2 Kings 10:27

And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.

And they brake down {H5422} the image {H4676} of Baal {H1168}, and brake down {H5422} the house {H1004} of Baal {H1168}, and made {H7760} it a draught house {H4163}{H4280} unto this day {H3117}.

Finally, they broke down Ba'al's standing-stone and demolished the temple of Ba'al, converting it into a latrine, which it still is today.

They also demolished the sacred pillar of Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it into a latrine, which it is to this day.

And they brake down the pillar of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught-house, unto this day.

Commentary

2 Kings 10:27 describes the final, decisive act of Jehu's purge against Baal worship in Israel, marking a significant turning point in the religious landscape of the Northern Kingdom. Following the slaughter of Baal's prophets and worshippers, Jehu's forces completely dismantled the physical structures associated with this pagan cult.

Context

This verse concludes a dramatic chapter detailing Jehu's rise to power and his ruthless, divinely sanctioned mission to eradicate the idolatry introduced by King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Jehu was anointed by a prophet of Elisha with the specific charge to destroy the house of Ahab and avenge the blood of God's servants. After executing King Joram and Queen Jezebel, Jehu turned his attention to the systemic idolatry that had plagued Israel for decades. He cleverly gathered all the worshippers of Baal under the pretense of a great sacrifice, then had them all killed (2 Kings 10:18-25). Verse 27 describes the subsequent physical destruction of the symbols and places of Baal worship, a direct fulfillment of God's commands to break down pagan altars and images upon entering the promised land.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Eradication of Idolatry: The verse powerfully illustrates God's severe judgment against the pervasive and corrupting influence of Baal worship. Jehu acted as God's instrument to dismantle a system that had led Israel astray from the covenant.
  • Thoroughness and Desecration: The act of "breaking down" both the image and the temple signifies a complete and irreversible destruction. The detail that it was "made it a draught house" (a latrine or privy) underscores the ultimate contempt and degradation of Baal's cult. This act of desecration was meant to render the site permanently unclean and unfit for any future religious use, emphasizing the utter repudiation of Baal.
  • Zeal (with caveats): Jehu demonstrated intense zeal for the Lord in this specific mission. While his actions were brutal, they were effective in achieving the commanded eradication of Baal worship. However, it's important to note that Jehu's zeal was often pragmatic and did not extend to full obedience, as he later failed to remove the golden calves at Bethel and Dan (see 2 Kings 10:29).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "draught house" (KJV) is archaic English for a latrine or privy. The Hebrew word is maḥăra'ah (מַחֲרָאָה), meaning a "privy" or "cesspool." This deliberate transformation of a sacred temple into a public toilet was the ultimate act of humiliation and defilement, ensuring that the former place of worship for Baal would forever be associated with filth and disgrace. The phrase "unto this day" emphasizes that this state of desecration persisted for a considerable period, signifying the lasting impact of Jehu's actions and the thoroughness of the purge.

Practical Application

While we no longer face physical idols of Baal, the principle of removing anything that competes for God's rightful place in our lives remains vital. This verse serves as a stark reminder of God's intolerance for idolatry in any form—be it the worship of wealth, power, pleasure, or self. We are called to examine our hearts and thoroughly dismantle any "houses of Baal" within us, dedicating ourselves fully to the one true God. Just as Jehu's actions were decisive, believers are encouraged to be equally resolute in fleeing from idolatry and pursuing genuine worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24).

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Cross-References

  • Ezra 6:11 (4 votes)

    Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.

  • Daniel 3:29 (4 votes)

    Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

  • Daniel 2:5 (4 votes)

    The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.

  • 1 Kings 16:32 (3 votes)

    And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.

  • Deuteronomy 7:5 (2 votes)

    But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.

  • 2 Kings 18:4 (2 votes)

    He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

  • Deuteronomy 7:25 (2 votes)

    The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold [that is] on them, nor take [it] unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it [is] an abomination to the LORD thy God.