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Did Jehu kill all the worshippers of Baal?

tonychanyt

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Moses commands the Israelites in (ESV) Exodus 20:

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down [H7812] to them or serve [H5647] them
There is a strong linkage between serving [H5647] an idol and worshipping [H7812] an idol. Unfortunately, there is no single Hebrew word that unambiguous means worship in English, so sometimes, H5647 is used and sometimes H7812 is used.

ESV 2 Kings 10:

18 Then Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab served [H5647] Baal a little",
i.e., Ahab worshipped and served Baal

"Jehu will serve [H5647] him much. 19 Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers [H5647] and all his priests.
Jehu listed the prophets and priests who were functionaries, plus the H5647, who might not be official functionaries. Further, he used "all" three times. He really wanted to get the word out: He wanted everyone who believed in Baal, whether you were an official servant or ordinary worshippers (H5657-servants). He continued:

Let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal. Whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it with cunning in order to destroy the worshipers [H5647] of Baal.
Did Jehu massacre only Baal's functionaries or also his worshipers in 2 Kings 10?

I would say both.

Benson explained:

All his worshippers, as the word here rendered servants is translated in the close of this verse. If it be inquired how all these could be contained in one house of Baal, it may be answered, that the number of the worshippers of Baal had been greatly diminished by the ministry of Elijah and Elisha, and the rest of the prophets; and by Joram’s neglect and disuse of that worship. Besides, this house or temple of Baal was probably very large and capacious, being in the royal city, nigh the king’s palace, and intended for the use of the king, queen, and whole court, and for great and high solemnities, and therefore was the chief building of the sort in the kingdom. Moreover, as by the house or temple of God, at Jerusalem, we are frequently to understand, not only the principal building, but all the other buildings or courts belonging to it, in which the worshippers stood when they worshipped, so it might be here; and in that case there would be space sufficient for all the worshippers of Baal that can reasonably be thought to have been at that time in Israel.
 
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