Now the people of the city said to Elisha, “The location of this city is good, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful.” He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went to the spring of water and threw the salt into it, and said, “Thus says the Lord, I have made this water wholesome; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.” So the water has been wholesome to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke. He went up from there to Bethel; and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!” When he turned around and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and then returned to Samaria. (2 Kings 2:19-25, NRSV)
Go away baldhead…
Watch who you make fun of.
Some small boys the reading says. Interesting the Hebrew word here is used of Isaac when Abraham binds him and of Joseph when scholars believe he is 17. So the word actually means a male ages 12 – 30. So they were not necessarily small boys. But still, why did Elisha call the she-bears on them? And how many of the boys were there, as the 2 she-bears mauled 42 of the boys. Or did Elisha do it. The reading says that Elisha turned and saw them and cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then the she-bears came out of the woods. Not that Elisha called them out. was it a coincidence or did Elisha’s curse bring them out? Either way, why is this in the bible?
Add it to the list of questions to ask God when we see Him.
aSacredRebel 