Subject: Why God killed boys for teasing Elisha |
Bible Note: 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 |