2 Kings 2:24

And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

And he turned {H6437} back {H310}, and looked {H7200} on them, and cursed {H7043} them in the name {H8034} of the LORD {H3068}. And there came forth {H3318} two {H8147} she bears {H1677} out of the wood {H3293}, and tare {H1234} forty {H705} and two {H8147} children {H3206} of them.

He looked behind him, saw them and put a curse on them in the name of ADONAI; whereupon two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

And he looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Jehovah. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two lads of them.

Commentary

The account in 2 Kings 2:24 describes a severe divine judgment that occurred at the beginning of the prophet Elisha's ministry. After being mocked by a group of youths, Elisha cursed them in the name of the LORD, resulting in two she-bears attacking forty-two of them. This passage highlights the gravity of disrespecting God's anointed servants and serves as a powerful validation of Elisha's prophetic authority.

Context

This event immediately follows the dramatic ascension of Elijah into heaven (2 Kings 2:11) and Elisha's reception of a double portion of Elijah's spirit (2 Kings 2:9). Elisha was traveling from Jericho to Bethel, a city with a history of spiritual significance but also known for idolatry under King Jeroboam I. As he approached Bethel, a group of young men or youths came out of the city and began to mock him, specifically ridiculing his baldness and challenging him to "Go up," perhaps in reference to Elijah's recent ascension. This was not merely playful teasing but a profound act of disrespect and a challenge to Elisha's newly established prophetic office and, by extension, to God Himself.

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority and Protection: The incident powerfully establishes Elisha's authority as a prophet of the LORD. His curse was not a personal outburst but an invocation of God's judgment, demonstrating that God stands behind His chosen messengers. This validated Elisha's ministry in the eyes of a potentially skeptical nation.
  • Consequences of Disrespecting God's Messengers: The severity of the judgment underscores the seriousness of mocking or despising a prophet of God. In ancient Israel, a prophet was God's direct representative, and disrespecting them was tantamount to disrespecting God Himself. This served as a stark warning against challenging divine authority.
  • God's Holiness and Justice: While seemingly harsh to modern sensibilities, this act reflects God's unyielding holiness and justice. In a time when Israel was steeped in idolatry and spiritual rebellion, such a dramatic display of divine power was necessary to underscore the gravity of sin and and the need for reverence.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "children" in the KJV is na'arim (ื ึฐืขึธืจึดื™ื). This term can refer to young boys, adolescents, or even young men up to the age of military service or early adulthood. It is unlikely these were toddlers or very young children. They were likely old enough to be morally accountable for their deliberate and aggressive mockery of Elisha, forming a mob-like group.

Practical Application

While this event is unique to a specific historical and theological contextโ€”the establishment of a prophet's authority in a rebellious nationโ€”it offers timeless principles:

  • Reverence for God: It reminds us of the importance of reverence for God and His Word, and by extension, respect for those who faithfully represent Him.
  • Understanding God's Justice: It challenges us to understand that God's justice, though sometimes severe, is always righteous and serves a divine purpose, especially in establishing foundational truths or correcting widespread rebellion.
  • God Protects His Own: Believers can find assurance that God defends His servants and His truth, even when faced with ridicule or opposition, as seen in Psalm 105:15.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 13:9

    Then Saul, (who also [is called] Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

  • Acts 13:11

    And now, behold, the hand of the Lord [is] upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

  • Acts 5:5

    And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

  • Hosea 13:8

    I will meet them as a bear [that is] bereaved [of her whelps], and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

  • Acts 5:9

    Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband [are] at the door, and shall carry thee out.

  • Amos 7:17

    Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.

  • 1 Kings 13:24

    And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.
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