And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
From there he went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some young people came out of the city and made fun of him, saying, 'Go away, you bald man! Go away, you bald man!'
This verse shows young people from Bethel mocking the prophet Elisha by calling him names and telling him to leave their city.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, Elisha had recently become the prophet after his mentor Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, marking a significant transition in Israel's prophetic leadership. As Elisha traveled to Bethel, a city associated with idolatrous worship established by King Jeroboam, he encountered a group of youths who mocked him, possibly referring to his baldness or alluding to Elijah's ascension. This incident reflects the broader cultural disrespect towards God's messengers in a divided and spiritually wayward Israel.
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