Q: Why Did Elisha Curse Youths for Mocking Him?
After performing a miracle in Jericho, the prophet Elisha went to Bethel. On the road, a large group of youths mocked him, chanting, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” Elisha immediately turned around and cursed them, whereupon two female bears charged out of the woods and mauled 42 of the mockers (2 Ki. 2:23–24). Why would a prophet of God curse “little children” (KJV) for an innocent comment?
First, the phrase translated “little children” in the King James Version often has a note in the margin of the text that reads, “youth,” “young man,” or “young lad.” The phrase is translated “youths” in the New King James. These were boys ranging in age from late teens to early 20s; they were not little children. The same Hebrew words are used for Isaac (Gen. 22:12), Joseph (37:2), and David (1 Sam. 16:11–12; 17:14).
Second, they were most likely a gang that had little respect for people, authority, or God’s law. They lived in an idolatrous society tainted by corruption and paganism; and had they been taught God’s law, they would have known that cursing God’s prophet was tantamount to cursing God and, therefore, punishable by death. Mocking Elisha was not an innocent, harmless, minor offense. He represented God before the people of Israel. Though Elisha cursed the youths, he left their judgment to God.
Some people may wonder why saying “Go up, you baldhead!” was wrong. It was wrong because the comment was meant as an insult to belittle the prophet. Since Elisha was completely or partially bald, some believe he was old; but this was not the case. In fact, Elisha was probably 25, just slightly older than those who mocked him. We know his approximate age by adding up the years between Elijah’s translation to heaven and Elisha’s eventual death.
The phrase go up was not speaking of Elisha going up from Bethel but, rather, was ridiculing the prophet Elijah’s ascension to heaven—a well-known event in Israel, though many doubted its veracity. Thus the young men were jeering Elisha, essentially saying, “Stop tormenting us; leave like Elijah did and get out of here.”
Elisha turned around, looked at them, and pronounced a curse from the Lord. Immediately, “two female bears came out of the woods and mauled [ripped apart] forty-two of the youths” (2 Ki. 2:24). Interestingly, Moses had warned the Israelites in the Law that God would “send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children” (Lev. 26:22) as a consequence of disobedience.
Without another word, Elisha continued on his journey to Mount Carmel and then returned to his house in Samaria (2 Ki. 2:25).
Hello,
I am still puzzled that his trip was rerouted to Mount Carmel, instead of Bethel that he was headed before the rude boys ‘got on his nerves’! I would like some more light on this.
Could it be that he was so angry that all he could do after giving the judgement was to just go away alone – instead of going into the house of God?
Thank you very much for the clarification of 2nd Kings 2: 23-24…it really make sense now to me…in Bible study….(where I was absent)…my Pastor called to tell me how awesome the study was…and where they studied from…the title she gave was ” Before You Judge”” I asked why that title?…after reading the chapter…I remembered reading it before but didn’t understand why Elisha would do such a cruel thing to the children…but as I read your explanation…now I have clarity of the two versus….again I say thank you
Great thanks 👍
Thank you man of God.
I would love to be able to do to the willfully ignorant, truth hating mockers and scoffers (everywhere today!) what Elisha did to those youths….. who fully deserved their fate! Most of these arrogant and insolent narcissistic serpents (see Genesis 3:15 and Psalm 58:3-5 about the other seedline)…just see our kindness as weakness and an opportunity to heap more abuse and bullying (persecution) onto us. The wicked love to twist that verse about “love your enemies” and “turn the other cheek” so that they can continue their abuse. And of course, that is not what Jesus meant to happen or the meaning He intended there. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 describes these wicked people and verse 5 plainly says to “Have nothing to do with them..” not to stay around turning the other cheek so they can slap you around some more.
“Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD, and detest those who rise against You? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them as my enemies.…” Psalm 139:21
Hi Lynn,
I can understand your standpoint, but in no way could we compare this dispensation of grace with the days of Elisha. Any response today from a christian to similar situation like Elisha did would mean that whenever any of us believers miss the mark slightly today, then ‘the law’ must be applied to us – and you agree with me that that’s not what the gospel says. So, while I could resonate with all the opinions already given, we cart ignore the difference in dispensation!
One question on my mind is why the bible didn’t say he continued his journey to Bethel, as indicated before the encounter with the rude youth group; but bible say he went to Mount Carmel🤷♀️?
Thank you for this important and useful explanation of this passage.
Great to be back in touch with you guys again!! God did the work as He pleases, Elisha just spoke the words. I have to share this at midweek study!!!
God grant you endurance in sharing the truth I’ve been reading for thirty years from your magazine. Also peace and grace with the critics!
Thank you for the clarity, although this story still bothers me. How do we reconcile this with what Jesus taught. Jesus said “For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” If we then are greater than John who according to Jesus is greater than Elisha, why are we instructed to …. Jesus teaches us that we are to love even our enemies. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ‘ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven”? We are not to curse or retaliate.
Thank you! James
James,
I wonder if, in addition to the youths mocking God via Elisha, what God did with the bears was to protect Elisha. Elisha was overwhelmingly outnumbered. I believe the taunting may have escalated to physical assault and murder of Elisha.
Regards…
Good point
In the days of King James, mockery often included physical violence, whether by open-handed slaps, beard pulling or the throwing of stones and other projectiles.
Hi James,
As David has mentioned, the society was tainted by idolatry and paganism. Elisha had literally just taken over from Elijah, and this situation came upon him.
Had Elisha allowed the mockery to pass unnoticed, he would have continued to be ridiculed and reviled by the rabble, and his mission to instruct and save in a time of grave national peril might have been defeated. This one instance of terrible severity was sufficient to command respect throughout his life. For fifty years he went in and out of the gate of Bethel, and to and fro in the land, from city to city, passing through crowds of idle, rude, dissolute youth; but none mocked him or made light of his qualifications as the prophet of the Most High.
This was also the Old Testament times when disobedience to the law had consequences especially one for mocking God as He said that He will Not be mocked.
Wondered about that event. You brought clarity to it along with a warning to those who would mock the things of God.
Thank you.
These so called little children could also represent spirits, principalities that were challenging Elisha’s ordination and the authenticity of his prophetic Ministry which had just begun. In this area, idolatry was rampant, so the departure of Elijah was celebration to them and the coming of Elisha was shortened their celebrations. This is what I feel, today I was walking and praying, then this verse came to me, and this is how I prayed, any spirit that challenges what God has put in me is cursed, so thus is where my revelation has come from. blessings.