Did God send bears to maul children because they made fun of a bald man? - Podcast Episode 215
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- Is 2 Kings 2:23-24 really about God sending bears to maul children because they were making fun of Elisha for being bald? What is actually happening in the passage and why did it warrant such a severe judgment on the young men (not children)?
Links:
Why did the Prophet Elisha curse the “youths” for making fun of his baldness (2 Kings 2:23-24)? - www.gotquestio...
Who was Elisha in the Bible? - www.gotquestio...
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2 Kings 2:23-24 describes an incident where the prophet Elisha is mocked by a group of boys who taunt him by calling him "baldy." Elisha responds by cursing them in the name of the Lord, which results in two bears coming out of the woods and mauling forty-two of the boys. To understand this passage, it's crucial to consider the historical and cultural context of ancient Israel.
In this context, prophets were seen as God's direct representatives. Disrespecting a prophet was considered a severe offense because it was viewed as an affront to God Himself. The boys’ mocking of Elisha was not just a casual insult but a significant act of disrespect towards a divinely appointed leader.
Elisha’s curse and the subsequent attack by the bears serve as a dramatic and severe demonstration of the seriousness with which God viewed this disrespect. The extreme nature of the punishment underscores the importance of respecting God's authority and His messengers. This incident was intended as a stark warning to the community about the consequences of irreverence and the necessity of upholding respect for divine authority.
While the story may seem harsh from a contemporary perspective, it illustrates the broader biblical theme of reverence for God and His chosen representatives. It also demonstrates God's protection over His prophets, ensuring they were respected and that their divine mission was taken seriously by the people.
I struggled with this verse as well as a stumbling block when I was seeking to learn more about Christianity, and I often used it as a reason to discredit the Bible. But then I realized I was wrong... 1. Some scholars argue that the severity of the punishment implies that the taunt was more than mere childish ridicule, possibly hinting at deeper societal or religious conflicts of the time. 2. Elisha didn't do it himself, all he did was declare God's judgement on them; so God is the one who saw it fit to kill them so gruesomely after Elisha brought them to trial basically... God knows the hearts of men, so these young men were charged with the same severity that was in their heart (or based on their past murderous sins). 3. One has to understand the magnitude of the perceived threat by the group of boys, since it was more than 40+, so a “mob mentality” was clearly evident here, which could easily lead to violence from arrogant teenagers full of naive testosterone, especially during an unruly time like Elisha's day where barbaric societal norms were nothing like modern civilization (we see how high school and college students stir up violent protests today). Plus, and more importantly, 4. this is an indirect violent rejection of God, since Elisha represented God’s presence in those days in that time, so these foolish boys were technically laughing, mocking and threatening God.
I love how us humans look at an Omniscient God through a lense with finite light.
Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
[8] “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. [9] “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
That is a lot of 'may haves'and 'possibilities' in your explanations. And while the text does not clarify, I think it would be wiser to go with, God is not unfair and does not judge without cause. It would be more reasonable and straight on truth to say that this group of men had a lot deeper wicked hearts than the mocking this prophet. And God in his sovereignty, chooses this moment to judge them.
I agree all of us can be part of the 42.....HIS Grace and Mercy. Our righteousness is like filthy rags who can stand
I never really struggled with theses verses. God can do what he wants and it dont matter the age of the boys. I looked at alot of translations. It seemed like they could have been around 10-12 considering at 13 they wouldnt have been considered kids. Thats my thoughts.
I understand they were teenagers and mocking someone especially someone like a very anointed prophet is a no no.
It is also revealing that Elisha was a prophet of God for the power of God was with him, and they were not teenagers they were young men, it is the same with Elijah when the captain and the 50 came to him the first two were destroyed by fire for the captains had disrespected Elijah, and commanded that he would go with them but Elijah serves God and not man, the third one gave Reverence honour and respect to Elijah for the captain kneeled before Elijah, god accepted this and Elijah went with him, it is also written, by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned, because it is not the words but the spirit behind the word for God judges the hearts of men, it is the same with those who came to Peter who lied to him Peter said, you are not talking to men you are talking to God, these were powerful men of the Lord God.
I read commentary that said similar Hebrew words that literally imply small children have been used to describe king Solomon who was thought to be at least fifteen to twenty, 1 Kings 3:7, Ishmael when eighteen years old Genesis 21:14,15, and Rehoboam when forty-one years old 2 Chronicles 13:7.
Pray for Israel and stand with her 🇮🇱
And for the peace of Jerusalem 🕎
Shema Yis-raw-el 🇮🇱 Yahowa' Eloheenu Echad' Yahowa' ✝️📖📝
Blessed Israel 🇮🇱 🙌
I pray for all humanity.
God did say to pray for Israel & her ppl & if you do, God will bless you. I obey God & I do pray for Israel & her ppl🙏🤲🕊✝️😇❤ of course, I pray for everyone, but God specifically did say to pray more prayers for Israel🕊🌿
@@janethompson2305 Exactly
Christ is Lord! ☦
The words is really "young men". And we know how even the very young can by psychopaths. This is a vague enough passage as it is.
Thank You!!🙏🏽💜🙏🏽
Thanks gentlemen, great Bible study. If people would only remember God's characteristics and who He is, they would not doubt or question what he does?
lol summon bear spell.
An eye for an eye is the old testament law! Unless these young children were able to call down 2 bears to threaten to kill Alisha, then Alisha couldn't call 2 bears to mull (Being mauled by a bear can be a traumatic experience, with the bear's fangs and claws causing deep wounds, bone fractures, and torn flesh. Some say it feels like being bitten by a large badger, while others describe the force of a bite as like a sledgehammer.) By the law of the old testament, this should have never taken place!
I read the bible and sometimes i'm in awe. We see God has his chosen people And when they continued to disobey God..he sent warnings by His Prophets. He wanted them to REPENT OR HIS WRATH CAME DOWN. HOWEVER, God in his Grace & Mercy then blessed them as they came back to him! Over & Over Again. He also told the children of Israel to go in and occupy the land he promised them. THEY WENT INTO THE HEATHEN / GODLESS NATIONS destroy Every Living Thing. God created man for himself. He says, " If you Love ❤️ me you will Keep my commands. God is Love. But Just & will send his wrath. Like the Flood in Noah's time. He ultimately loves us, but there is his COMMANDMENTS. He gave JESUS to offer SALVATION TO ALL MANKIND.
Basically yup! I know the story well
Stop twisting the Word of God to suit your carnal cultural values
Threatening is worse than mocking. Why would the author choose to write down "mock" instead of "treat"? It's so annoying when apologetics try to justify a horrible act. The god of the Old Testament killed so many innocent women and children. God sent an angel to kill all first borns. Why is it so hard to see God killing kids with bears?
Yes
God judged. Pretty simple there at least able to be accountable for there actions
This passage in question is two verses long, and these three men decide to add as much as possible to those two verses to make the boys look as hostile as possible. The two verses don't say anything other than they were boys and they mocked him because he was bald. One of the speakers insists on calling them "young men" when the KJV says "children," the NIV says "boys," and I'm not about to go into the Hebrew. Apologists love lying about the Bible when it looks bad.
"and I'm not about to go into the Hebrew. "
LOL! Of course not. That would make your nonsense crumble.
"Apologists love lying about the Bible when it looks bad."
Christ mockers love lying about the Bible when it makes their mockery look bad.
Just like these mockers were judged, you will also one day come before Christ to give account for your Christ mocking. Repent, while He still grants you breath to do so.
@@Yesica1993 Yikes. That's kinda harsh. Don't forget Ephesians 4:32
@@traciehanley-jacobs252 "Yikes", nothing. God has the right to judge. And what on earth does that verse have to do with God's judgment?
I have always thought there was more to this story to be honest. However I do have one thing. It never actually says that God sent those bears. The verse says he cursed them in the name of the lord and two bears came out and attacked them. Maybe I am just quibbling, but I always thought it was interesting that the bible never specifically says God directly took this action.
Maybe they were 30 and 40 year old men and the Scriptures were insulting their maturity, as they deserved. You can look around you to see more than a few men of that age do act more like boys. You have never heard an 80 year old parent refer to their 60 year old children as "My babies"? How do you know Elisha called down the curse more because of the "you baldhead" part of their statement rather than the "Go up" part? Were they mocking Elisha or mocking God? How does one mock a God one does not believe exists? By mocking the prophet.
It's amazing to me how people rationalize this horrible story of mutilating children! No matter how brutal God must never be questioned. Would you be so accommodating if it was your children being mauled for a simple indiscretion? Incredible!!
Your comment is a lil all over the place. Were you mocking the comments of others? Did you mean to put quotes around the “nomatter how brutal” part, or are those your own words? Either way, if you start from an understanding of God is always in control and work backward, you (or someone else who is jumping to conclusions) can calmly come to realize thru research what everyone else is pointing out about some translations being sketchy, and God never doing such things elsewhere in the bible either. Like promoting polygamy or slavery 🤦♀️
PS we are literally prepped for God’s “brutality” with the story of Abraham who was told to kill his own child. And Christ’s admonition to “hate” our family if that’s what it takes to follow Him.