Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 10:21

And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another.

21. And Jehu sent through all Israel ] Here the LXX. adds the words of the notice; ‘saying, And now all ye worshippers, and all his priests and all his prophets, let no one be absent, for I am about to make a great sacrifice: whosoever shall be absent, he shall not live’. Similarly after ‘And all the worshippers of Baal came’ there is inserted ‘and all his priests and all his prophets’. These amplifications are no evidence that the Hebrew text ever had more than now stands in it. The LXX. often exhibits a desire to round off a narrative in a way very unlike Hebrew.

not a man left that came not ] They had been largely encouraged in previous reigns, but now they were to be elevated above all others. Hence all that desired to be popular with the new king and could establish their claim to be counted Baalites, would reckon it a good chance, and come without fail.

the house of Baal ] ‘House’ is the constant word for ‘temple’ in the Old Testament, and no doubt this building was as magnificent as the architectural skill of Tyrian workmen, and the zeal of the house of Ahab, with whom architecture seems to have been a passion, could make it. Hence it would be large enough to contain in its spacious courts an immense number of worshippers. For ‘house’ used of Solomon’s temple, see 1Ki 8:13; 1Ki 8:16-19, and constantly in the history of David and Solomon.

from one end to another ] The Hebrew phrase is ‘mouth to mouth’ but there is no need to understand, with margin of A.V. ‘so full that they stood mouth to mouth’ which they only could have done in pairs. As in other languages, ‘mouth’ is used in Hebrew for any opening, as of a sack (Gen 42:27), of a cave (Jos 10:18; Jos 10:22; Jos 10:27), and so any doorway or entrance. Hence here ‘from one entrance to the other’. Almost the same phrase is used Ezr 9:11 (as will be seen from margin of A.V.), of a land filled ‘from one end to the other’.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

In order to understand how such numbers could find room, we must remember that the ancient temples had vast courts around them, which could contain many thousands.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

There was not a man left that came not; either,

1. Because they thought Jehu was serious and sincere in his professions; it being natural and usual for men too easily to believe what they wish to be true. And for the priests which Jehu destroyed before, 2Ki 10:11, they might think that was done only because of their nearness and relation to Ahab and his family. Or,

2. For fear of their lives; for certain death was threatened to all that did not come, 2Ki 10:19, which considering Jehus fierce and bloody temper, they knew would be executed; whereas, if they did come, there was more than a possibility of the sparing of their lives; for Jehu was known to be indifferent and unconcerned in matters of religion, one that had served Baal when his prince Ahab lived and did so and forsook it when the next prince Joram did; and therefore it was doubtful whether Jehu had not in good earnest returned to his first love, to that religion which he had formerly embraced, and only deserted in complacency to others. Or,

3. By Gods just providence, deceiving their minds and inclining their hearts to come to their own destruction.

Into the house, i.e. the temple.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And Jehu sent through all Israel,…. Persons to proclaim this solemn assembly:

and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not; some no doubt came cheerfully, having no suspicion of him, and the rather, as he might have been a worshipper of Baal in the times of Ahab; and as for what he had done to Baal’s priests, they might consider that only as they were in connection with Ahab’s family, whom to destroy was his political interest; and they were glad at heart their new king was so affected to Baal, and fond to see such a grand solemnity as they expected this to be; and others that might be suspicious of him, yet as they must die if they did not appear, and there was a possibility they might live, chose therefore to come:

and they came into the house of Baal; the temple which Ahab had built for him in Samaria, 1Ki 16:32

and the house of Baal was full from one end to the other; not only the body of the temple, but all the outward court, every mouth, or corner, as in the original text: and this single house might be sufficient for all in the land; since the number of them might be greatly lessened by the ministry of Elijah and Elisha, as well as by the destruction the former made of the prophets of Baal; and by the schools of the prophets set up in various places, from whence prophets were sent out to instruct the people; and by Joram’s putting away the image of Baal, which no doubt lessened the number of his worshippers.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

The temple of Baal was filled , “from one edge (end) to the other.” in this sense is not to be derived from , a corner (Cler., Ges.), but signifies mouth, or the upper rim of a vessel. Metaphora sumta a vasibus humore aliquo plenis: Vatabl.

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

(21) Sent through all Israel.The Vatican LXX. adds, saying: And now all his servants, and all his priests, and all his prophets, let none be wanting; because I make a great sacrifice. Whoever shall be wanting he shall not live. This is another instance (comp. 2Ki. 9:16) of the insertion in the text of a marginal note belonging to another place. The note preserves the reading of the first half of 2Ki. 10:19 according to another MS. (See Thenius ad loc.)

Was full from one end to another.Right as to the sense. The figure is taken from a full vessel; as if we were to say, The house was brimful. The rim of a vessel was its mouth. The rim of the contents reached the rim of the vessel. Schulz explains head to head (comp. the margin); Gesenius, from corner to corner (comp. 2Ki. 21:16); LXX. literally, mouth to mouth.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

21. House of Baal The great temple which Ahab built in Samaria for the honour of this Phenician idol. 1Ki 16:32.

From one end to another Literally, from mouth to mouth. An idiomatic phrase meaning from aperture or opening to opening, or from entrance to exit.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2Ki 10:21. So that there was not a man left that came not It may be asked, how all the worshippers of Baal could be induced, after Jehu’s conduct, to assemble together? To which it may be replied, that as Jehu was a person of known indifference in matters of religion, (see the note on 2Ki 10:31.) who in this respect had always conformed to the humours of the court, and in the reign of king Ahab had been a strenuous worshipper of Baal; the people could not tell, when they read his proclamation of a great feast to Baal, but that he had returned in good earnest to the religion which he once embraced, and only deserted for a while in complacency to others. But whether they deluded themselves into this persuasion or not, they knew by experience that Jehu was a man of a fierce and bloody temper, who would not fail to put his threats in execution; and therefore reading in the same proclamation, Whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live, 2Ki 10:19 they found themselves reduced to this sad dilemma, either to go or die; and therefore they thought it the wisest method to run the hazard, and throw themselves upon his mercy; having this at least to plead for themselves, that they were not disobedient to his commands. See Calmet and Poole.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

2Ki 10:21 And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another.

Ver. 21. And all the worshippers of Baal came. ] It was wonder they should; since they could not but have heard of the slaughter of Ahab’s priests in Jezreel; but they were infatuated, and so fitted for destruction. With like boldness the Egyptians rushed into the Red Sea. Exo 14:23

And the house of Baal was full from one end to another. ] Or, So full that they stood mouth to mouth; their mouths did even almost touch. a It was wont to be so in our holy meetings, till the devil divided us, and made so many separatists among us, who run into by-corners. Heb 10:25

a Ab ore ad os, vel ab ora ad oram. – Vat.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)