Jehu Kills the Priests of Baal
Jehu announces a great sacrifice for Baal and summons every servant of Baal, making sure none are absent. After clothing and identifying them, he seals the temple and stations guards outside.
T18hen Jehu brought all the people together and said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot. 19Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. See that no one is missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” 20And Jehu commanded, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they announced it. 21Then Jehu sent word throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; there was not a man who failed to show. They entered the temple of Baal, and it was filled from end to end. 22And Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out garments for them. 23Next, 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.” 24And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and warned them, “If anyone allows one of the men I am delivering into your hands to escape, he will forfeit his life for theirs.”
When the offering is underway, Jehu orders the guards to kill the worshipers. The sacred pillar is burned, the temple is torn down, and the site is reduced to ruin.
25When he had finished making the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Do not let anyone out.” 26They brought out the sacred pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it. 27They 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.