Christians, this is something I've always wondered about and have never gotten a real good answer, if there

Question

even is one.
In the Bible, in 2 Kings, ch 2, vs 23 and 24. I've never really understood this. I know the kids were making fun of Elisha for being bald but..
bears? Isn't that a little extreme?

Athesists: Do NOT try to tell me how my religion of faith is false or you will be reported! Keep it to yourself!

Answer 1

I don't know, there are some little snot-nosed mockers in my neighborhood I wouldn't mind feeding to a German Shepherd.

(there are no bears left in central Illinois).

Perhaps He was using them to set an example to others of what happens when you make fun of one of His prophets.

Answer 2

I read a bit of the study notes by John MacArthur on these verses. A couple of things that were pointed out was that at that time being bald was a sign of disgrace. It is possible that Elisha was bald as part of his being a prophet or they were just plain out insulting him and he was not bald at all.

Also, the "kids" (the actual word applies to youths around 20 years old) actually were taunting him by saying "go up, you baldhead!". Implying that Elisha should leave like Elijah did.

As far as the bears go, God sent them as to taunt and insult a true prophet of God is the same as insulting God Himself.

Answer 3

there is no might desire to truly pray in any respect... no rely if there's a god or not there is no might desire to wish... you're greater advantageous off asserting out loud what you like in a topic and confirming it on your techniques and sticking with it. maximum people who say they pay attention god.... do not. they think of it sounds solid. If some thing is going appropriate with them it replace into all by way of fact of GOD. It had not something to do with their attempt. See the priority is... people pray and issues ensue.... then there are people that pray and get not something so who does god pick? the 1st guy prayed for a job and have been given a job by way of fact he has adventure and he used activity engines.... the 2nd guy prayed and then grew to become on the PS3. So... what's using prayer without action and in case you may desire to look at it and say did the prayer paintings or have been the percentages so a techniques in my desire that death is the only venture that could have stopped an excellent consequence. you at the instant are not incorrect. do not stay consistent with what persons have instructed you with regard to faith... discover your courting with you and in case you desire somebody to talk to create an imgaginary buddy and supply a damn what people think of roughly it. youngsters do it each and every of the time and seem how happy they are.

Answer 4

These were not little children playing harmless games, this was a gang of lawless older children, teens. Notice where they were, along the road -- this is not some street in a town or city, but a highway outside of the village, where wild bears reside; not a place for little children. Also, note the size of the gang -- this was a small army, very dangerous.

Answer 5

Oh, fine, I'll keep my mouth shut on how I really feel about ur religion, as you have the rite to believe in ur own religion just as much as I do.

Well, everything in the Bible is dramatic. If it wasn't, it'd be a completely boring list of sins and morals. Who the hell would want to read that?! If the kids ended up getting a lecture from their parents, even more ppl would fall asleep in church than usual. So they get a real punishment. It's like the Greek myths...always sumthing dramatic, so that it makes for good story-telling. And the punishment makes the moral STICK. It makes you remember wat the moral was. "Ok, I'll neva make fun of bald ppl or prophets ever again, since I dont wanna be eaten by bears." It's a good writing mechanism. The bible is an awesome piece of literature, since it's still the most popular book in history. All the ppl who wrote it were the best authors in all the world...mb...i dont know enough authors to say that for sure...

Answer 6

Elisha had just received a double portion of the anointing of Elijah. I don't think He realized the power of His Words in the name of the Yahweh.

People, children or adult need to be careful when criticizing one anointed of the LORD. In this case Elisha was doubly anointed with Elijah's anointing. Also, there were a lot of children threatening Elisha, 42 of them. They might have been enemies of Israel trying to attack Elisha.


Bald is QR-CH (Hebrew) could also mean ice, hail, crystal rock, or frost, or the definition of a bald spot in the back of the heads.

Answer 7

These young men jeered at God's messenger and paid for it with their lives. Making fun of religious leaders has been a popular sport through the ages. To take a a stand for God is to be different from the world and vulnerable to verbal abuse. When we are cynical and sarcastic toward religious leaders, we are in danger of mocking not just the person, but also the spiritual message. While we are not to condone the sin that some leaders commit, we need to pray for them, not laugh at them. True leaders, those who follow God, need to be heard with respect and encouraged in their ministry.

Answer 8

The Book says that Elijah, Elisha's teacher, was the greatest
man that ever lived. But he was still a man, and had the passions
of a man.
Elijah killed two groups of fifty soldiers sent to get him, because
he feared for his life. Until the Spirit told him to CHILL OUT.
And go with the third group of fifty, and talk to the King.

Answer 9

Observe the miracle of healing the waters. Prophets should make every place to which they come better for them, endeavouring to sweeten bitter spirits, and to make barren souls fruitful, by the word of God, which is like the salt cast into the water by Elisha. It was an apt emblem of the effect produced by the grace of God on the sinful heart of man. Whole families, towns, and cities, sometimes have a new appearance through the preaching of the gospel; wickedness and evil have been

changed into fruitfulness in the works of righteousness, which are, through Christ, to the praise and glory of God. Here is a curse on the youths of Bethel, enough to destroy them; it was not a curse causeless, for it was Elisha's character, as God's prophet, that they abused. They bade him to ?go up, to ? reflecting on the taking up of Elijah into heaven. The prophet acted by Divine impulse. If the Holy Spirit had not directed Elisha's solemn curse, the providence of God would not have followed

it with judgment. The Lord must be glorified as a righteous God who hates sin, and will reckon for it. Let young persons be afraid of speaking wicked words, for God notices what they say. Let them not mock at any for defects in mind or body; especially it is at their peril, if they scoff at any for well doing. Let parents that would have comfort in their children, train them up well, and do their utmost betimes to drive out the foolishness that is bound up in their hearts. And what will be the

anguish of those parents, at the day of judgment, who witness the everlasting condemnation of their offspring, occasioned by their own bad example, carelessness, or wicked teaching!

Answer 10

According to one commentary, the youth were not so much mocking Elisha's physical characteristics, as much as his authority as a prophet. A prophet is a mouthpiece of God. In this case, they are mocking him as a spokesman for God, and this "miracle" was a sign to a unbelieving and scornful generation.