2 Kings 10:23

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.

And Jehu {H3058} went {H935}, and Jehonadab {H3082} the son {H1121} of Rechab {H7394}, into the house {H1004} of Baal {H1168}, and said {H559} unto the worshippers {H5647} of Baal {H1168}, Search {H2664}, and look {H7200} that there be {H3426} here with you none of the servants {H5650} of the LORD {H3068}, but the worshippers {H5647} of Baal {H1168} only.

Yehu and Y'honadav the son of Rekhav entered the house of Ba'al and said to the worshippers of Ba'al, "Search to see that none of the servants of ADONAI is here with you, only worshippers of Ba'al."

Next, Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal, and Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Look around to see that there are no servants of the LORD here among you—only servants of Baal.”

And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal; and he said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of Jehovah, but the worshippers of Baal only.

Commentary

2 Kings 10:23 marks a chilling and decisive moment in Jehu’s divinely appointed purge of Baal worship from Israel. Having gathered all the prophets, priests, and worshippers of Baal under the pretense of holding a great sacrifice, Jehu meticulously ensures that only those devoted to the Canaanite deity are present.

Historical and Cultural Context

Following his anointing by a prophet of Elisha, Jehu was commissioned by God to annihilate the house of Ahab and eradicate the pervasive Baal worship introduced and promoted by Queen Jezebel. This verse takes place in Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, where Baal worship had become deeply entrenched. Jehu's strategy was one of cunning deception, using a grand religious festival to trap the devotees of Baal. His alliance with Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, a staunch monotheist and leader of the Rechabites, underscores the zealous commitment to the Lord that characterized this purge.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Zeal: Jehu acts as an instrument of God's judgment against idolatry. His ruthless efficiency, though shocking to modern sensibilities, reflects the severity with which God viewed the spiritual apostasy of Israel. This intense commitment is highlighted earlier when Jehu declares his zeal for the LORD.
  • Exclusivity of Worship: The meticulous separation of "servants of the LORD" from "worshippers of Baal" emphasizes the absolute exclusivity God demands in worship. The covenant with Israel required sole devotion to Yahweh, as stated in the first commandment. There could be no compromise or syncretism.
  • Cunning and Strategy: Jehu's use of deception to achieve his goal is a prominent feature of this narrative. He cleverly uses the very religious fervor of the Baal worshippers against them, demonstrating a strategic mind in executing his mission.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Baal" (Hebrew: Ba'al) literally means "lord," "master," or "owner." It was a common title for various local deities throughout Canaan, often associated with fertility, rain, and storms. The worship of Baal involved rituals meant to ensure agricultural prosperity, often including sacred prostitution and child sacrifice. The conflict between the worship of Baal and Yahweh (the LORD) was a fundamental spiritual battle for the soul of Israel.

Practical Application

While we do not engage in physical purges today, the spiritual lessons from this passage remain vital:

  • Unyielding Devotion: The passage reminds us of God's demand for exclusive devotion. Modern idolatry may not involve carved images but can manifest as anything that takes precedence over God in our lives—money, power, status, or even relationships.
  • Spiritual Discernment: Just as Jehu sought to distinguish between true worshippers and false ones, believers today must exercise spiritual discernment to identify and reject practices or beliefs that compromise their allegiance to Christ.
  • Consequences of Compromise: The severe judgment against Baal worship serves as a stark warning about the consequences of spiritual compromise and apostasy. God is holy and will not share His glory with false gods.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 13:41

    The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

  • Matthew 25:32

    And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats:

  • Matthew 25:33

    And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

  • Matthew 13:30

    Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
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