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2 Kings 2:19-25
New English Translation
2 Kings 2:19-25
New English Translation
Elisha Demonstrates His Authority
19 The men of the city said to Elisha, “Look, the city has a good location, as our[a] master can see. But the water is bad and the land doesn’t produce crops.”[b] 20 Elisha[c] said, “Get me a new jar and put some salt in it.” So they got it. 21 He went out to the spring and threw the salt in. Then he said, “This is what the Lord has said, ‘I have purified[d] this water. It will no longer cause death or fail to produce crops.’”[e] 22 The water has been pure to this very day, just as Elisha prophesied.[f]
23 He went up from there to Bethel. As he was traveling up the road, some young boys[g] came out of the city and made fun of him, saying, “Go on up, baldy! Go on up, baldy!” 24 When he turned around and saw them, he called God’s judgment down on them.[h] Two female bears came out of the woods and ripped forty-two of the boys to pieces. 25 From there he traveled to Mount Carmel and then back to Samaria.[i]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Kings 2:19 tn Heb “my.”
- 2 Kings 2:19 tn Heb “miscarries” or “is barren.”
- 2 Kings 2:20 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 2 Kings 2:21 tn Or “healed.”
- 2 Kings 2:21 tn Heb “there will no longer be from there death and miscarriage [or, ‘barrenness’].”
- 2 Kings 2:22 tn Heb “according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.”
- 2 Kings 2:23 tn The word נַעַר (naʿar), here translated “boy,” can refer to a broad age range, including infants as well as young men. But the qualifying term “young” (or “small”) suggests these youths were relatively young. The phrase in question (“young boy”) occurs elsewhere in 1 Sam 20:35; 1 Kgs 3:7 (used by Solomon in an hyperbolic manner); 11:17; 2 Kgs 5:14; and Isa 11:6.
- 2 Kings 2:24 tn Heb “he cursed them in the name of the Lord.” A curse was a formal appeal to a higher authority (here the Lord) to vindicate one’s cause through judgment. As in chapter one, this account makes it clear that disrespect for the Lord’s designated spokesmen can be deadly, for it is ultimately rejection of the Lord’s authority.
- 2 Kings 2:25 sn The two brief episodes recorded in vv. 19-25 demonstrate Elisha’s authority and prove that he is the legitimate prophetic heir of Elijah. He has the capacity to bring life and blessing to those who recognize his authority, or death and judgment to those who reject him.
2 Kings 2:19-25
New International Version
2 Kings 2:19-25
New International Version
Healing of the Water
19 The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”
20 “Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
21 Then he went out to the spring and threw(A) the salt into it, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’” 22 And the water has remained pure(B) to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.
Elisha Is Jeered
23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered(C) at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here, baldy!” 24 He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse(D) on them in the name(E) of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. 25 And he went on to Mount Carmel(F) and from there returned to Samaria.
New English Translation (NET)
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