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Text -- 2 Kings 2:24 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
2:24 When he turned around and saw them, he called God’s judgment down on them. Two female bears came out of the woods and ripped forty-two of the boys to pieces.
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: PALESTINE, 2 | NAME | Infidelity | FOREST | Elisha | Elijah | Death | Children | Carmel | Beth-el | Bear | BALDNESS | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable , Guzik

Other
Critics Ask

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: 2Ki 2:24 - -- Nor was this punishment too great for the offence, if it be considered, that their mocking proceeded from a great malignity of mind against God; that ...

Nor was this punishment too great for the offence, if it be considered, that their mocking proceeded from a great malignity of mind against God; that they mocked not only a man, and an ancient man, whose very age commanded reverence; and a prophet; but even God himself, and that glorious work of God, the assumption of Elijah into heaven; that they might be guilty of many other heinous crimes, which God and the prophet knew; and were guilty of idolatry, which by God's law deserved death; that the idolatrous parents were punished in their children; and that, if any of these children were more innocent, God might have mercy upon their souls, and then this death was not a misery, but a real blessing to them, that they were taken away from that education which was most likely to expose them not only to temporal, but eternal destruction.

Wesley: 2Ki 2:24 - -- Not from any revengeful passion, but by the motion of God's Spirit, and by God's command and commission. God did this, partly, for the terror and caut...

Not from any revengeful passion, but by the motion of God's Spirit, and by God's command and commission. God did this, partly, for the terror and caution of all other idolaters and prophane persons who abounded in that place; partly, to vindicate the honour, and maintain the authority of his prophets; and particularly, of Elisha, now especially, in the beginning of his sacred ministry.

Wesley: 2Ki 2:24 - -- This Hebrew word signifies not only young children, but also those who are grown up to maturity, as Gen 32:22, Gen 34:4, Gen 37:30; Rth 1:5.

This Hebrew word signifies not only young children, but also those who are grown up to maturity, as Gen 32:22, Gen 34:4, Gen 37:30; Rth 1:5.

JFB: 2Ki 2:23-24 - -- That is, the idolatrous, or infidel young men of the place, who affecting to disbelieve the report of his master's translation, sarcastically urged hi...

That is, the idolatrous, or infidel young men of the place, who affecting to disbelieve the report of his master's translation, sarcastically urged him to follow in the glorious career.

JFB: 2Ki 2:23-24 - -- An epithet of contempt in the East, applied to a person even with a bushy head of hair. The appalling judgment that befell them was God's interference...

An epithet of contempt in the East, applied to a person even with a bushy head of hair. The appalling judgment that befell them was God's interference to uphold his newly invested prophet.

Defender: 2Ki 2:24 - -- Elisha did not curse "little children," as the kjv translates the phrase (2Ki 2:23). The Hebrew expression frequently connotes young, unmarried men of...

Elisha did not curse "little children," as the kjv translates the phrase (2Ki 2:23). The Hebrew expression frequently connotes young, unmarried men of any age up to about thirty. This was evidently a gang of young hoodlums, instigated by the heathen priests of Baal to ridicule Elijah's successor. The jeering exhortation to "go up, thou baldhead," (2Ki 2:23) was both a sarcastic reference to Elijah's supposed ascension (which they disbelieved) and a personal insult to God's chosen prophet. This challenge to Jehovah and the authority of His prophet could not be excused, so God made good on a warning issued long before: "And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; ... I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children" (Lev 26:21, Lev 26:22)."

TSK: 2Ki 2:24 - -- cursed them : 2Ki 1:10-12; Gen 9:25; Deu 28:15-26; Jdg 9:20, Jdg 9:57; Jer 28:16, Jer 29:21-23; Lam 3:65; Amo 7:17; Mar 11:14, Mar 11:21; Act 5:5, Act...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: 2Ki 2:24 - -- On this occasion only do we find Elisha a minister of vengeance. Perhaps it was necessary to show, at the outset of his career as a prophet, that he...

On this occasion only do we find Elisha a minister of vengeance. Perhaps it was necessary to show, at the outset of his career as a prophet, that he too, so mild and peaceful could, like Elijah, wield the terrors of God’ s judgments (1Ki 19:19 note). The persons really punished were, not so much the children, as the wicked parents 2Ki 2:23, whose mouth-pieces the children were, and who justly lost the gift of offspring of which they had shown themselves unworthy.

Poole: 2Ki 2:24 - -- Cursed them nor was this punishment too great for the offence, if it be considered that these children were grown up to some maturity; ( See Poole "2...

Cursed them nor was this punishment too great for the offence, if it be considered that these children were grown up to some maturity; ( See Poole "2Ki 2:23" ;) that their mocking proceeded from a great malignity of mind against God; that they mocked not only a man, and an ancient man, whose very age commanded reverence, and a prophet; but even God himself, and that most admirable and glorious work of God, the assumption of Elijah into heaven, which makes it in some degree resemble the sin against the Holy Ghost; that they might be guilty of many other heinous crimes, which God and the prophet knew; and were guilty of idolatry, which by God’ s law deserved death; that the idolatrous parents were punished in their children; and that if any of these children were more innocent and ignorant of what they said, God might have mercy upon their souls, and then this death was not a misery, but a real blessing to them, that they were taken away from that wicked and idolatrous education, which was most likely to expose them not only to temporal, but to an eternal destruction.

In the name of the Lord not from any carnal or revengeful passion, but by the motion of God’ s Spirit, and by God’ s command and commission, as appears by God’ s concurrence with him; which God did, partly for the terror and caution of all other idolaters and profane persons, who abounded in that place; partly to vindicate the honour and maintain the authority of his prophets, and particularly of Elisha, now especially in the beginning of his sacred ministry. And this did beget such a confidence in Elisha, that he durst venture to go into Beth-el after this was done; and such a terror in the Beth-elites, that they durst not avenge themselves of him.

Two she-bears possibly robbed of their whelps, and therefore more fierce, Pro 17:12 Hos 13:8 ; but certainly acted by an extraordinary fury, which God raised in them for this purpose.

Forty and two children: this Hebrew word signifies not only young children, but those also who are grown up to maturity, as Gen 32:22 34:4 37:30 Rth 1:5 .

Haydock: 2Ki 2:24 - -- Cursed them. This curse, which was followed by so visible a judgment of God, was not the effect of passion, or of a desire of revenging himself; but...

Cursed them. This curse, which was followed by so visible a judgment of God, was not the effect of passion, or of a desire of revenging himself; but of zeal for religion, which was insulted by these boys, in the person of the prophet, and of a divine inspiration; God being determined to punish in this manner the inhabitants of Bethel, (the chief seat of the calf-worship) who had trained up their children in a prejudice against the true religion and its ministers. (Challoner) ---

The boys themselves were not so little as not to be aware of the insult they were offering to a minister of the God of Juda; and probably they acted thus out of hatred to him, at the instigation of their idolatrous parents. (Sanctius) (Calmet) ---

Lord. He called on him (Menochius) to revenge his own cause, (Haydock) "that the people might learn to take care of their souls, by the fear of death." (St. Augustine) (Du Hamel)

Gill: 2Ki 2:24 - -- And he turned back, and looked on them,.... With a stern countenance, thereby reproving them, and in order to intimidate them, and make them ashamed, ...

And he turned back, and looked on them,.... With a stern countenance, thereby reproving them, and in order to intimidate them, and make them ashamed, and cause them to leave off, but to no purpose; they repeated their mockeries with great vehemence:

and cursed them in the name of the Lord; moved thereunto, not from passion and a spirit of revenge, but by an impulse of the Spirit of God:

and there came forth two she bears out of the wood; which are fiercest, and especially when bereaved of their whelps, as these might be; the wood seems to be near to Bethel, perhaps in the wilderness of Bethel, of which see Jos 8:15, and Reland y thinks it is the same with the wood of Ephraim, 2Sa 18:6, though the Jews, to increase the miracle, say z there was no wood at all, and, if there was, that there were no bears in it; but though those creatures are mostly in northern countries, yet there were of them in Judea, see 1Sa 17:34.

and tare forty and two children of them; it seems there were more than these; but such a number of them they tore to pieces and destroyed; which was very extraordinary, and was an awful punishment for their wickedness, which they knowingly and willingly committed, and of their parents in them, who had trained them up in such impiety, and put them upon it, and sent them out to do it.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 2Ki 2:24 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 c...

Geneva Bible: 2Ki 2:24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and ( n ) cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare fo...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: 2Ki 2:1-25 - --1 Elijah, taking his leave of Elisha, with his mantle divides Jordan;9 and, granting Elisha his request, is taken up by a fiery chariot into heaven.12...

MHCC: 2Ki 2:19-25 - --Observe the miracle of healing the waters. Prophets should make every place to which they come better for them, endeavouring to sweeten bitter spirits...

Matthew Henry: 2Ki 2:19-25 - -- Elisha had, in this respect, a double portion of Elijah's spirit, that he wrought more miracles than Elijah. Some reckon them in number just double....

Keil-Delitzsch: 2Ki 2:23-25 - -- The judgment of God upon the loose fellows at Bethel . Elisha proceeded from Jericho to Bethel, the chief seat of the idolatrous calf-worship, wher...

Constable: 2Ki 2:1--8:16 - --4. Jehoram's evil reign in Israel 2:1-8:15 Jehoram reigned 12 years in Israel (852-841 B.C.). Hi...

Constable: 2Ki 2:15-25 - --The evidence of Elisha's succession 2:15-25 Had Elijah still been alive on the earth Eli...

Guzik: 2Ki 2:1-25 - --2 Kings 2 - Elijah's Ascension A. Elijah ascends to heaven. 1. (1-3) The awareness of Elijah's coming departure. And it came to pass, when the LOR...

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Commentary -- Other

Critics Ask: 2Ki 2:24 2 KINGS 2:23-24 —How could a man of God curse these 42 young men so that they were mauled by she-bears? PROBLEM: As Elisha was going up to Beth...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: 2 Kings (Book Introduction) THE FIRST AND SECOND BOOKS OF KINGS, in the ancient copies of the Hebrew Bible, constitute one book. Various titles have been given them; in the Septu...

JFB: 2 Kings (Outline) MOAB REBELS. (2Ki 1:1) AHAZIAH'S JUDGMENT BY ELIJAH. (2Ki 1:2-8) ELIJAH BRINGS FIRE FROM HEAVEN ON AHAZIAH'S MESSENGERS. (2Ki 1:9-16) AHAZIAH DIES, A...

TSK: 2 Kings (Book Introduction) The events detailed in these books (Kings) are highly interesting and important. The account of the wisdom, magnificence, and extended commerce of So...

TSK: 2 Kings 2 (Chapter Introduction) Overview 2Ki 2:1, Elijah, taking his leave of Elisha, with his mantle divides Jordan; 2Ki 2:9, and, granting Elisha his request, is taken up by a ...

Poole: 2 Kings 2 (Chapter Introduction) KINGS CHAPTER 2 Elijah, taking his leave of Elisha, with his mantle divideth Jordan, 2Ki 2:1-8 ; and granting Elisha his request on condition, is t...

MHCC: 2 Kings 2 (Chapter Introduction) (2Ki 2:1-8) Elijah divides Jordan. (2Ki 2:9-12) Elijah is taken up into heaven. (2Ki 2:13-18) Elisha is manifested to be Elijah's successor. (2Ki 2...

Matthew Henry: 2 Kings (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Second Book of Kings This second book of the Kings (which the Septuagint, numbering from Samuel, ca...

Matthew Henry: 2 Kings 2 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter we have, I. That extraordinary event, the translation of Elijah. In the close of the foregoing chapter we had a wicked king leavin...

Constable: 2 Kings (Book Introduction) Introduction Second Kings continues the narrative begun in 1 Kings. It opens with the translation of godly Elijah to hea...

Constable: 2 Kings (Outline) Outline (Continued from notes on 1 Kings) 3. Ahaziah's evil reign in Israel -1 Kings 22:51-2...

Constable: 2 Kings 2 Kings Bibliography Ackroyd, Peter R. "An Interpretation of the Babylonian Exile: A Study of 2 Kings 20, Isaia...

Haydock: 2 Kings (Book Introduction) THE FOURTH BOOK OF KINGS. INTRODUCTION. This Book brings us to the conclusion of the kingdom of Israel, (chap. xvii.) and to the captivity of ...

Gill: 2 Kings (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS This, and the preceding book, are properly but one book divided into two parts, because of the size of it, as the book of S...

Gill: 2 Kings 2 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 2 This chapter relates, how that Elisha accompanied Elijah to several places, and on the other side Jordan Elijah was taken...

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