Question 1

Who were the little children who mocked Elisha in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The words used for “little children” can also describe young men, not just small kids. These were old enough to run out of the city on their own, to recognize Elisha as a prophet, and to know what they were saying. They had heard about Elijah being taken up and used that to mock Elisha and the work of God. Their behavior seems to reflect how they had been raised in a town known for idol worship, where many people disliked God’s true prophets and taught their children the same attitude.

Question 2

What does the phrase Go up, thou bald head mean in this story?

Accepted Answer

The phrase “Go up, thou bald head” is both a personal insult and a spiritual taunt. They mocked Elisha’s baldness to shame and belittle him, but they were also likely referring to Elijah being taken up into heaven. In effect they were saying, “Go up like Elijah did, get out of here, we don’t want you.” So they were not just teasing his looks, they were making fun of God’s miracle and rejecting Elisha’s role as God’s prophet. It was open scorn of God’s work and messenger.

Question 3

Why did Elisha curse the youths in the name of the Lord?

Accepted Answer

Elisha did not curse them simply because his feelings were hurt. He spoke in the name of the Lord, acting as God’s prophet, in response to their open contempt for God and His work. Their mocking showed settled hatred for God’s truth, shaped by an environment of idol worship. By calling down a curse, Elisha was handing the situation over to God’s judgment. The bears that came out of the woods were not random, but a clear sign that God Himself answered and defended the honor of His name and His servant.

Question 4

Why did God send two she-bears to attack forty-two of the youths?

Accepted Answer

The attack by the two she-bears shows how serious their sin was. They were not just being silly; they were knowingly mocking God’s prophet and making fun of God’s miracle. This was also a sign against the whole community and the parents who had taught and encouraged this attitude. God used this sudden and frightening judgment to show that scorning Him and His word has real consequences. The number forty-two suggests there was a large group involved, not just one or two, which shows this rebellion was widespread, not a small accident.

Question 5

What does this passage teach about God’s character and justice?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows that God is patient and merciful, as seen earlier when He healed Jericho’s water, but He is also just and will not ignore open contempt. When people insult His prophet and mock His work, they are really scorning God Himself. The bears are a hard scene to read, but they underline that God takes sin seriously, even when it shows up through the young. God defends His name, His word, and His servants. His justice may seem severe to us, but it fits the deep rebellion that was behind their mockery.

Question 6

Why does this story about Elisha and the bears seem difficult to understand?

Accepted Answer

Many people struggle with this story because it involves young people and a harsh judgment. It helps to notice the setting: a city given to idol worship, a large group of youths, and deliberate mocking of God’s prophet and God’s miracle. They were not innocent toddlers but old enough to know right from wrong. The story presses home that age does not excuse open rebellion against God. Still, this passage has been read in more than one way, and some focus on their age while others stress their clear understanding and hard attitude.

Question 7

How does the judgment on the mocking youths relate to their parents and community?

Accepted Answer

The story hints that the sin was not just in the youths, but in the whole community that shaped them. Bethel was a center of idol worship, and the parents likely passed on their dislike of God’s prophets to their children. The youths’ words show they already knew about Elijah’s ascent and chose to joke about it. By judging them, God was also exposing the guilt of the adults who trained and encouraged such contempt. It is a warning that when parents teach rebellion against God, both they and their children may share in the consequences.

Question 8

How can this story about Elisha and the bears apply to life today?

Accepted Answer

This story warns us not to treat God, His word, or His servants lightly. Mocking, scoffing, and making fun of what is holy is not small in God’s eyes. It also reminds parents and leaders that the way they speak about God and His people shapes the next generation. While God may not send bears today, the passage shows He still cares deeply about respect for His name and truth. It calls us to teach children to honor God, to watch our own words, and to remember that God both shows mercy and also judges open rebellion.

2 Kings 2:23

¶ And he went up from thence unto Beth-el: 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.

Elisha Mocked

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2 Kings 2:23

¶ And he went up from thence unto Beth-el: 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.

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Elisha Mocked

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