2 Kings 10:20

2Ki 10:20 And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed [it].

Ver. 20. Proclaim a solemn assembly.] See on 2Ki 10:18.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ki 10:20-21. Jehu said, Proclaim, &c. — Hebrew, sanctify. Prepare yourselves and all things necessary for this solemn day, and sacrifice, and feast, which I intend to keep. There was not a man left that came not — It may seem strange, after what Jehu had done in destroying the family of Ahab, that the worshippers of Baal could be induced to assemble together. But it should be observed, that as Jehu was a person of known indifference in matters of religion, 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 for 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. Hence 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 Poole and Dodd.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Hebrew, sanctify.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(20) Proclaim a solemn assembly.—Rather, Sanctify a solemn meeting (Isa_1:13). Every person who wished to attend would have to “sanctify,” or purify, himself in due form.

They proclaimed—i.e., gave notice of the festival by criers “through all Israel” (2Ki_10:21).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

20. Proclaim [R.V. Sanctify] a solemn assembly] The verb is not the same which is correctly rendered ‘they proclaimed’ in the next clause. It is constantly rendered ‘Sanctify’ elsewhere. Cf. Exo_13:12; Jos_7:13; Joe_1:14; Joe_2:15-16; and is the word used of making a holy war. See Jer_6:4; Jer_51:27-28, &c., where ‘prepare’ is the appropriate translation. ‘Proclaim’ is found as the equivalent nowhere but here.

a solemn assembly] The word (with a slightly different pointing) is used in Lev_23:36; Num_29:35; Deu_16:8; Neh_8:18, of the solemn gatherings of God’s people for their sacred worship. Jehu by using such a term seems to be putting Baal entirely on a level with Jehovah, a proceeding that went, as he professed to do, beyond all Ahab’s practices.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Jehu said, proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal,.... Such as with the Jews was an holy convocation, when they were forbidden and restrained from doing any work on that day; and such a day Jehu would have appointed and proclaimed for Baal, that the people might be at leisure to attend:

and they proclaimed it; according to his order, in Samaria.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

A solemn assembly - Jehu applies to his proposed gathering the sacred name assigned in the Law to the chiefest festivals of Yahweh (see Lev 23:36; Num 29:35; Deu 16:8).

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Proclaim. Literally, "sanctify (Hebrew) a prohibition" to work, or to be absent, (Calmet) "and they proclaimed it."

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Proclaim, Heb. sanctify. Prepare yourselves and all things necessary for this solemn day, and sacrifice, and feast, which I intend to keep.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. The word translated "solemn assembly" is the same which is applied to the great feasts of Jehovah among the Israelites in Lev_23:36; Num_29:35; Deu_16:8; 2Ch_7:9; Neh_8:18; Isa_1:13; Joe_1:14 Joe_2:15; and Amo_5:21. Originally, it signified a time of repression, or abstention fromworldly business; but it had probably grown to mean a day when worldly business was suspended for the sake of a religious gathering. Such gatherings had no doubt been held from time to time in honor of Baal; and Jehu"s proclamation consequently excited no distrust. And they proclaimed it. No opposition was made to the king"s wish. No Jehovist party showed itself. The "solemn assembly" was proclaimed for some day in the near future, when all the people had been apprised of it.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

“Sanctify an assembly.” [I.e.,] announce an assembly, that they assemble in the temple of the Baal.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.