King James Version

What Does 2 Kings 10:25 Mean?

“And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. the edge: Heb. the mouth”

Context

And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only.

And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, 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.

And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. the edge: Heb. the mouth

And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them. images: Heb. statues

And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.

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Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(25) **As soon as he had made an end.**—The Syriac has, *when they *(*i.e.*, the Baal priests) *had made an end*. This is probably right. (Comp. the beginning of 2Kings 10:24). We can hardly suppose with Ewald that Jehu personally offered sacrifices in the character of an ardent Baal-worshipper. For the massacre Jehu chose the moment when all the assembly was absorbed in worship. **To the guard and to the captains.**—Literally, *to the runners* (or *couriers*) *and to the adjutants* (or *squires*; 2Kings 9:25). (Comp. 1Kings 9:22.) The royal guardsmen and their officers are meant. **Cast them out.**—That is, threw the dead bodies out of the temple. This is the explanation of the Targum and the other versions. Thenius asks why this should be specially mentioned, and proposes to understand the verb intransitively, “rushed out,” which suits very well with what follows. **And went to the city of the house of Baal**.—The word *city* has here its original meaning, which is also that of the Greek πόλις—viz., *citadel, stronghold*; properly, a place surrounded by a ring-fence or rampart. Jehu’s guards, after the completion of their bloody work in the court of the temple, rushed up the steps into the sanctuary itself, which, like the temple of Solomon, resembled a fortress. (“Ex atrio irruperunt satellites Jehu in ipsam arcem templi.”—Sebastian Schmidt.) Gesenius explains the word as meaning the *temenos* or sacred enclosure of the temple, but that does not suit the context. (The origin of the word ‘*îr*, “city,” obscure in Hebrew, is revealed by the cuneiform inscriptions in the Accadian word *erim* or *eri*, meaning “foundation,” and *Uru*—*i.e.*, Ur, a proper name, meaning “the city.”)

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Kings. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Kings 10:25 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.