Jehu Kills Those Who Serve Baal

Topic: Obedience
Passage: 2 Kings 10:18–36

December 13, 2020

Commentary

In his twenty-eight-year reign, Jehu was unexcelled in his zeal to rid his people of Baal worship.  Baal worship had thrived for many years under Ahab and his successors. The victory won through Elijah’s contest on Mount Carmel had been only temporary.

As part of Jehu’s scheme, all of the prophets of Baal and Baal’s worshipers were invited to the house of Baal to be led in worship by the new king assisted by Jehonadab. Jehu issued special clothing for all the Baal worshipers. This was to help prevent any servants of the Lord from entering the building.  Eight men were selected to prevent any escape from the building when the massacre began. After Jehu had feigned giving a burnt offering, the signal was given to slaughter the followers of Baal.  He did not relax his purge until all of the images of Baal were burned and the house of Baal was broken down. The worship of Baal became a matter of history not to be repeated in Israel.

Unfortunately even though Jehu eliminated Baal worship from Israel, he still remained an idol worshiper, loyal to the calf cult of Jeroboam. Because of this failure to honor the Lord, Jehu was plagued with problems from outside his realm. The king of Syria continued to threaten the northeastern regions of his empire and piece after piece of real estate came under Syria’s domination.

Application

Jehu did most of what the Lord told him to do, but he did not obey him with all his heart.  We need to check the condition of our heart toward God. We can be very active in our work for God and still not give the complete obedience that He desires.

2 Kings 10:18– 36 (NET)

18 Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab worshiped Baal a little; Jehu will worship him with great devotion. 19 So now, bring to me all the prophets of Baal, as well as all his servants and priests. None of them must be absent, for I am offering a great sacrifice to Baal. Any of them who fails to appear will lose his life.” But Jehu was tricking them so he could destroy the servants of Baal. 20 Then Jehu ordered, “Make arrangements for a celebration for Baal.” So they announced it. 21 Jehu sent invitations throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; not one was absent. They arrived at the temple of Baal and filled it up from end to end. 22 Jehu ordered the one who was in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out robes for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out robes for them. 23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rekab went to the temple of Baal. Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Make sure there are no servants of the Lord here with you; there must be only servants of Baal.” 24 They went inside to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside. He had told them, “If any of the men inside gets away, you will pay with your lives!”

25 When he finished offering the burnt sacrifice, Jehu ordered the royal guard and officers, “Come in and strike them down! Don’t let any escape!” So the royal guard and officers struck them down with the sword and left their bodies lying there. Then they entered the inner sanctuary of the temple of Baal. 26 They hauled out the sacred pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it. 27 They demolished the sacred pillar of Baal and the temple of Baal; it is used as a latrine to this very day. 28 So Jehu eradicated Baal worship from Israel.

29 However, Jehu did not repudiate the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had encouraged Israel to commit; the golden calves remained in Bethel and Dan. 30 The Lord said to Jehu, “You have done well. You have accomplished my will and carried out my wishes with regard to Ahab’s dynasty. Therefore four generations of your descendants will rule over Israel.” 31 But Jehu did not carefully and wholeheartedly obey the law of the Lord God of Israel. He did not repudiate the sins which Jeroboam had encouraged Israel to commit.

32 In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel’s territory. Hazael attacked their eastern border. 33 He conquered all the land of Gilead, including the territory of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh, extending all the way from the Aroer in the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan.

34 The rest of the events of Jehu’s reign, including all his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 35 Jehu passed away and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz replaced him as king. 36 Jehu reigned over Israel for twenty-eight years in Samaria.