2 Kings 10:15 - Meaning and Application

Jehu kept pressing ahead with his work. Here he sought the friendship of a good man, Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, in 2 Kings 10:15 to 2 Kings 10:16. Jehonadab was deeply separated from the world and had little to do with public affairs, as his command to his descendants shows. They obeyed it faithfully 300 years later, refusing wine and choosing not to live in cities (Jeremiah 35:6 and following). Even so, when this moment came, Jehonadab went out to meet Jehu so he could encourage him in the work God had called him to do.

The approval of godly people is something wise rulers should value. David prayed, “Let those who fear you turn to me” (Psalm 119:79). Jehonadab was not a prophet, priest, Levite, prince, or ruler, but he was likely well known for his wisdom and devotion. He lived a life of self-denial and serious godliness, and Jehu, though a soldier, knew him and honored him. Jehu did not plan ahead to bring him along, but when they met, he stopped to speak with him, even if he was still driving as fiercely as before.

Jehu greeted him and blessed him, showing the respect and goodwill due to such a strong example of sincere godliness. Jehonadab then made it clear that he stood with Jehu and wanted his cause to succeed. Jehu asked him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is with yours?” This is a question we should often ask ourselves. We may make a fair outward profession and even gain a good reputation, but is our heart truly right? Are we sincere before God?

Jehonadab answered, “It is.” He gave Jehu his hand as a sign of agreement and loyalty, a way of pledging his support (2 Chronicles 30:8). He joined with Jehu and backed the work of both judgment and reform that Jehu was carrying out. Then Jehu took him up into his chariot and brought him to Samaria. That was an honor for Jehonadab, who was not used to riding in a chariot, much less in one with a king. Yet Jehu also gained honor from this, because Jehonadab’s presence made Jehu’s work look more serious and respectable to thoughtful people.

Often the devotion of godly people is used to help the plans of others, and shrewd men gain strength by drawing good people into their side. Jehonadab was no man of worldly tricks. He lived with plainness and godly sincerity. So if Jehu really was the Lord’s servant and an enemy of Baal, Jehonadab would naturally be a faithful friend. Jehu said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.” Then Jehonadab would see enough to support his cause. This saying is often taken as a weakness in Jehu, because it may show that his heart was not fully right with God.

He boasted of his zeal and spoke as though God and people owed him great thanks for it. He also wanted it to be seen and noticed, like the Pharisees who did their deeds to be seen by others. A sincere heart is content with God’s approval and asks for nothing more. If we want human praise and make it our highest goal, then we are standing on the wrong foundation. Whether Jehu saw farther than that, we cannot say. Yet Jehonadab went with him, and likely helped and encouraged him as Jehu carried out the rest of his commission, destroying all of Ahab’s friends in Samaria. A man can hate cruelty and still love justice. He can avoid a thirst for blood and still, in a just cause, wash his feet in the blood of the wicked (Psalm 58:10).

Jehu also planned the destruction of all the worshippers of Baal. The worship of Baal was the great sin of Ahab’s house. The main source of that idolatry had been cut down, but many still remained polluted by it. They were in danger of leading others astray, too. God’s law was clear that such people were to be put to death. But there were so many of them, spread across the kingdom, and perhaps alarmed by Jehu’s earlier actions, that it would have been very hard to track them all down one by one.

So Jehu chose another way. By a trick, by a false plan, he brought them all together at the temple of Baal. He claimed that he would worship Baal even more than Ahab had done in 2 Kings 10:18. Perhaps he said this with irony, or to test whether the people would resist such a plan. But it seems more likely that he said it to deceive the worshippers of Baal. If so, it cannot be justified. God’s truth does not need a man’s lie.

He then sent out a proclamation, calling all the worshippers of Baal to gather for a sacrifice to Baal in 2 Kings 10:19 to 2 Kings 10:20. This included not only the prophets and priests, but everyone in the kingdom who worshipped Baal. There were not nearly as many as there had been in Elijah’s day. Jehu’s own friends, we may suppose, understood what he meant and were not troubled by it. But the hardened Baal worshippers thought they were about to enjoy better days again.

Joram, king of Israel, had removed the image of Baal in 2 Kings 3:2. If Jehu would restore it, they would get what they wanted. So they came gladly from all parts to Samaria for the feast. They were pleased to see Baal’s temple full in 2 Kings 10:21, his priests dressed in their special clothing in 2 Kings 10:22, and perhaps themselves marked with badges showing their connection to Baal. There were special garments for all who worshipped him.

Jehu also made sure that none of the Lord’s servants would be among them in 2 Kings 10:23. The Baal worshippers probably thought this would keep their worship from being polluted by outsiders. But it is strange that they did not see the trap they were walking into. It is no surprise when those who let themselves be deceived by Baal, as all idolaters are deceived by their idols, are also deceived by Jehu to their own ruin.

He then gave orders for them all to be killed, and Jehonadab joined with him in that.

When a careful search was made, so that no servant of God might be among them, either by chance or curiosity, and no wheat might be mixed with these tares, eighty men were stationed at every entrance to Baal’s temple so that none could escape (Kg2 10:24). Then the guards went in and put them all to the sword, mixing their blood with their sacrifices. It was a just judgment, since they had done the same in their false worship when they cut themselves with knives and sharp blades until the blood poured out (Kg1 18:28). What looked savage was, in light of their great guilt, truly righteous. The Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

4. After the idolaters were destroyed, idol worship itself was completely wiped out. The buildings around Baal’s house, which were so large and grand that they are called a city here, were torn down. These were the homes of Baal’s priests and their families. All the small images, statues, pictures, and shrines that decorated Baal’s temple, along with the great image of Baal himself, were brought out and burned (Kg2 10:26, Kg2 10:27). Then Baal’s temple was broken down and turned into a dung heap, the common waste place of the city, so that its memory would be erased or made shameful.

In this way, the worship of Baal was fully destroyed, at least for that time, in Israel. It had once spread so widely that only 7,000 out of all the thousands of Israel had not bowed their knee to Baal, and even they were hidden. So God will destroy all the gods of the nations, and in the end he will defeat them all.