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22 The waters have remained healed up to the present day, just as Elisha had declared.

23 [a]From there he traveled to Bethel. As he was on his way, some little children came out of the city and they mocked him crying out, “Go away, baldy! Go away, baldy!” 24 He turned around and stared at them. He cursed them in the name of the Lord. Two female bears came out from the woods and mauled the children, forty-two of them.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 2:23 Go away, baldy!: the age of Elisha’s taunters is questionable, but their message is clear: “We don’t want to hear about your God or any condemnation of our gods.” Elisha’s cursing did not bring the bears, but the Lord heard his cry and punished them for their idolatry and disbelief.