2 Kings 2:24

2:24 When he turned around and saw them, he called God’s judgment down on them. ¹  Two female bears came out of the woods and ripped forty-two of the boys to pieces.

2 Kings 21:11

21:11 “King Manasseh of Judah has committed horrible sins. ²  He has sinned more than the Amorites before him and has encouraged Judah to sin by worshiping his disgusting idols. ³ 

¹ 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 tn Heb “these horrible sins.”

³ sn See the note at 1 Kgs 15:12.