Bible Strands
2 Kings 10:19
Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. See that no one is missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jehu addresses the gathered people of Israel, ordering them to summon every prophet, servant, and priest of Baal at the precise moment he publicly declares he will serve Baal more than Ahab did.
The words — The Hebrew כָּל־ (kol) and עֹבְדָי/ו ('odav) stress the exhaustive command to gather "all" and "all his servants," leaving no Baal worshiper exempt from the summons.
The thread — This coordinated mass gathering parallels the royal prophet assemblies in 1 Kings 22:6 and Elijah’s Carmel call in 1 Kings 18:19, while standing in contrast to Elisha’s dismissal of Israel’s religious leaders in 2 Kings 3:13.
Why it lands — The passage records Jehu’s explicit command to assemble Baal’s entire hierarchy before his stated motive of destruction, requiring the reader to separate recorded historical action from divine endorsement.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 22:6 So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
- 1 Kings 18:19 Now summon all Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
- 2 Kings 3:13 Elisha, however, said to the king of Israel, “What have we to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and of your mother!” “No,” replied the king of Israel, “for it is the LORD who has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
- 2 Kings 10:18 Then Jehu brought all the people together and said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot.
- Job 13:7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?
- Proverbs 29:5 A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.
- 2 Corinthians 4:2 Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- 2 Corinthians 11:3 I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 12:16 Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.