The answer is: Jehu

2 Ki 10

The tale of Jehu from the book of 2 Kings is a riveting saga of political ambition and divine intervention. Jehu was anointed king of Israel and granted a divinely appointed mission to stamp out the worship of Baal, a prevalent false god in the region. His strategy was shrewd—and a little dramatic. By deceiving the worshippers into believing that a grand sacrificial ceremony was in the works, he lured them into a trap. Once they all gathered, he delivered a decisive blow, showcasing not just military prowess but cunning tactics as well.

This intriguing act had deeper implications. At its core, it reveals themes around the struggle for religious truth and the sabotaging of idolatry; the deception of Baal's clergy was not merely a political ploy, but a pivotal moment to unveil Israel’s allegiance to Yahweh. It's a call back to earlier biblical events like Elijah's showdown on Mount Carmel, where he prayerfully challenged the prophets of Baal, marking a clear divide between the worship of the one true God and the futility of idol worship.

Historically, Jehu’s methods shed light on the conflicting loyalties of ancient Israel. Symbolically, it raises age-old questions about loyalty, faith, and the lure of false practices—a timeless contemplation for believers and historians alike. This excursion into Jehu's reign invites reading the background of kingships based not just on military conquests but on spiritual fidelity.