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23 He went up from there to Bethel. As he was going up by the way, some youths came out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldy! Go up, you baldy!” 24 He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in Yahweh’s name. Then two female bears came out of the woods, and mauled forty-two of those youths. 25 He went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

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Elisha Rebukes Some Mockers

23 Later, Elisha[a] left there to go up to Bethel, and as he was traveling along the road, some insignificant[b] young men came from the city and started mocking him. They told him, “Get on up,[c] baldy! Get on up, baldy!” 24 He looked behind him, took note of the young men, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. Suddenly two female bears emerged from the woods and mauled 42 of the young men. 25 After this, he left from there to go to Mt. Carmel, and from there he went back to Samaria.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 2:23 Lit. he
  2. 2 Kings 2:23 Or small; i.e. in significance, not stature or age; the individuals were adults
  3. 2 Kings 2:23 The taunt may be an allusion to Elijah’s experience described in v. 11.