2 Kings 10:18

18 Therefore Jehu gathered together all the people (And then Jehu gathered together all the people), and said to them, Ahab worshipped Baal a little, but I shall worship him 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 And he said to him, Come thou with me, and see my fervent love for the Lord. And he led him, put in his chariot, into Samaria (And they rode together, in his chariot, to Samaria).
17 And (once they arrived,) he killed all (the) men that were residue, or left, of Ahab in Samaria, till to one, by the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.
18 Therefore Jehu gathered together all the people (And then Jehu gathered together all the people), and said to them, Ahab worshipped Baal a little, but I shall worship him more.
19 Now therefore call ye to me all the prophets of Baal, and all his servants, and all his priests; (let) none be that come not, for (a) great sacrifice is of me to Baal; whoever shall fail (to come), he shall not live. Forsooth Jehu did this by treason, that he should destroy all the worshippers of Baal. (And so now call unto me all the prophets of Baal, and all his servants, and all his priests; let there be no one who shall not come, for I shall make a great sacrifice to Baal; whoever shall fail to come, he shall not live. But Jehu did this to deceive them, so that he could destroy all the worshippers of Baal.)
20 And he said, Hallow ye a solemn day to Baal. And Jehu called, (And he said, Proclaim ye a sacred day for Baal. And they proclaimed it,)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.