2 Kings 2 23

2 Kings 2:23 kjv

And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

2 Kings 2:23 nkjv

Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!"

2 Kings 2:23 niv

From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. "Get out of here, baldy!" they said. "Get out of here, baldy!"

2 Kings 2:23 esv

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 up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!"

2 Kings 2:23 nlt

Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. "Go away, baldy!" they chanted. "Go away, baldy!"

2 Kings 2 verses

2 Kings 2 23 Meaning

The verse recounts Elisha's journey from Jericho to Bethel where he was met by a group of youths who emerged from the city and mocked him. They repeatedly insulted him by saying, "Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!" This direct challenge to Elisha, and by extension to the God he represented, led to a divine judgment executed through two she-bears, who mauled forty-two of the young men. This incident immediately followed Elisha's succession to Elijah's prophetic mantle and served as a powerful validation of his divine authority in Israel, demonstrating that the Lord God still worked through His prophets and would not tolerate open contempt for His Anointed.

2 Kings 2 23 Context

This incident occurs immediately after Elisha has received Elijah's mantle and spirit, signifying his prophetic succession. Having just seen Elijah ascend into heaven and demonstrated his own authority by dividing the Jordan River and healing the waters of Jericho (2 Kgs 2:13-22), Elisha travels to Bethel. Bethel was a deeply significant place, originally known as Beth-El, "House of God" (Gen 28:19). However, since Jeroboam's time, it had become a center for idol worship, specifically the golden calf, established as a religious alternative to Jerusalem (1 Kgs 12:28-29). The "sons of the prophets" were present there (2 Kgs 2:3), but the city's inhabitants, particularly these youths, clearly demonstrated spiritual hostility towards a true prophet of YHWH. The mockery Elisha faced was not merely an innocent prank; it was a deliberate challenge to his authority, mirroring Bethel's rejection of legitimate worship, and thereby a direct affront to the Lord God Himself. This event served as a stark public declaration of Elisha's legitimacy as God's prophet and the seriousness of defying divine authority, especially in a city steeped in apostasy.

Word Analysis

• Then he went up from there to Bethel: Elisha's itinerary follows the geographical and spiritual movement from Jericho (recently healed, potentially receptive) to Bethel, a central site of apostasy and rival worship in the northern kingdom. "Went up" indicates an uphill journey to the mountainous region where Bethel was located.
• As he was going up the road: Signifies Elisha's direct travel towards Bethel, emphasizing the encounter was not sought by him but was a confrontational ambush by the youths.
• some small boys (נְעָרִים קְטַנִּים - nĕ'arîm qeṭannîm): While qeṭannîm means 'small' or 'young,' the term nĕ'arîm (youths/lads) often refers to young men, teenagers, or even servants and soldiers (e.g., Gen 14:24, Judg 8:14, 1 Kgs 20:14). Given their ability to organize, verbally accost a prophet, and face divine judgment, they were likely not toddlers or very young children but rather defiant, mocking adolescents or young men, possibly indoctrinated in Bethel's idolatry. The emphasis is on their being "many," indicating a crowd and a concerted effort to intimidate.
• came out of the city and mocked him (וַיְקַלְּסוּ - vayiqallĕsū): The verb qalash means 'to scorn, deride, scoff, mock.' This was not an innocent childish tease but a deliberate act of public contempt, reflecting the general disdain for true Yahweh worship prevalent in Bethel. Coming "out of the city" suggests they specifically left Bethel to confront Elisha.
• saying to him: Indicates a direct and intentional verbal assault.
• “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”:
  • “Go up” (עֲלֵה - ‘alēh): This imperative, repeated for emphasis, is rich with ironic and sarcastic meaning. It likely alludes to Elijah's recent ascension (2 Kgs 2:11), taunting Elisha to ascend like Elijah if he truly was a prophet, thereby questioning his legitimacy. It's a challenge to his divine connection.
  • “you baldhead” (קֵרֵחַ - qērēaḥ): This derogatory term was a grave insult. In ancient cultures, baldness could be a sign of disease, shame, mourning, or even servitude. For a prophet, physical defects were often associated with spiritual weakness or curse (cf. Lev 21:16-20). Mocking his appearance was a means of disrespecting his person and, more importantly, ridiculing his prophetic calling and thus the God who sent him. It was a severe form of public humiliation meant to undermine his authority.

2 Kings 2 23 Bonus section

• Not Innocent Children: A crucial understanding of this text hinges on the Hebrew ne'arim qeṭannim. These were not harmless, playful toddlers. The term encompasses a range from adolescent boys to young fighting men. Their organized action, aggressive mockery, and large numbers (forty-two mauled) indicate they were defiant youths who were deliberately confronting Elisha, possibly at the instigation of others in idolatrous Bethel, or simply embodying the rebellious spirit of the city.
• Defending God's Honor: The incident is less about Elisha's personal vanity over his baldness and more about the divine prerogative. The youths' mockery was directed at God's chosen messenger, therefore it was implicitly directed at God Himself. God defended His honor and established Elisha's authority as His new voice in Israel, making it clear that His prophets were to be respected, unlike the prophets of Baal or other false deities.
• Bethel's Symbolic Role: The location of Bethel is deeply symbolic. Once sacred, it had become a stronghold of idolatry under Jeroboam. The judgment enacted here foreshadowed the judgment against the northern kingdom's persistent sin and apostasy. The land itself, the bears, responded to the prophet's curse, indicating the widespread corruption of even creation in the presence of such spiritual rebellion.

2 Kings 2 23 Commentary

The incident at Bethel underscores the gravity of spiritual contempt and disrespect for God's appointed messengers. The youths' mockery, seemingly trivial on the surface, was a profound challenge to divine authority. Their taunt, "Go up, you baldhead!" was saturated with sarcasm regarding Elijah's ascension and scorn for Elisha's prophetic stature. It reflected Bethel's spiritual rebellion and idolatry, where legitimate prophecy was rejected. Elisha's response, calling on the Lord, was not an act of personal vengeance but a divine validation of his new prophetic office, demonstrating that the God who empowered Elijah also stood with Elisha. The severe judgment, administered through bears, served as a stark warning to a defiant and apostate generation in Israel, emphasizing that "God is not mocked" (Gal 6:7). It confirmed that YHWH, unlike the idols worshipped in Bethel, was a living God who actively intervened to uphold the sanctity of His word and His prophets. This incident solidified Elisha's reputation as a prophet endowed with extraordinary divine power, similar to Moses and Elijah, thereby establishing his ministry with authority.