2 Kings 10 20

2 Kings 10:20 kjv

And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.

2 Kings 10:20 nkjv

And Jehu said, "Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal." So they proclaimed it.

2 Kings 10:20 niv

Jehu said, "Call an assembly in honor of Baal." So they proclaimed it.

2 Kings 10:20 esv

And Jehu ordered, "Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal." So they proclaimed it.

2 Kings 10:20 nlt

Then Jehu ordered, "Prepare a solemn assembly to worship Baal!" So they did.

2 Kings 10 verses

2 Kings 10 20 Meaning

This verse describes Jehu's strategic command to his officials to publicly announce and gather a grand assembly specifically dedicated to Baal. It serves as a deceptive ruse, part of his divinely mandated mission to eradicate Baal worship from Israel. By proclaiming a "solemn assembly" for Baal, a term usually reserved for sacred convocations to the Lord, Jehu cunningly lured all Baal worshipers to one place for their decisive destruction.

2 Kings 10 20 Context

Chapter 10 of 2 Kings details the swift and brutal fulfillment of the prophetic judgment pronounced against the house of Ahab and the widespread Baal worship he propagated in Israel. Jehu, anointed king by a prophet from Elisha, begins his purge by executing King Joram, Ahaziah, and Jezebel. After eliminating Ahab's male heirs and influential figures in Jezreel and Samaria, he turns his attention to the core issue: the systematic eradication of Baal worship. This specific verse (2 Kings 10:20) marks the strategic beginning of his campaign against the Baal worshipers themselves, not just the royal family. Jehu's proclamation of a "solemn assembly for Baal" was a deceptive but highly effective tactical move to gather all the Baal prophets, priests, and devotees into one place, enabling a comprehensive and decisive strike against them. The historical and cultural context underscores the deep-rooted presence of Baal worship, rivaling the worship of YHWH, which had penetrated even the highest echelons of Israelite society. Jehu's actions, while involving cunning and violence, were understood as God's severe judgment to purify His people.

2 Kings 10 20 Word analysis

• And Jehu said:
  • "Jehu": יֵהוּא (Yehu) - Means "Yah(u) is He" or "YHWH is he." This name is ironic given his method of purifying Israel for YHWH, though his actions were violent. Jehu was divinely chosen to be God's instrument of judgment (2 Kgs 9:6-10).
  • "said": וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyomer) - A common verb indicating a direct command. Highlights Jehu's authority and initiative in carrying out his strategic plan.
• Proclaim:
  • "Proclaim": קִרְאוּ (qir’u) - From the Hebrew verb קָרָא (qara'), meaning "to call," "to summon," "to proclaim." This word is often used for authoritative or official pronouncements, including calling a sacred assembly or announcing a fast (Joel 1:14). Here, it signifies a formal, public declaration.
• a solemn assembly:
  • "a solemn assembly": עֲצָרָה (atsarah) - This is a highly significant term. It means "assembly," "convocation," or "public gathering." Crucially, in the Old Testament, atsarah is almost exclusively used for a holy or sacred assembly dedicated to the Lord, YHWH, often marking the final day of a major feast like Sukkot or Passover (Lev 23:36; Num 29:35; Deut 16:8). Its usage here in reference to Baal worship is part of Jehu's cunning deception, leveraging the people's understanding of such an assembly as sacred and vital to their false god. It lent an air of authenticity and importance to the proposed gathering.
• for Baal:
  • "Baal": בַּעַל (Ba'al) - The Canaanite deity, lord of rain, storm, and fertility. His worship involved pagan rituals, prostitution, and even child sacrifice. Baal worship directly violated the First Commandment (Exod 20:3). Jehu’s use of atsarah for Baal signals a critical polemic against Baal's very nature; YHWH is the true God worthy of solemn worship, while Baal is a false idol deserving only destruction.
• And they proclaimed it:
  • "And they proclaimed it": וַיִּקְרָאוּ (vayyiqra’u) - Demonstrates immediate and successful execution of Jehu's command. This indicates the extent of Baal worship's infiltration and the effectiveness of Jehu's deceptive tactic. The compliance shows the strength of the Baal cultists and their unwitting eagerness to participate in what they thought was a grand demonstration of devotion to their god.

2 Kings 10 20 Bonus section

• The deception employed by Jehu, though morally ambiguous from a human perspective, is presented in the biblical narrative as part of a divinely orchestrated judgment to cleanse Israel of its rampant idolatry. It is a rare instance where such strategic deception is implicitly affirmed in the context of fulfilling God's direct command for divine justice.
• The meticulous planning of Jehu in this verse highlights his zealous commitment, albeit fierce and often violent, to his divine mandate to execute God's judgment against the house of Ahab and Baal worship. His actions demonstrate a comprehensive approach, from the monarchy down to the religious systems.

2 Kings 10 20 Commentary

2 Kings 10:20 captures a pivotal moment in Jehu's God-commissioned purge of Israel, following his elimination of the Ahab dynasty. Jehu, acting with shrewd cunning, understood the necessity of addressing the systemic idolatry rooted in Baal worship. His declaration of a "solemn assembly for Baal" was a masterful strategic deception. The term atsarah, typically reserved for holy convocations to YHWH, imbued the summons with a perceived divine urgency and sanctity, ensuring that all Baal devotees would attend with fervent expectation. This ruse, rather than direct confrontation in disparate locations, allowed Jehu to gather the entirety of Baal's priesthood, prophets, and ardent worshipers into a single, controllable location – the house of Baal. This action perfectly set the stage for the definitive and absolute eradication of Baal worship in Israel, fulfilling prophecy and demonstrating God's sovereign judgment against apostasy and false gods.