2 Kings 10: Jehu Destroys Baal Worship

Jehu brings God's judgment on the rest of Ahab's house. He calls all the worshipers of Baal to a great gathering, then destroys them and tears down the temple of Baal. God commends Jehu for this, but Jehu does not walk with God with all his heart. He keeps Jeroboam's golden calves, and God begins to cut away parts of Israel.

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Read 2 Kings 10

World English Bible · 36 verses

¹ Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and to those who brought up Ahab’s sons, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² “Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ select the best and fittest of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, “Behold, the two kings didn’t stand before him! How then shall we stand?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ He who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders also, and those who raised the children, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, and will do all that you ask us. We will not make any man king. You do that which is good in your eyes.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, “If you are on my side, and if you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men who are your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time.” Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and killed them, even seventy people, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezreel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ A messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” He said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ In the morning, he went out and stood, and said to all the people, “You are righteous. Behold, I conspired against my master and killed him, but who killed all these?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ Know now that nothing will fall to the earth of Yahweh’s word, which Yahweh spoke concerning Ahab’s house. For Yahweh has done that which he spoke by his servant Elijah.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ So Jehu struck all that remained of Ahab’s house in Jezreel, with all his great men, his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him no one remaining.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² He arose and departed, and went to Samaria. As he was at the shearing house of the shepherds on the way,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, “Who are you?” They answered, “We are the brothers of Ahaziah. We are going down to greet the children of the king and the children of the queen.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ He said, “Take them alive!” They took them alive, and killed them at the pit of the shearing house, even forty-two men. He didn’t leave any of them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ When he had departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. He greeted him, and said to him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?” Jehonadab answered, “It is.” “If it is, give me your hand.” He gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ He said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for Yahweh.” So they made him ride in his chariot.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ When he came to Samaria, he struck all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, until he had destroyed them, according to Yahweh’s word which he spoke to Elijah.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him much.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all of his worshipers, and all of his priests. Let no one be absent, for I have a great sacrifice to Baal. Whoever is absent, he shall not live.” But Jehu did deceptively, intending to destroy the worshipers of Baal.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ Jehu said, “Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal!” So they proclaimed it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that didn’t come. They came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was filled from one end to another.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² He said to him who kept the wardrobe, “Bring out robes for all the worshipers of Baal!” So he brought robes out to them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ Jehu went with Jehonadab the son of Rechab into the house of Baal. Then he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search, and see that none of the servants of Yahweh are here with you, but only the worshipers of Baal.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ So they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had appointed for himself eighty men outside, and said, “If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape, he who lets him go, his life shall be for the life of him.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, “Go in and kill them! Let no one escape.” So they struck them with the edge of the sword. The guard and the captains threw the bodies out, and went to the inner shrine of the house of Baal.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ They brought out the pillars that were in the house of Baal and burned them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ They broke down the pillar of Baal, and broke down the house of Baal, and made it a latrine, to this day.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ However, Jehu didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin—the golden calves that were in Bethel and that were in Dan.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ Yahweh said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes, and have done to Ahab’s house according to all that was in my heart, your descendants shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Yahweh, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³² In those days Yahweh began to cut away parts of Israel; and Hazael struck them in all the borders of IsraelThis verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³³ from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁴ Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁵ Jehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁶ The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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2 Kings 10 · Preschool

Baal Is Gone

Name Date

Color the broken pillar of Baal. Jehu took the false god out of Israel.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.”

2 Kings 10:28 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Jehu took away the false god. We should love only the true God.

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2 Kings 10 · Grade 4

A Half-Hearted Reformer

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Read and Think

Jehu sent letters to Samaria, where Ahab had seventy sons. The leaders feared Jehu and carried out judgment on Ahab's house, fulfilling the word spoken by Elijah. Jehu also met Jehonadab son of Rechab, a man faithful to the Lord, and invited him into his chariot to see his zeal for the Lord.

In Samaria, Jehu announced that Ahab had served Baal a little, but Jehu would serve him much. It was a trick. He gathered every prophet, worshiper, and priest of Baal into Baal's temple, gave them robes, and made sure no servant of the Lord was among them. Then his guards struck down the worshipers. They burned the pillars of Baal, broke down the temple, and made it a latrine. Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

God told Jehu that because he had done what was right in carrying out judgment on Ahab's house, his sons would sit on Israel's throne to the fourth generation. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the Lord's law with all his heart. He did not depart from Jeroboam's sins, the golden calves in Bethel and Dan. In those days the Lord began to cut Israel short, and Hazael struck them throughout their borders. Jehu reigned twenty-eight years.

Show What You Know

Who was Jehonadab?
What did Jehu say to trick the Baal worshipers?
What did they make Baal's temple?
How long did Jehu reign?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

JehuBaalJehonadab

sent letters to Samaria, where Ahab had seventy sons.
Jehu also met son of Rechab, a man faithful to the Lord, and invited him into his chariot to see his zeal for the Lord.
In Samaria, Jehu announced that Ahab had served a little, but Jehu would serve him much.

Think About It

Jehu removed Baal but kept the golden calves. Why is it not enough to give God only part of our hearts?
Jehu bragged about his zeal. How can you serve God with humility instead of showing off?

Memory Verse

“Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.”

2 Kings 10:28 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for my whole heart. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Who rode in Jehu's chariot?
How can you check why you are doing a good thing?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

2 Kings 10 · Grade 5

Zeal and Its Limits

Name Date

Read and Think

Jehu acted with ruthless speed. Through letters to Samaria, he brought judgment on Ahab's seventy sons, and he struck down relatives of Ahaziah of Judah. He invited the faithful Jehonadab to come and see his zeal for the Lord. The words reveal something: Jehu's words may suggest he wanted his zeal to be seen.

His destruction of Baal worship was thorough. Pretending to be a greater devotee of Baal than Ahab, he gathered all of Baal's servants into one temple, made sure no worshiper of the Lord was present, and had them struck down. The pillar and temple of Baal were demolished and turned into a latrine. Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. God commended him for carrying out His judgment on Ahab's house.

Yet the narrator's final verdict is mixed. Jehu took no heed to walk in God's law with all his heart. He kept Jeroboam's calves at Bethel and Dan. Later, through Hosea, God would even hold the house of Jehu accountable for the bloodshed at Jezreel (Hosea 1:4). Zeal against one sin is not the same as wholehearted devotion. In the New Testament, Paul speaks of people who have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge (Romans 10:2).

Show What You Know

What do Jehu's words to Jehonadab reveal?
Which sins did Jehu not depart from?
What did Hosea later say about the house of Jehu?
What does Paul say in Romans 10:2 in the New Testament?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

JehuBaalJehonadabhousepillar

acted with ruthless speed.
He invited the faithful to come and see his zeal for the Lord.
His destruction of worship was thorough.
The and temple of Baal were demolished and turned into a latrine.
Later, through Hosea, God would even hold the of Jehu accountable for the bloodshed at Jezreel (Hosea 1:4).

Think About It

Jehu was zealous against Baal but kept other idols. Is there a sin you fight while holding on to another?
Jehu may have wanted his zeal to be seen. How can you serve God for His glory rather than your own?

Memory Verse

“Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.”

2 Kings 10:28 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for my whole heart. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you obey God all the way and not halfway?
How can you check whether you are serving God or yourself?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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2 Kings 10: Jehu Destroys Baal Worship

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Baal Is Gone

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One True God

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Jehu

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A Whole Heart

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Jehu Ends Baal Worship

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Zeal Without a Whole Heart

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A Half-Hearted Reformer

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Zeal and Its Limits

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