And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
He turned around and looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the young people.
The prophet Elisha called on God to judge a group of young people who were mocking him, and God sent bears that attacked forty-two of them.
📚 Historical Context
This incident occurred shortly after Elisha had received a double portion of Elijah's spirit and become the leading prophet in Israel. The young people from Bethel were mocking Elisha by calling him 'baldhead' and likely challenging his authority as God's prophet. In ancient Israel, showing contempt for God's appointed messengers was considered a serious offense against God himself.
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