2Ki 2:23 | KingComments | STEP | Elisha’s service was not only one of grace. Three times he also judged: here about mocking boys, later about Gehazi ( ) and then about the officer of the king ( ). After the Jordan and Jericho, the cursed city, Elisha set off for Bethel, which means ‘house of God’. At the place of the curse, blessing was brought. In connection with the house of God, judgment is brought. Elisha went on his way to Bethel, but he didn’t get there. After his meeting with and judgment of the mocking boys, he went to Carmel. The boys from Bethel had no respect for a servant of God. Such young people will not grow spiritually, but die. If young people have no respect for those who do God’s work, the bears will make short work of them. We may ask ourselves what kind of young people our own local church produces. The local church can be seen as a reflection of the house of God. These “young lads” are not innocent little children. We would estimate them to be around fifteen years old. They know what they say; they demonstrate without doubt, their contempt for the truth. Their appreciation of the truth is according to what became of Bethel: the place where the golden calf stands and the Baal is worshipped. Thus Bethel has become a town where God has no place. “Baldhead” was a swearword and a judgment. It spoke of uncleanness (cf. ). By calling Elisha to “go up”, they mocked the ascension of Elijah. They scolded Elisha, not wanting him in their town. They wanted him to leave. They can be compared to the mockers of the end time in which we live ( ). The ascension of the Lord Jesus has been scornfully dismissed. There is no belief in His ascension and even less in His return to earth. Elisha pronounced judgment. He did so “in the Name of the LORD”. Thus will come the judgment of the unbelieving mockers. Young people from Christian families, so to speak from ‘Bethel’, will be torn apart by ferocious and cruel female bears. David was compared to a bear who was robbed of young ( ; ; ). These female bears tore apart the boys who had no respect for life, for something that came from God. After this event, Elisha went to Carmel. At Carmel, Elijah’s service has reached a climax. There, Elisha will have thought about Elijah’s service. Then he travelled to Samaria, where Jehoram, the king of Israel lives.

‏ 2 Kings 2:23

Judgment on Mocking Boys

Elisha’s service was not only one of grace. Three times he also judged: here about mocking boys, later about Gehazi (2Kgs 5:21-27) and then about the officer of the king (2Kgs 7:1-2 ; 17-20). After the Jordan and Jericho, the cursed city, Elisha set off for Bethel, which means ‘house of God’. At the place of the curse, blessing was brought. In connection with the house of God, judgment is brought.

Elisha went on his way to Bethel, but he didn’t get there. After his meeting with and judgment of the mocking boys, he went to Carmel. The boys from Bethel had no respect for a servant of God. Such young people will not grow spiritually, but die. If young people have no respect for those who do God’s work, the bears will make short work of them. We may ask ourselves what kind of young people our own local church produces. The local church can be seen as a reflection of the house of God.

These “young lads” are not innocent little children. We would estimate them to be around fifteen years old. They know what they say; they demonstrate without doubt, their contempt for the truth. Their appreciation of the truth is according to what became of Bethel: the place where the golden calf stands and the Baal is worshipped. Thus Bethel has become a town where God has no place.

“Baldhead” was a swearword and a judgment. It spoke of uncleanness (cf. Lev 13:40-44). By calling Elisha to “go up”, they mocked the ascension of Elijah. They scolded Elisha, not wanting him in their town. They wanted him to leave. They can be compared to the mockers of the end time in which we live (2Pet 3:3-4). The ascension of the Lord Jesus has been scornfully dismissed. There is no belief in His ascension and even less in His return to earth.

Elisha pronounced judgment. He did so “in the Name of the LORD”. Thus will come the judgment of the unbelieving mockers. Young people from Christian families, so to speak from ‘Bethel’, will be torn apart by ferocious and cruel female bears. David was compared to a bear who was robbed of young (2Sam 17:8; Pro 17:12; Hos 13:8). These female bears tore apart the boys who had no respect for life, for something that came from God.

After this event, Elisha went to Carmel. At Carmel, Elijah’s service has reached a climax. There, Elisha will have thought about Elijah’s service. Then he travelled to Samaria, where Jehoram, the king of Israel lives.