2 KINGS chapter 2 - 23 Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. "Go away, you baldhead!" they chanted. "Go away, you baldhead!"
24 Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.
2006-07-28 05:15:49 · 22 answers · asked by superdave 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The young people were about 20 years of age or older.Because these rebels so despised the prophet of the Lord, Elisha called upon the Lord to deal with them as He saw fit. The penalty was clearly justified, because to ridicule Elisha was to ridicule the Lord Himself. The appalling judgement was God's warning to any and all who would attempt to interfere with the newly appointed prophet's ministry.
2006-07-28 05:28:33 · answer #1 · answered by Hope 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, the better translation of the tormenting outcry was "Get up, you baldhead!" "Get up, you baldhead!"
Elijah, a previous prophet, had been taken up into a whirlwind by God in order to escape a horrendous death. So the boys were telling Elisha to do the same.
Basically, the boys were just reflecting the attitude of their parents and the citizens of the area that Elisha was in. They didn't like his message and they were letting him know it. The boys were also showing an utter lack of respect for God's authority by tormenting a prophet that God had sent to that city. The mauling of the boys by the bears was to graphically illustrate what happens when people disrespect those that God has put in authority.
2006-07-28 12:23:24 · answer #2 · answered by Vanessa B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you understand the context, you'll see that where Elisha was, wasn't a very friendly place to followers of God. There was a lot of idol worship there and a number of other bad things. Also, they said "Go on up, you baldhead!" What they were referring to was Elijah's ascension into heaven. They were actually saying go on up to heaven, they were threatening his life. Additionally, the word youth in the original language would've meant ppl in their twenties and it says that the bears mauled 42 of them.
So, you have at least 42 twenty-year olds threatening his life. It looks a lot different when you understand the context, doesn't it? I imagine Elisha probably just asked God to protect him.
2006-07-28 12:23:36 · answer #3 · answered by STEPHEN J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The implication of this chapter is that Elisha was special to God, that God's messenger, Elisha, would not be hurt or mocked by others as it demeans God's Holy Word. Does God cause the bears to come out of the woods, bears that were playing peacefully enjoying themselves and then struck with God's instruction to go out and kill boys? I don't think that is the message. I think the message is don't mock God or his messenger.
2006-07-28 12:21:13 · answer #4 · answered by flightsimulator58 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God wanted his prophets to be respected by everyone. Of course, looking at such an event as a westerner makes it sound "over the top". I suspect that what they were saying to Elisha in his day meant something a lot different.
But hey, look what happened to most of the prophets, very few lived to get old the rest were killed in some unseemly ways.
2006-07-28 12:21:11 · answer #5 · answered by Archer Christifori 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the prophet Elija (sp) walked into a town and was mocked by children. A bear/bears were called to kill the children. I think its in either 1 or 2nd Kings or Judges. Probably Judges.
2006-07-28 12:36:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although these kid's acted out of ignorance. They as well have the resurrection hope stated at Acts 24:15 which states, "and I have hope toward God, which hope these [men] themselves also entertain, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous."
2006-07-28 12:27:52 · answer #7 · answered by roc788 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can see 4 or 5 getting mauled. But why didn't the rest just RUN!!!! Surely the bears couldn't have got them all if they split up! Stupid kids!
2006-07-28 12:18:31 · answer #8 · answered by lifelover 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotton bear to maul a bunch of rude boys.
heh, 42
2006-07-28 12:18:14 · answer #9 · answered by lenny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It wasn't just that they were disrespectful. They were openly mocking a Prophet, and his calling from God to be a prophet.
That, and they probably looked tasty to that she-bear:)
2006-07-28 12:29:22 · answer #10 · answered by daisyk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋