מלכים ב, פרק י׳, פסוק כ״ג

A critical moment of separation takes place just before a planned strike against widespread idolatry. Jehu arrives at the temple of Baal accompanied by Jehonadab son of Rechab, a man who serves as both his close friend and his teacher [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Upon entering, Jehu issues a strict order to the gathered crowd. He demands a thorough, careful search of the premises to verify that absolutely no servants of God are present among the worshippers [מצודת ציון] [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This intense scrutiny is driven by a specific fear. Jehu worries that loyal followers of God might have wandered into the temple simply out of curiosity, wanting to watch the unfolding events. He is determined to prevent a tragic situation where innocent observers are killed alongside the idolaters [מצודת דוד]. To protect them, he insists that any servant of God must immediately leave the area. His ultimate goal is to completely isolate the crowd, ensuring that only the devoted worshippers of Baal remain inside [מצודת דוד].