The answer is: Jehu

2 Ki 10

The intriguing tale of Jehu in 2 Kings 10 presents a fascinating moment in the continuing struggle between the worship of Yahweh and the worship of Baal in ancient Israel. Jehu, anointed by the prophet Elisha, carried out a dramatic and bloody purge of Baal worshippers. In an unexpected twist, he invited these worshippers to a grand sacrifice, promising a great celebration for their god. But in a clever and ruthless twist, he intended to eliminate them.

What’s captivating here is not just the brutal efficiency in Jehu’s schemes but also the interplay between prophecy and fulfillment in the Hebrew text. His actions resonate with earlier biblical motifs where deception plays a pivotal role in overthrowing oppressive regimes, much like Judith outsmarting Holofernes or the numerous clever plots in the Book of Esther.

Here’s a nugget for your biblical trivia collection: The name “Jehu” literally means “Yahweh is He,” which amplifies the irony—through this figure ordained by Yahweh, the elimination of Baal worship was enforced.

Jehu’s bloodbath can be disturbing, but it highlighted the raw intensity of the struggle for faith in ancient Israelite society. This story reminds us of the tensions present when competing ideologies clash and the stark choices faced by communities in times of turmoil. It poses intriguing questions about divine mission versus human cruelty that echo throughout scripture as God's followers grapple with moral complexities.