OUTLINE SCOPE
Scope: 2 Kings 10:15–28 Outline Type: Passage * Structural Map: This outline maps Jehu’s meeting with Jehonadab, the completion of judgment connected with Ahab’s house, and the gathering and destruction of Baal’s worshippers, images, and house.
STRUCTURAL THESIS
The passage contains two large movements: 2 Kings 10:15–17 completes the judgment connected with Ahab, while 2 Kings 10:18–28 records Jehu’s campaign against Baal. Within those movements, the narrative advances through five natural subdivisions: Jehonadab joins Jehu, Ahab’s remaining house is destroyed, Baal’s worshippers are gathered, the worshippers are slain, and Baal’s images and house are destroyed.
AT-A-GLANCE OUTLINE
I. Jehu Completes the Judgment Connected With Ahab — 2 Kings 10:15–17
II. Jehu Destroys Baal Out of Israel — 2 Kings 10:18–28
DETAILED OUTLINE
I. JEHU COMPLETES THE JUDGMENT CONNECTED WITH AHAB — 2 KINGS 10:15–17
#### A. Jehonadab Joins Jehu — 2 Kings 10:15–16
Jehu meets Jehonadab the son of Rechab, tests whether his heart is with him, takes him into his chariot, and invites him to witness what Jehu calls his “zeal for the LORD.”
#### B. What Remained Unto Ahab Is Destroyed — 2 Kings 10:17
Jehu comes to Samaria and destroys what remained unto Ahab, with the narrator explicitly connecting the action to “the saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah.”
II. JEHU DESTROYS BAAL OUT OF ISRAEL — 2 KINGS 10:18–28
#### A. Baal’s Worshippers Are Gathered — 2 Kings 10:18–24
1. Jehu Announces That He Will Serve Baal Much — 2 Kings 10:18–19 Jehu publicly claims greater devotion to Baal than Ahab, while the narrator immediately reveals that he is acting “in subtilty” in order to destroy Baal’s worshippers.
2. A Solemn Assembly for Baal Is Proclaimed — 2 Kings 10:20–21 Jehu sends throughout Israel, the worshippers of Baal assemble, and the house of Baal is filled.
3. Baal’s Worshippers Are Identified and Separated — 2 Kings 10:22–23 Vestments are distributed, and Jehu and Jehonadab make certain that none of the servants of the LORD are among the worshippers of Baal.
4. Escape Is Prevented — 2 Kings 10:24 Jehu stations fourscore men outside and makes them responsible for allowing none of the assembled worshippers to escape.
#### B. Baal’s Worshippers Are Slain — 2 Kings 10:25
When the burnt offering is finished, Jehu commands the guard and captains:
“Go in, and slay them; let none come forth.”
The assembled worshippers are killed with the sword.
#### C. Baal’s Images and House Are Destroyed — 2 Kings 10:26–28
1. The Images Are Burned — 2 Kings 10:26
2. The Image and House of Baal Are Broken Down — 2 Kings 10:27
3. The Destruction of Baal Is Summarized — 2 Kings 10:28
“Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.”
STRUCTURAL FLOW
The passage moves in a deliberate sequence:
Jehonadab joins Jehu → judgment upon Ahab’s house reaches completion → Baal’s worshippers are summoned and concentrated in one place → they are identified and prevented from escaping → the worshippers are slain → Baal’s images and house are destroyed → the narrator states the result.
The strongest large-scale change occurs between verses 17 and 18. Verse 17 closes the Ahab judgment movement, while verse 18 begins a new operation centered upon Baal. Within that Baal section, verses 18–24 prepare for destruction, verse 25 executes the plan against the worshippers, and verses 26–28 destroy the physical Baal establishment.
KEY TRANSITIONS
* 2 Kings 10:15 — “And when he was departed thence” A new encounter begins with Jehonadab during Jehu’s already-continuing campaign.
* 2 Kings 10:17 — “And when he came to Samaria” The location changes, and the remaining judgment connected with Ahab reaches completion.
* 2 Kings 10:18 — “And Jehu gathered all the people together” The narrative shifts from Ahab to Baal, forming the strongest major internal boundary.
* 2 Kings 10:19 — “But Jehu did it in subtilty” The narrator reveals Jehu’s true purpose and controls the interpretation of the gathering that follows.
* 2 Kings 10:19 and 10:25 — “let none be wanting” / “let none come forth” The narrative moves from making sure none are absent to making sure none escape.
* 2 Kings 10:24–25 Verse 24 completes the preparation and containment; verse 25 begins the killing.
* 2 Kings 10:25–26 The object of destruction changes from Baal’s worshippers to Baal’s images and house.
* 2 Kings 10:28 — “Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.” The narrator explicitly summarizes the result of the entire Baal section.
WHY THIS STRUCTURE FITS THE TEXT
The structure follows actual changes in scene, location, subject, action, and narrative purpose rather than forcing equal-sized or sermon-shaped divisions.
Verses 15–16 naturally belong together because they form the Jehonadab encounter. Verse 17 then changes location and functions as a completion statement concerning Ahab. Verse 18 begins a new campaign directed against Baal.
Verses 18–24 also form a coherent preparation sequence: Jehu summons the worshippers, assembles them, identifies them, separates the servants of the LORD from them, and prevents their escape. Verse 25 changes preparation into execution. Verses 26–28 then change the target from people to Baal’s images and house, ending with the explicit summary of verse 28.
Every verse from 2 Kings 10:15 through 10:28 is accounted for once, in canonical order, without gaps or overlaps. The approved research identified these same five detailed boundaries as the clearest textual movements.
OUTLINE CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATIVES
Confidence: HIGH
The strongest major structure is:
2 Kings 10:15–17 — Completion of the judgment connected with Ahab 2 Kings 10:18–28 — Destruction of Baal
A materially plausible alternative treats 2 Kings 10:15–16 and 10:17 as separate major divisions. That reflects the genuine scene and location change at verse 17, but the hierarchical structure better preserves the larger Ahab-to-Baal movement.
Another legitimate alternative combines 2 Kings 10:25–28 into one climactic destruction section. That simpler structure remains faithful to the passage, but separating verse 25 from verses 26–28 more clearly shows the change from destroying Baal’s worshippers to destroying Baal’s images and house.
