Jehu Kills the Baal Worshipers
18 Then Jehu brought all the people together and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot.
19
Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. None must be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live." However, Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.
20
Jehu commanded, "Consecrate a solemn assembly for Baal." So they called one.
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Then Jehu sent [messengers] throughout all Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; there was not a man left who did not come. They entered the temple of Baal, and it was filled from one end to the other.
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Then he said to the custodian of the wardrobe, "Bring out the garments for all the servants of Baal." So he brought out their garments.
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Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal, and Jehu said to the servants of Baal, "Look carefully to see that there are no servants of the Lord here among you-only servants of Baal."
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Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed 80 men outside, and he warned [them], "Whoever allows any of the men I am delivering into your hands to escape [will forfeit] his life for theirs."
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When he finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, "Go in and kill them. Don't let anyone out." So they struck them down with the sword. Then the guards and officers threw [the bodies] out and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal.
26
They brought out the pillars of the temple of Baal and burned them
27
and tore down the pillar of Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it a latrine-[which it is] to this day.
Evaluation of Jehu's Reign
28 Jehu eliminated Baal [worship] from Israel,
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but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit-[worshiping] the golden calves that were in Bethel and Dan.
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Nevertheless, the Lord said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel."
31
Yet, Jehu was not careful to follow with all his heart the law of the Lord God of Israel. He did not turn from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.
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In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael defeated the Israelites throughout their territory:
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from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead-the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites-from Aroer which is by the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan.
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Now the rest of the events of Jehu's [reign], along with all his accomplishments and all his might, are written about in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.
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Jehu rested with his fathers, and he was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz became king in his place.
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The length of Jehu's reign over Israel in Samaria was 28 years.