I recently encountered a question regarding a passage of scripture. The passage is 2 kings 2. The questioner stated that this struck them as an incredibly unreasonable reaction from Elishah. This passage of scripture can be concerning when we consider it from the view that believes in a God of mercy and compassion.
Lets look at a few points of clarity that might help in our examination. First we read the term “youths” and we think of a group of adolescents having fun while out of school for the summer. Some versions even translate this a “little children”. The actual Hebrew word here is used for a variety of ages in different places in the Old Testament and can include fully grown individuals (see Genesis 32:22, 34:4, 37:30 and Ruth 1:5 for some examples). In addition, some Jewish writers have translated this term into “Naarim,” because they had ‘shaken from the commandments’. Indicating these could have easily been people who were “childish” in their belief and behavior, both socially and morally, and not having anything to do with their age. They were obviously old enough to outside the city in the wilderness, alone accompanied by “chaperones”.
Second, we read their mocking which states, “Go on up, you baldhead!” they said. “Go on up, you baldhead!” and we again think of some misguided teenagers having some fun at the expense of an old guy who has lost his hair. We think of them telling him to go on up back to Bethel. Well, that’s not what they are saying. Bethel is the city where the ‘sons of the prophets’ resided. It was also the mother city of idolatry. There is very little doubt that this mocking, scoffing incident was not the first, but one of many in a long line of scoffing at the prophets, but more importantly, scoffing at the works and subsequently, the very nature of God.
Telling Elisha to “Go on up”, did not refer to him going on up to the city, but rather to follow Elijah, who had just ascended into heaven, as witnessed by Elisha in the previous section of this chapter. They are not primarily mocking his lack of hair but the miraculous work of God in taking Elijah up to heaven. It is very possible that Elisha is relating this miraculous work of God and they scoff and mock in derision, telling him to go on up with Elijah. This had become a pattern of behavior for the towns people who had hardened their hearts against God. This mockery was their usual practice, rooted in their impiety and hatred of God. Mocking the messenger of God was one of the crying sins of Israel.
They mocked not only a man, an aged man who should be respected, and a prophet or messenger of God who should be revered, but they mocked God Himself and the glorious and miraculous work in the ascension of the prophet Elijah.
When we first read this we think of some adolescents having a little fun at a bald old man’s expense and while that bothers us, none of us can imagine them deserving to be torn apart by bears for it. The problem is that is not an accurate picture of what took place here. These individuals were the idolatrous, infidel, young men of the place, who along with their parents and the rest of the town’s people had made it a practice to jeer, mock, and scoff at the prophets of God and even God Himself. They had turned their backs on God to idolatry and they looked upon Him and His messengers with derision and disdain.
I certainly do not know what God’s motives were in carrying out this act against these people. I would not jump to the conclusion that it was merely an act of anger on His part. John Wesley puts it like this “and that, if any of these children were more innocent, God might have mercy upon their souls, and then this death was not a misery, but a real blessing to them, that they were taken away from that education which was most likely to expose them not only to temporal, but eternal destruction. In the name – Not from any revengeful passion, but by the motion of God’s Spirit, and by God’s command and commission. God did this, partly, for the terror and caution of all other idolaters and prophane persons who abounded in that place; partly, to vindicate the honour, and maintain the authority of his prophets; and particularly, of Elisha, now especially, in the beginning of his sacred ministry.”