Wasn't that a bit too extreme ? We are told that Elijah cursed them in the name of the Lord and there came forth two she bears out of the wood and tare forthy and two children appart.
I know kids can be mean and rude but, he did nothing to the grown up man that slapped him in the face, and he kills kids who mock him ?
2006-09-22 06:29:54 · 26 answers · asked by Nothingness 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm a Christian, so comments like " because He can" are irrelevant and ignorant.
2006-09-22 06:36:52 · update #1
First, it was Elisha, not Elijah. Important to understanding what happened.
One slight ajustment to make in your mind. The Hebrew word translated "little children" in that scripture refers to people who were in the "apprenticeship" part of their lives, meaning between the ages of 18 and 30. Most modern tranlation use the word "youth", not children These were not a group of 9 and 10 year olds just being silly. These were young adults who knew exactly who they were mocking and what they were doing.
If you look at where and when the incident happened, Elisha had just spend several years following, servicing, and learning from Elijah. The time had come for Elijah to go to heaven. Elisha refused to allow his master to go off alone to die. Instead he kept following him. Finally, when the time came, a fiery chariot came down and picked up Elijah and took him off to heaven. The chariot was visible to more than just Elisha, because immediately the others in the area wanted to go searching for Elijah, considered that the charoit whould drop him somewhere.
Al Elijah is leaving, up comes this gang of young men (at least 42 of them) and begin mocking and abusing Elisha, yelling "Go up, bald man". These young men must have also witnessed the miracle of Elijah going up in the chariot, or what did they mean by telling Elisah to also "Go up."
This was no innocent group of kids. It was a large gang of 40+ young adults, surrounding, mocking, and probably endangering the life of Elisha. Laughting at the miracle of God they had just witnessed. Elisha spoke against them, and God sent the two bears. Elisha walked away unharmed. 42 of the youth did not. Note that it says the youth were "torn apart" in the KJ. Most other translation use "rend", "torn" or "injured". The original Hebrew word does NOT mean killed.
2006-09-22 06:54:46 · answer #1 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I am amazed that so many people only take the Bible literally when they feel they can use it against Christians. Please read the following Scripture and footnote:
[2 Ki 2:23] From there Elisha went up to Bethel. While he was on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him. "Go up, baldhead," they shouted, "go up, baldhead!"
[2 Ki 2:24] The prophet turned and saw them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the children to pieces.
Footnote:
[1] (23-24) This story, like the one about Elijah and the captains (2 Kings 1), is preserved for us in Scripture to convey a popular understanding of the dignity of the prophet. Told in popular vein, it becomes a caricature, in which neither Elisha nor the bears behave in character. See note on 2 Kings 1:12 and the contrasting narrative in 2 Kings 4.
2006-09-22 06:35:41 · answer #2 · answered by Robert L 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because He can.
I think it's safe to say they weren't kids, they were probably over 18 as they were youths. They in essence mocked and ridiculed God himself, because Elijah was a prophet of God.
The moral of the story: God is not to be trifled with...
And people still don't understand this, but vengeance is His.
2006-09-22 06:40:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) Eliha was a prophet he spoke for God and to disrespect him was an attack on God.
2) It doesn't say they were killed it says they were torn or mauled depending on which translation you use.
Someone asked this question and a pastor answered it in this video 15 min 50 sec into the video
http://www.mostamazingprophecies.com/portals/6/mapmedia/map_6.asx
3) It was Elisha not Elijah
Hope this helps
2006-09-22 06:52:29 · answer #4 · answered by Conundrum 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I recomend reading the entire situation and much prayer. Elijah was on a mission from God, Bethel was a city out of fellowship with God at that time. It was not good to curse a servant of God.
I agree God does have an extreme way of showing his Wrath and God has an extreme way of showing his Love and Mercy the same.
2006-09-22 06:38:04 · answer #5 · answered by poetofdemorest 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
doomhammerony,
It's something to do with what most people that answered you are doing. It's all His, everything belongs to Him. The lack of respect that those are having for God is the point. Don't F--- with God. Have respect for what's His. The things of God are to be respected.
He doesn't send suicide bombers, because He is quite capable of taking buisness on His own.
Don't come against God, don't mess with His servants. It's not that we will do anything to those that mess, but God can.
2006-09-22 06:44:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They were not little children, they were Youths, and they were Mocking the Man Of God, God don't take that lightly.
2006-09-22 06:35:36 · answer #7 · answered by Minister 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The mockers killed off the bears. They didn't care what God thought anymore than you. I wouldn't wish that on you anyway, but I would like to see it in a movie.
2016-03-18 00:04:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
At that time Jesus had not died for the sins of people like you and I. I am not sure God was as patient as he is now. Now god will wait until judgment day for those that mock him to pay the ultimate price.
I guess then it was swift and sure.
2006-09-22 06:39:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
God HATES mockers. But He only kills as an object lesson for those who survive. Check it out. He's done it lots of times.
2006-09-22 06:38:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋