2 Kings 10:25
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.
And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end {H3615} of offering {H6213} the burnt offering {H5930}, that Jehu {H3058} said {H559} to the guard {H7323} and to the captains {H7991}, Go in {H935}, and slay {H5221} them; let none {H376} come forth {H3318}. And they smote {H5221} them with the edge {H6310} of the sword {H2719}; and the guard {H7323} and the captains {H7991} cast them out {H7993}, and went {H3212} to the city {H5892} of the house {H1004} of Baal {H1168}.
As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Yehu said to the guards and officers, "Go in, and kill them; don't let one of them get out." So they killed them with the sword; then, after the guards and officers had thrown their bodies outside, they went into the temple of Ba'al's inner shrine,
When he had finished making the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Do not let anyone out.” So the guards and officers put them to the sword, threw the bodies out, and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal.
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.
Cross-References
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Revelation 16:6 (4 votes)
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. -
Revelation 16:7 (4 votes)
And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous [are] thy judgments. -
1 Kings 18:40 (3 votes)
And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. -
Ezekiel 22:21 (3 votes)
Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof. -
Ezekiel 22:22 (3 votes)
As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you. -
Ezekiel 9:5 (2 votes)
¶ And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: -
Ezekiel 9:7 (2 votes)
And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
Commentary
2 Kings 10:25 (KJV)
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.
Context
This verse is part of the lengthy account of Jehu's purge in Israel. Having been anointed king to destroy the house of Ahab and eliminate Baal worship, Jehu proceeded with ruthless efficiency. He first killed King Joram and King Ahaziah (2 Kings 9:24, 2 Kings 9:27), then the seventy sons of Ahab (2 Kings 10:7), and forty-two relatives of Ahaziah (2 Kings 10:14). His next target was the widespread worship of Baal that Ahab and Jezebel had introduced (1 Kings 16:31). Jehu gathered all the worshippers of Baal under the pretense of holding a great sacrifice for Baal, ensuring only Baal worshippers were present by threatening death to anyone who didn't attend (2 Kings 10:19).
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "smote them with the edge of the sword" (Hebrew: le phi chereb) emphasizes the brutal and indiscriminate nature of the killing. It signifies putting them to death by violent force.
Commentary and Application
This verse marks the climax of Jehu's purge within the temple of Baal. Having gathered all the worshippers under the guise of a grand religious festival, Jehu waited until the sacrifices were complete before unleashing his carefully positioned guards and captains. The command was absolute: kill everyone inside and ensure no one escapes. The execution was immediate and total. The bodies were then removed, signifying the defilement and desecration of the temple, a necessary step before its eventual destruction (2 Kings 10:27).
While shocking in its brutality, this event is presented in the narrative as the fulfillment of prophecy and God's judgment against the deep-seated idolatry introduced by the house of Ahab. God later commends Jehu for his actions against Baal worship, though not necessarily for every aspect of his reign or methods (2 Kings 10:30). This passage serves as a stark reminder of God's opposition to idolatry, which is a violation of the most basic commands (Exodus 20:3).
For believers today, while Jehu's violent methods are not a model, the underlying principle of rooting out idolatry remains relevant. Idolatry can take many forms beyond statues – placing anything (wealth, power, relationships, self) in the place of God. The passage underscores the seriousness with which God views allegiance and the call to exclusive devotion to Him.
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