2 Kings 2 24

2 Kings 2:24 kjv

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.

2 Kings 2:24 nkjv

So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the LORD. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.

2 Kings 2:24 niv

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

2 Kings 2:24 esv

And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys.

2 Kings 2:24 nlt

Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.

2 Kings 2 verses

2 Kings 2 24 Meaning

This verse describes a divine judgment enacted through the prophet Elisha. As Elisha traveled to Bethel, he was mocked by a group of youths, likely young men, who disparagingly told him to "Go up, baldhead!", a clear insult directed at his appearance and, more significantly, at the ascension of Elijah (implying Elisha should ascend too, or was a fraud). Elisha turned, looked at them, and pronounced a curse upon them in the authoritative name of the LORD. Immediately, two female bears emerged from the nearby woods and attacked the group, fatally mauling forty-two of them. This event powerfully validated Elisha's prophetic authority and underscored the grave consequences of mocking God's messenger and, by extension, God Himself.

2 Kings 2 24 Context

This event occurs immediately after Elisha's anointing as Elijah's successor, having witnessed Elijah's ascension and received his mantle. It follows Elisha's initial miracles: dividing the Jordan River (2 Kgs 2:14) and purifying the bitter waters of Jericho (2 Kgs 2:19-22). Elisha is on his way to Bethel, a historically significant but spiritually corrupted city. Though once a place where Jacob encountered God (Gen 28), Bethel became a major center for idol worship and the golden calf cult initiated by King Jeroboam (1 Kgs 12:28-30). Therefore, the contemptuous youths from Bethel were not merely insulting a passing stranger; they were ridiculing a prophet of the LORD in a city steeped in apostasy, essentially challenging the authority and presence of the true God in their midst. This incident serves to forcefully establish Elisha's prophetic authority in Israel, much like Elijah's dramatic encounters did, and to demonstrate God's swift judgment against flagrant disrespect toward His holy person and His designated representative.

2 Kings 2 24 Word analysis

• "And he turned back": wayyīpen (וַיִּפֶן). This indicates a deliberate action by Elisha, not a panicked reaction. He chose to acknowledge the mockery and respond to it directly, facing his adversaries. It suggests a moment of contemplation and resolve before invoking divine judgment.
• "and looked at them": wayyir'ēm (וַיַּרְאֵם). This is more than a glance; it signifies Elisha fully taking in their behavior and intent. This personal encounter sets the stage for a divinely ordained consequence rather than a mere outburst of anger.
• "and pronounced a curse on them": wayqallelēm (וַיְקַלְלֵם) from the root qalal (קָלַל), meaning "to be light," and in the Piel stem, "to treat lightly, revile, curse." This action is not driven by Elisha's personal vengeance but as an instrument of God's will. Cursing here means invoking a divine judgment or expressing God's strong disapproval with consequences. It parallels the curse against the unproductive fig tree (Mk 11:12-25) in Jesus' ministry.
• "in the name of the LORD": bəšem YHWH (בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה). This is the crucial element. It emphasizes that Elisha was not acting on his own authority or out of personal vindictiveness but as a direct agent of the Most High God, Yahweh. It highlights the divine source and validation of the curse. This phrase establishes that the subsequent events were an act of divine judgment, demonstrating God's ownership and defense of His prophetic office.
• "And two female bears": uštê dabbôt (וּשְׁתֵּי דֻּבּוֹת). The term dabbôt specifically means "she-bears." Female bears are known to be particularly aggressive, especially if they perceive a threat to cubs (though none are mentioned here, it indicates an especially dangerous creature). The specificity of "two" points to a direct, supernatural intervention rather than a chance encounter. Bears were rare but present in wooded areas of ancient Israel, but their appearance on demand indicates divine agency.
• "came out of the woods": min-hayya‘ar (מִן הַיַּעַר). The woods surrounding Bethel were sparse, making the sudden appearance of these predators miraculous. This detail reinforces the supernatural nature of the event—God literally "called" them forth from their hidden places as instruments of His judgment.
• "and mauled": wattebaqqe‘nāh (וַתְּבַקַּעְנָה) from bāqa‘ (בָּקַע), which means "to cleave, tear open, split, rend apart." This verb suggests a violent and destructive act, confirming the lethal nature of the attack, not just a scare. The intent was clearly fatal and punitive.
• "forty-two of them": arba‘îm uštayim (אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁתַּיִם). The specific number confirms the widespread and impactful nature of the judgment. This was not an isolated incident concerning a few individuals but a significant segment of the mocking group, underscoring the severity of their collective offense.
• "Youths": Though not directly in verse 24, it's implied from verse 23: na‘arîm qəṭannîm (נְעָרִים קְטַנִּים) meaning "young men" or "lads." Na‘ar can refer to anyone from childhood to early adulthood, even up to 40 years old in some contexts (e.g., Joseph was called na‘ar at 17, and later as Pharaoh's official). Given their hostile behavior and numbers, they were likely older, unruly, perhaps organized "gang" of young men from Bethel, challenging a prophet in broad daylight, not small children. Their mocking cry "Go up, baldhead!" was not mere childish mischief but profound disrespect for Elisha's physical appearance and, critically, a scornful challenge to his claim of prophetic authority, especially in light of Elijah's recent ascension. The "baldhead" slur could signify impurity (as a leper might be) or simply disdain for his looks compared to the imposing Elijah.

2 Kings 2 24 Bonus section

• Theological Purpose: Beyond just an act of punishment, this incident served as a powerful sign that YHWH was with Elisha, just as He had been with Elijah. It established Elisha's credentials in a society that continually challenged prophetic authority and veered towards idolatry. This kind of judgment, while shocking, aimed to instill reverence for God's message and His messengers in a hardened nation.
• Location Significance: Bethel (literally "House of God") was the very place where Jacob had encountered God. Yet, by this time, it had become infamous for Jeroboam's golden calf cult. The divine judgment occurring here against those who mocked God's prophet highlighted the perversion of what was once a sacred place and God's readiness to cleanse it through judgment.
• Contrast with New Testament: While this account appears harsh by modern sensibilities, it illustrates God's dealing with a nation under the Mosaic Covenant, where immediate and tangible consequences were sometimes necessary to affirm His presence and laws amidst widespread apostasy. In the New Testament, while spiritual judgments persist (e.g., Acts 5:1-11), physical judgments for mocking messengers are less common, replaced more often by the spiritual judgment of unbelief. However, the underlying principle of the gravity of rejecting Christ and His word remains (Luke 10:16).

2 Kings 2 24 Commentary

2 Kings 2:24 records a striking demonstration of God's sovereign authority and His defense of His appointed messengers. This seemingly harsh incident must be understood within its theological and historical context. Elisha had just received the prophetic mantle, and his legitimacy needed divine authentication. The "youths" from Bethel, a stronghold of idolatry, mocked Elisha not as an individual but as "the baldhead" and effectively told him to "go up," echoing and scornfully dismissing Elijah's recent ascension and, by extension, God's act. This was an affront to the divine office and to YHWH Himself. Elisha's curse, "in the name of the LORD," made the subsequent judgment unequivocally God's action. The sudden appearance of bears, a rare and miraculous event, validated Elisha as a true prophet. The judgment on 42 youths highlighted that rejecting God's prophet has severe, tangible consequences, serving as a powerful deterrent against future contempt and establishing the gravity of defying divine authority. This incident echoes other swift judgments in the Old Testament for irreverence and rebellion, emphasizing that while God is merciful, He is also righteous and holy, and His name is not to be trifled with.