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 in pieces the הבּעל מצּבת, column of Baal, i.e., the real image of Baal, probably a conical stone dedicated to Baal, whereas the מצּבת, which were burned, were wooden columns as πάρεδροι or σύμβοομοι of Baal (see Movers, Phöniz. i. p. 674).

Verse 27
Lastly, they destroyed the temple itself and made it למחראות, privies, for which the Masoretes have substituted the euphemistic מוצאות, sinks, as a mark of the greatest insult, many examples of which are to be met with among Oriental tribes (vid., Ezr 6:11; Dan 2:5, and Haevernick in loc.). - Thus Jehu exterminated Baal from Israel. This remark in 2Ki 10:28 forms the introduction to the history of Jehu’s reign, with which the last epoch in the history of the ten tribes begins. ==3. From the Commencement of the Reigns of Jehu in Israel, and Athaliah in Judah, to the destruction of the kingdom of Israel. Chap. 10:28−17.== In the 161 years which this epoch embraces, from B.C. 883 to 722, the fate of the kingdom of Israel was accomplished. The first hundred years, which comprised the reigns of Jehu and his descendants, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, and Jeroboam u., were the last day of grace for the rebellious ten tribes, at the expira-tion of which the judgment began to burst upon them. As the anointing of Jehu by Elisha was performed by the command of God, so also was the religious reform, which Jehu vigorously commenced with the extermination of the Baal-worship, a fruit of the labours of the prophets Elijah and Elisha within the sinful kingdom ; but this reform stood still half-way, since Jehu merely restored the idolatrous Jehovah-worship introduced by Jeroboam, and neither he himself nor his successors desisted from that sin In order, therefore, if possible, to complete the work begun by His prophets of converting Israel to its God, the Lord now began to visit the rebellious tribes with severe chas tisements, giving them up into the power of the Syrians, who under Hazael not only conquered the whole of the land to the east of the Jordan, but almost annihilated the military force of the Israelites (ch. 10:32-33, 13:3, 7). This chastisement did not remain without fruit Jehoahaz prayed to the Lord, and the Lord had compassion upon the oppressed for the sake of His