2 Kings 10:22

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.

And he said {H559} unto him that was over the vestry {H4458}, Bring forth {H3318} vestments {H3830} for all the worshippers {H5647} of Baal {H1168}. And he brought them forth {H3318} vestments {H4403}.

To the man in charge of the wardrobe he said, "Bring out robes for all the worshippers of Ba'al"; and he brought them clothes.

And Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out garments for them.

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.

Commentary

Context

This verse is set during Jehu's dramatic purge of idolatry in Israel, a divinely appointed task to eradicate the house of Ahab and the worship of Baal. After executing King Joram and Ahaziah (2 Kings 9:24-27) and the Jezebel (2 Kings 9:33), Jehu turns his attention to the priests and worshippers of Baal. His strategy is one of cunning deception. He announces a "great sacrifice" to Baal, intending to gather all his devotees in one place. The command to bring forth "vestments for all the worshippers of Baal" is a crucial step in this trap. These special garments would identify every participant in the Baal ritual, ensuring that no true worshipper of the Lord was mistakenly caught in the impending slaughter and that none of Baal's followers could escape identification.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment Against Idolatry: Jehu's actions represent God's severe judgment against the widespread and entrenched worship of Baal, which had corrupted Israel's faith for decades under Ahab and Jezebel. This demonstrates God's intolerance for false gods and His commitment to purity in worship.
  • Strategic Deception: Jehu employs a clever, albeit ruthless, strategy to achieve his goal. By feigning zealous devotion to Baal, he consolidates his enemies, illustrating how even wicked means can be used to fulfill a divine purpose in the hands of a flawed instrument like Jehu.
  • Distinction in Worship: The distribution of specific vestments served to clearly distinguish the worshippers of Baal from those who followed the Lord. This highlights the biblical principle of separation between true worship and false worship, a recurring theme throughout scripture (e.g., Exodus 20:3).

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "vestry" (Hebrew: mishmereth) refers to a place of keeping or guarding, specifically for sacred or ceremonial objects. This indicates that the temple of Baal was highly organized, possessing a dedicated storage area for its cultic attire.
  • "Vestments" (Hebrew: malbush) are distinct garments worn for religious ceremonies. Their provision underscores the formal and ritualistic nature of Baal worship, mirroring the elaborate ceremonies of the Lord's worship, but directed towards a false deity.
  • "Baal" (Hebrew: Ba'al) means "lord" or "master" and was the primary Canaanite storm and fertility god, whose worship often involved immoral practices and child sacrifice. The eradication of Baal worship was central to restoring Israel's covenant relationship with God.

Practical Application

While Jehu's methods are not to be emulated, the underlying principles of the passage remain relevant. Believers today are called to discern between true and false spiritual influences, recognizing that compromise with worldly or idolatrous practices can be spiritually dangerous (1 John 5:21). The passage serves as a stark reminder of God's unwavering opposition to anything that usurps His rightful place in our lives. It encourages us to examine our own hearts for any "vestments" of false worship or misplaced allegiances that need to be purged, ensuring our devotion is solely to the one true God.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 22:11

    And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

  • Matthew 22:12

    And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

  • Exodus 28:2

    And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
← Back