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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Why God killed boys for teasing Elisha | 2 Kings | Scholarly Beau | 195930 | ||
Bible Questions Question 1: 2 Kings 2:23-26 This Story depicts Elisha acting very rashly; it also incurs divine intervention on behalf of Elisha for at surface level a very minor offense. Please if you can explain how a God of love and Peace. A God of Righteousness and Justice would condemn 42 youths Children to death based upon Childish teasing… The following is what I have found upon this subject through study of 17 translations of Scripture. Please review before making an answer The NIV and several other translations listed here are Neutral as to the age of the Lads, Youth, Boys Taunting Elisha Other Neutral versions include: 1. New Living Translation depicts Boys no age 2. Contemporary English Version Boys No age 3. New King James Youths No age 4. New Century Version No age Neutral NIV Text: 2 Kings 2:23-26 23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. "Go on up, you baldhead!" they said. "Go on up, you baldhead!" 24 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 youths. 25 And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria. Thoughts What is the Age of a Youth? If two bears Mauled 42 of the Youths How many were there to begin with? What were 50 possible "youths" doing taunting a Prophet ------------------------------------- Further Investigation ------------------------------------- Some Translations Indicate Children: The message reads: 2 Kings 2:23-26 Note in this translation there are little kids. Also note the change to exclamation at the end of the sentence. Is this the translation or the Writer? 23 Another time, Elisha was on his way to Bethel and some little kids came out from the town and taunted him, "What's up, old baldhead! Out of our way, skinhead!" 24 Elisha turned, took one look at them, and cursed them in the name of God. Two bears charged out of the underbrush and knocked them about, ripping them limb from limb—forty-two children in all! Other Translations that indicate little children: 1. King James Little Children 2. English Standard version Small boys 3. 21st Century King James Little Children 4. Young’s Literal Translation Little Youths 5. Darby Translation Little Boys 6. New Life version Young boys 7. Holman Christian Bible Small boys ------------------------------------- Further Investigation ------------------------------------- Some Translations Indicate Teens or Young Men The Amplified Bible Reads: 2 Kings 2:23-26 Note they are Maturing and accountable. Note also the lack of exclamation used in this case 23He went up from Jericho to Bethel. On the way, ayoung [maturing and accountable boys came out of the city and mocked him and said to him, Go up in a whirlwind, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead! 24And he turned around and looked at them and called a curse down on them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and ripped up forty-two of the boys. Other Translations that indicate Young men 1. American Standard Version Young Lads 2. New American Standard Young Lads 3. New international Readers version Young Fellows -------------------------------------- Whether the boys in question are little boys or maturing men is in need of clarification. Why so many boys? Were they just making fun? Further the prophet cursed them but the prophet didn’t control the bears. This suggests Divine Intervention. Let me know your thoughts please. |
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2 | Why God killed boys for teasing Elisha | 2 Kings | Val | 195951 | ||
A study of the prophet Elijah will give you great insight into what the spiritual climate was at this time. Elisha was chosen by God to be His prophet to succede Elijah. The timing was also important as it was close to this transition of prophets that this incident occurred. When the youths, as someone has already stated they were not minors as we consider children in our day and time, but they were young adults, when they began to mock Elisha they were challenging his authority and role as God's prophet. We must also consider that God sees people's hearts. This is something you and I nor any other human can see. When these young adults were mocking Elisha they were treading on thin ice. They were not only mocking Elisha but Elisha's God. They were undermining his authority as God's prophet. They brought judgment upon themselves in their attitudes and actions. Obviously it was a serious offense that brought them immediate judgment. | ||||||
3 | Why God killed boys for teasing Elisha | 2 Kings | DocTrinsograce | 195961 | ||
Dear Val, That's a good answer! John Gill, commenting on this passage, writes "The word for 'children' is used of persons of thirty or forty years of age; and though these are said to be 'little', they were so well grown as to be able to go forth out of the city of themselves, without any to guide them, or to take care of them; and were of an age capable not only of taking notice of Elijah's baldness, but knew him to be a prophet, and were able to distinguish between good and evil; and, from a malignant spirit in them, mocked at him as such, and at the assumption of Elijah; which they had knowledge of, and to whom, taught by their idolatrous parents, they had an aversion." There have been other instances of God's prompt reaction in judgment against those who stood against the Word of the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-2; Numbers 16:30; Acts 5:5-10; 13:11). At other times He forebears for His own purposes (Romans 9:22). As He tells us Himself, God will never excuse the guilty (Exodus 34:7). His judgment is always righteous (Romans 3:4-5), universal (Revelation 20:13), and inevitable (2 Timothy 4:1). In Him, Doc |
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4 | Why God killed boys for teasing Elisha | 2 Kings | Val | 195964 | ||
Thank you. I particularly enjoyed studying the miracles God performed through Elisha. It was a very interesting period of time. An amazing verse is 2 Kin 13:21 As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet. Pretty remarkable isn't it. |
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5 | Why God killed boys for teasing Elisha | 2 Kings | DocTrinsograce | 195965 | ||
Yes, that is particularly remarkable. I've frequently pondered that event. The Romanists use it to justify the spiritual efficacy of relics. Of course, that's the kind of problem people run into when using narrative to build doctrine. Yet, I think the point was that the Lord was confirming His power -- not Elisha's -- to Joash, per the further record in verses 22 through 25. I wonder what effect this all had on the band of Moabites? :-) |
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6 | Why God killed boys for teasing Elisha | 2 Kings | Val | 195969 | ||
Yes I think so too. Also look at 2 Kin 13:14 When Elisha became sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over him and said, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" . What do you make of this verse? A few people in my SS class (at the time)who believed in the health and wealth sort of thing were bewildered that Elisha got sick and die. Anyway his interaction with Joash in verses 13-19 regarding the arrows and striking the ground were an interesting part of the story. Do you think that was a prophecy of future events or was he testing Joash's faith? Looking on down in 2 Kin 13:25 Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken in war from the hand of Jehoahaz his father. Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel. |
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7 | Why God killed boys for teasing Elisha | 2 Kings | azurelaw | 195972 | ||
Dear Val, Excuse me for buting in. I believe brother Doc will have a better answer. However, may I humbly offer my understanding as to Joash's crying over Elisha fatal illness. I believe Joash had been made known by his forefathers about Elisha in connection with the heavenly chariots and horsemen (2 King 6:17 when the King of Aram warred against Israel and God brought victory to Israel with His chariots and horsemen). Thus Joash regarded Elisha as the protection of Israel (v 5). This also shows that Joash relied on man not God. Both he and his father Jehoahaz did evil in the sight of the LORD (2 Kin 13:2, 13), but Jehoahaz at least did seek God's protection directly (v 4) while there was no mention about Joash of the same attitude. It is also interesting to see Joash cried out the same as what Elisha did when Elijah was taken away from him by God. (2 King 2:12). Just my 2 cents worth. Shalom Azure |
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