2 Kings 10:24

24 And they went in ^[a] 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.”

2 Kings 10:24 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 10:24

And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings,
&c.] To Baal, all things being ready for them:

Jehu appointed eighty men without;
without the temple of Baal, at the several doors and avenues of it:

and said, if any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape,
he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him;
should be put to death for it in his room; the life of a watchman set to guard should go for the life of one that escaped.

2 Kings 10:24 In-Context

22 And Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out garments for them.

23 Next, 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.”

24 And 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.”

25 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.

26 They brought out the sacred pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it.

Footnotes

• [a] LXX he went in; see also verse 25.