The Mauling at Bethel
Elisha and the Two Bears
After youths mock the prophet Elisha and his God, two female bears emerge from the woods and maul forty-two of them
This difficult passage demonstrates the seriousness of mocking God's anointed prophets and rejecting His word. The youths were not innocent children but young men (the Hebrew 'na'ar' can refer to those in their teens to thirties) from Bethel, a center of idolatrous calf worship. Their mockery of 'go up, bald head' was a taunt referencing Elijah's ascension, essentially telling Elisha to die like his master. This judgment established Elisha's prophetic authority at the start of his ministry and warned Israel that rejecting God's messengers brought serious consequences. The event must be understood in its ancient Near Eastern context where prophets represented God's very presence and authority.
“Elisha travels from Jericho to Bethel”
— 2 Kings 2:23
“Youths come out and mock Elisha”
— 2 Kings 2:23
“Elisha turns and curses them”
— 2 Kings 2:24
“Two bears maul forty-two youths”
— 2 Kings 2:24
“Elisha continues to Mount Carmel and Samaria”
— 2 Kings 2:25
Elijah's Ascension
Elisha has just witnessed Elijah taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire, receiving his mantle and double portion of his spirit
Healing of Jericho's Waters
Elisha's first miracle - purifying the poisonous spring at Jericho, establishing his prophetic credentials
Journey to Bethel
Elisha travels up from Jericho toward Bethel, a significant location as a center of Israel's idolatrous calf worship
The Mockery
A group of young men come out from the city and begin mocking Elisha: 'Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!'
Elisha's Curse
Elisha turns, looks at them, and pronounces a curse on them in the name of the LORD
Divine Judgment
Two female bears come out of the woods and maul forty-two of the youths
Continuation of Ministry
Elisha continues on to Mount Carmel and then to Samaria, his authority now firmly established
Baldness
2 Kings 2:23Possibly a sign of prophetic dedication (like Nazirites) or simply physical appearance; the mockery attacked both the man and his calling
'Go Up'
2 Kings 2:23A taunt referencing Elijah's ascension - essentially telling Elisha to die or disappear like his master, rejecting his prophetic succession
Bethel
2 Kings 2:23'House of God' - ironically had become a center of golden calf worship under Jeroboam, representing Israel's spiritual corruption
Two Bears
2 Kings 2:24; Hosea 13:8Instruments of divine judgment; bears were associated with fierce maternal protection and God's wrath in prophetic literature
Forty-Two
2 Kings 2:24A significant number in Scripture often associated with judgment and trial; 42 camps in wilderness, 42 months of tribulation
The Curse
2 Kings 2:24Not personal revenge but prophetic pronouncement of God's judgment on those who reject His messenger and message
Elisha
2 Kings 2:9-15, 23-25Newly commissioned prophet of Israel, successor to Elijah with a double portion of his spirit
The Youths (Na'arim)
2 Kings 2:23-24Young men from idolatrous Bethel who mocked God's prophet; Hebrew suggests teens to young adults, not small children
Two Female Bears
2 Kings 2:24Instruments of divine judgment emerging from the woods
People of Bethel
2 Kings 2:23; 1 Kings 12:28-33The city known for calf worship, whose youth reflected the community's rejection of true prophets
This challenging passage illustrates several important biblical principles: (1) Mocking God's prophets is equivalent to mocking God Himself - throughout Scripture, those who reject God's messengers face judgment (2 Chronicles 36:16); (2) The beginning of a prophet's ministry required divine validation of his authority, much as Moses' authority was established through signs; (3) The corruption of Bethel, established by Jeroboam as a rival to Jerusalem's temple with golden calf worship, had produced a generation hostile to true prophets; (4) The Hebrew word 'na'ar' describes young men old enough to be held accountable, not innocent toddlers as sometimes imagined; (5) This judgment, while severe, must be understood in the context of a covenant community in open rebellion against God, where the prophetic office was the final line of communication between God and His people. The event warned Israel that continuing to reject God's word through His prophets would bring increasingly severe consequences - ultimately fulfilled in the exile.
Na'ar (נַעַר)
na'ar
Youth, young man - used for Joseph at 17, soldiers, and servants; indicates young men, not small children
Qatan (קָטָן)
qatan
Small, young - modifies na'ar here, suggesting younger end of the range but still accountable youth
Qalach (קָלַח)
qalach
To be bald, have a bare head - used mockingly, possibly attacking his prophetic status
Alah (עָלָה)
alah
Go up, ascend - the same word used for Elijah's ascension, making the mockery a direct attack on the prophetic succession
Qalal (קָלַל)
qalal
To curse, make light of - Elisha's pronouncement of judgment, not personal anger but prophetic declaration
Dob (דֹּב)
dob
Bear - specifically female bears (she-bears), known for fierce protectiveness; used in prophetic judgment imagery
Interpretation Notes
Understanding the Hebrew terminology is crucial for properly interpreting this passage. The 'na'arim qetannim' (young lads) were not toddlers but young men - the same term describes Joseph at 17 and military servants. Their organized mockery from Bethel, a center of idolatry, represented the city's institutional rejection of Yahweh's prophets. The phrase 'go up' (alah) directly mocked Elijah's ascension and challenged whether Elisha truly had prophetic authority. Elisha's curse was not personal revenge but a prophetic act establishing divine authority at the start of his ministry, similar to Moses' signs before Pharaoh.