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 20:10

20:10 Hezekiah answered, “It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps, but not for it ²  to go back ten steps.”

[2:24]  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.

[20:10]  ² tn Heb “the shadow.” The noun has been replaced by the pronoun (“it”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.