal, and those concealed. Thus will God destroy all the gods of the heathen, and, sooner or later, triumph over them all.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 15–28. Public domain.
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Theodoret of CyrusAD 458
QUESTION 34, ON 2 KINGS
“Then Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, ‘Ahab offered Baal small service; but Jehu will offer much more.’ ” We need to examine the purpose of words and actions. And this must be done here too. In fact, since he did not want anyone to escape his revenge, Jehu used these words, so that all the priests of Baal might come confidently. In addition, in order that no priest of God might share with them the same punishment, he ordered that they be driven away as though they were not worthy of that celebration, and so he killed only [the idolatrous priests]. He also burned the statue of Baal, cut down its sacred groves and freed the whole land of Israel from other idols. However, he continued to worship the two golden calves and gave the name of Baalim to the sanctuary of Baal.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Second Kings 10:20 captures a pivotal moment in Jehu's divinely ordained campaign to purge Israel of Baal worship. Following his swift and brutal eradication of the Omride dynasty, Jehu now turns his strategic attention to the pervasive idolatry that had corrupted the nation. This verse records Jehu's cunning command to proclaim a "solemn assembly" for Baal, a deceptive maneuver designed to gather all Baal worshippers in one location, setting the stage for their complete and decisive eradication.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in 2 Kings 10:20 is Irony. There is profound Dramatic Irony as the audience (and Jehu) knows the true, deadly purpose of the "solemn assembly," while the Baal worshippers are completely oblivious, believing they are being called to a great act of devotion to their god. Jehu's use of the term "solemn assembly" (typically reserved for Yahweh worship) for a Baalistic gathering is a prime example of Verbal Irony, twisting a sacred term for a profane and deceptive purpose. This irony underscores the cunning nature of Jehu's plan and the ultimate futility and foolishness of worshipping false gods. The verse also employs Foreshadowing, as Jehu's command subtly hints at the impending doom for the Baal worshippers, building tension for the reader who anticipates the bloody purge that is about to unfold, a purge that will decisively end the widespread idolatry in Israel.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, while depicting a harsh act of judgment, powerfully reinforces God's unwavering demand for exclusive worship and His absolute intolerance for idolatry. Throughout the Old Testament, the Lord consistently reveals Himself as a jealous God who will not share His glory with another. The eradication of Baal worship, even through deceptive and violent means, demonstrates God's commitment to purify His people and restore their allegiance to Him alone. This event serves as a stark reminder that true worship must be directed solely to the one true God, without compromise or mixture with false deities or competing allegiances. God's holiness demands purity of worship, and His covenant with Israel required absolute fidelity, making idolatry an act of spiritual rebellion that necessitated severe divine intervention.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While Jehu's methods are specific to a unique historical context of divine judgment in ancient Israel and are not a template for Christian behavior today, the underlying principles of God's character and His opposition to idolatry remain eternally relevant. This passage serves as a potent reminder that God demands our singular, undivided devotion. For believers today, idolatry extends beyond bowing to statues; it encompasses anything that usurps God's rightful place in our hearts and lives—be it money, power, relationships, comfort, success, or even self-reliance. This verse calls us to a profound self-examination: are there "Baals" in our lives that subtly or overtly compete for our ultimate allegiance, distracting us from the true God? We are challenged to recognize God's absolute sovereignty and His active role in judging sin, even through complex historical events. Ultimately, this passage urges us to pursue purity of worship, ensuring that our devotion, trust, and ultimate loyalty are directed solely to the Lord, without compromise or mixture with worldly values that vie for our hearts and threaten to diminish our spiritual vitality.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Was Jehu's deception morally justifiable from a biblical perspective?
Answer: From a modern ethical standpoint, Jehu's deception and the subsequent slaughter are deeply troubling. However, within the Old Testament narrative, Jehu is portrayed as an instrument of God's judgment against the profound wickedness of the house of Ahab and the pervasive idolatry of Baal. God had specifically commissioned Jehu to eradicate the Omride dynasty and Baal worship (see 2 Kings 9:6-10). The narrative does not condemn Jehu's deception but rather presents it as an effective, albeit ruthless, strategy to fulfill a divine mandate in a context where the spiritual health of the nation was at stake. This highlights the unique nature of divine judgment in the Old Covenant, which often involved physical eradication of evil, distinct from the New Covenant's emphasis on spiritual warfare and transformation of the heart (e.g., Ephesians 6:12).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jehu's zealous, albeit ruthless, purging of idolatry through deceptive means is specific to Old Testament divine judgment, it powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and perfect purification brought by Jesus Christ. Jesus, the true "Lord" (a title Baal claimed), came not to destroy physical temples of false gods with a sword, but to cleanse the hearts of humanity and establish a new way of worship. He confronted the spiritual "Baals" of His day—legalism, hypocrisy, and the love of money—and ultimately offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, enabling us to worship God "in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). Christ's cleansing of the temple (Matthew 21:12-13) serves as a powerful reminder of His zeal for pure worship and His intolerance for anything that defiles God's house or His people's devotion. Through His atoning work, we are empowered to cast down spiritual idols and every proud obstacle that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5), making our bodies temples of the Holy Spirit, dedicated to the one true God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Ultimately, the complete eradication of all false gods and spiritual powers will be fully realized at Christ's glorious return, when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).