The Bible provides some context as to why King Jehu of Israel destroyed the worship of Baal but tolerated the worship of golden calves during his reign. To understand this, we need to look at some background information.
After the united kingdom of Israel under Kings Saul, David, and Solomon split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, the northern kingdom set up golden calf idols for worship in Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12:25-33). This was done to prevent the people from going to Jerusalem in the southern kingdom to worship at the temple. The northern kings who allowed or encouraged calf worship included Jeroboam, Ahab, and Jehu.
In contrast, the worship of Baal was introduced later during the reign of King Ahab, who married the Phoenician princess Jezebel (1 Kings 16:31-32). Jezebel promoted the worship of Baal and persecuted the prophets of the Lord (1 Kings 18:4, 13). The prophets Elijah and Elisha strongly condemned Baal worship and viewed it as leading the people into false religion (1 Kings 18, 2 Kings 10:18-28).
So when Jehu overthrew the house of Ahab and Jezebel, he saw it as an opportunity to get rid of Baal worship but he left calf worship intact. There are several possible reasons for this difference in treatment:
- The calf idols had been part of Israel’s corrupted worship for over 200 years, since Jeroboam I, and may have been more institutionalized. Baal worship was newer and tied to Ahab and Jezebel.
- Jehu was executing God’s judgment on Ahab’s family. He may have seen Baal worship as linked only to them rather than a national sin (2 Kings 9:6-10).
- Jehu was looking for political support. Getting rid of Baal worship had popular appeal, but he did not want to alienate people by removing the calf idols.
- Jehu was not wholeheartedly devoted to God and tolerated ongoing idolatry for political expediency (2 Kings 10:31).
In the end, Jehu failed to remove calf worship established by Jeroboam I hundreds of years earlier, even though Baal worship was eradicated. The calves remained in Dan and Bethel until the Assyrian conquest and fall of the northern kingdom (2 Kings 17:5-6, 16-23). Jehu had an opportunity as king to lead the people back to true worship of God by removing all pagan influences. But he allowed longstanding spiritual compromise and corruption to continue in Israel.
The Divided Kingdom: Israel and Judah
After the reign of Solomon, the united kingdom of Israel split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah around 930 BC (1 Kings 12). The division was the result of unrest under Solomon’s son Rehoboam’s leadership. The ten northern tribes formed their own kingdom of Israel, separate from the southern kingdom of Judah which contained the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
The northern kingdom set up rival worship centers with golden calves at Bethel and Dan, establishing idolatry in Israel right from the start (1 Kings 12:25-30). Jeroboam I, the first king of the northern kingdom, instituted calf worship to prevent Israelites from going to worship in Jerusalem at the temple. The calf idols became longstanding places of false worship over the next two centuries of Israel’s existence as a separate kingdom.
In contrast, the southern kingdom retained worship at the temple in Jerusalem. But both kingdoms underwent cycles of religious reform and revival as well as idolatry and spiritual decline at various points in their history. The divided kingdoms were often hostile towards each other politically as well.
The Introduction of Baal Worship
The worship of the pagan god Baal was introduced in Israel during the reign of King Ahab (1 Kings 16:29-34). Ahab married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal king of Tyre and Sidon. Jezebel promoted the worship of Baal, including the building of temples and altars around the country. The Bible records that Ahab “did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him” (1 Kings 16:33) by allowing the spread of Baal worship.
The prophets Elijah and Elisha were some of the strongest opponents of Baal worship in Israel. The famous contest on Mount Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal demonstrated Yahweh’s superiority over the false Canaanite deity (1 Kings 18). Elijah and Elisha also supported the removal of Baal idols and the execution of its prophets (1 Kings 18:40, 2 Kings 10:18-28).
So Baal worship was a relatively recent introduction through the Phoenician alliance and royal marriages. It was soundly condemned by the prophets of the Lord in Israel’s early history. In contrast, the calf idols had been part of Israel’s corrupted worship since the nation divided after Solomon’s reign ended.
Jehu Overthrows Ahab’s Dynasty
Jehu reigned as king over the northern kingdom of Israel from 841-814 BC. He came to power after staging a coup against the Omride dynasty founded by Ahab and Jezebel (2 Kings 9-10). The prophet Elisha sent one of the sons of the prophets to anoint Jehu and declare that he would destroy Ahab’s family as part of God’s judgment for their great sins (2 Kings 9:1-10).
After being anointed king, Jehu proceeded to kill King Joram, son of Ahab. He then had Jezebel killed as well, in fulfillment of Elijah’s prophecy that she would be eaten by dogs in Jezreel (2 Kings 9:30-37; 1 Kings 21:23). Jehu went on to destroy all the remaining family members and supporters of Ahab’s dynasty in a bloody purge (2 Kings 10:1-17). He slaughtered Ahab’s 70 sons and beheaded them, piling their heads at the gate of Jezreel.
Finally, Jehu assembled the followers of Baal under false pretenses and slaughtered them. He demolished the temple of Baal and destroyed it so thoroughly that it became a latrine (2 Kings 10:18-28). So Jehu violently purged the land of Baal worship and killed Ahab’s family to fulfill God’s prophecy of judgment.
Jehu Continues the Calf Worship
However, after destroying the worship of Baal, Jehu allowed the continued worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. The Bible notes that “Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.” (2 Kings 10:29-31). The calves had been part of Israel’s false religion since the days of Jeroboam I, the first northern king.
Why did Jehu eradicate the newer Baal cult but tolerate the longer standing state-sponsored calf idols? Here are some possible reasons:
- The calf worship was deeply rooted after two centuries, so destroying the idols may have caused too much unrest. Baal worship was still fairly new.
- Jehu saw the judgment on Ahab’s house as directed against them personally, rather than on the national sins of Israel.
- He used popular discontent against Baal worship to rally support for overthrowing Ahab’s family.
- He was motivated more by power politics than true religious reform.
While Jehu responded to God’s command to judge Ahab’s dynasty, he did not go far enough in reforming the religious practices of the northern kingdom. He failed as a king to lead the people back to faithfully worshiping God alone.
Outcomes and Lessons
Jehu’s actions had several consequences for the northern kingdom of Israel:
- He eliminated the immediate threat of Baal worship and influence from Phoenician religion.
- But his political pragmatism allowed the continuation of calf worship and an unreformed religious life.
- His bloody coup set a precedent for political assassinations and military overthrows of future kings.
- Israel remained spiritually compromised and idolatrous after his reign.
Some key lessons we can take from this period of Israel’s history include:
- Compromise with false religion in a nation can take deep root over time.
- Outward displays of religious “reform” may mask deeper spiritual problems.
- Political pragmatism overlooks true obedience to God.
- God judges spiritual corruption in nations and leadership.
Jehu failed to take advantage of an opportunity to lead Israel back to faithfulness before the Lord. This idolatry and lack of genuine repentance eventually led to God’s judgment on Israel at the hands of the Assyrian empire (2 Kings 17:5-23). As leaders and as nations, compromise with sin leads only to decline, while faithfulness to God brings His enduring blessing and favor.