2 Kings 10:18

18 Jehu called the people of Samaria together and said, "King Ahab served the god Baal a little, but I will serve him much more.

2 Kings 10:18 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 10:18

And Jehu gathered all the people together
The people of Samaria, at least the principal of them:

and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little, [but] Jehu shall serve
him much;
which some understand as spoken ironically; but the words seem to be spoken with a design to deceive the idolatrous inhabitants of Samaria, making them to believe that he was hearty in the worship of Baal, and should show a greater respect to it, and more constantly attend it, than Ahab had done; and this he said with a view to draw them to the temple of Baal, and there destroy them, as the sequel shows; and in which he is not to be justified, however good his intention was; for evil is not to be done that good may come.

2 Kings 10:18 In-Context

16 saying, "Come with me and see for yourself how devoted I am to the Lord." And they rode on together to Samaria.
17 When they arrived there, Jehu killed all of Ahab's relatives, not sparing even one. This is what the Lord had told Elijah would happen.
18 Jehu called the people of Samaria together and said, "King Ahab served the god Baal a little, but I will serve him much more.
19 Call together all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers, and all his priests. No one is excused; I am going to offer a great sacrifice to Baal, and whoever is not present will be put to death." (This was a trick on the part of Jehu by which he meant to kill all the worshipers of Baal.)
20 Then Jehu ordered, "Proclaim a day of worship in honor of Baal!" The proclamation was made,
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.