2nd Kings 2:23 - A Story of God's Love

  "And he (Elisha) went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. [23] And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. [24] And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria." [25]Didn't hear this story in Sunday school now did we? If you think the KJV is a horrible translation. View the NIV's Version below:From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. “Go on up, you baldhead!” they said. “Go on up, you baldhead!” He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. No matter what version, it's pretty horrible. Is either of these versions honest and accurate though? Let's look at the Hebrew. The word used here is "baqa'". Baqa` means to cleave, to tear, to break open, to rip in half.  Looks like the KJV is closer to the truth than the NIV. Looks like the NIV version tried to soften the blow slightly by saying mauled. Because obviously, one can survive a mauling. I don't know of anyone that has survived being cleaved in half. Imagine that scene at the theater, directed by Clive Barker. And to think we worry about violent video games and bloody movies!

OBVIOUS QUESTIONS:

Why didn't God just send the bears to scare them away?

How is it possible that these two "she bears" killed all 42 of these children? Were the children legless? If not, must have been Super Bears to move that fast. Why would God grant them extra power to conduct such a murderous act?

How in the Hell did this story end up in the "Good Book"?

Since when is calling someone bald worthy of death?

As mentioned in the Steve Well's interview, Bears are usually solitary animals and they don't attack large crowds. I suppose they would if they are mentally ill or under the influence of something. Heh, I guess they were though, under the influence of God. Yahweh had to completely change these bears' normal and natural way of living to get them to kill these children. These were essentially, innocent bears.

One apologetic reply is that these children were really adolescents. A gang of vicious teens. This excuse would almost work if it weren't for the plain reading of the text itself. Elisha, ".. turned back.." or he "turned around.." He was out of harm's way. He decided to stop walking away and turned around to face these evil teens. He got 'sinfully' angry, "the nerve of those kids insulting a Prophet" (sound familiar?). So he cursed them in the name of the Lord.

Some have tried to argue that Elisha did this and not God. Oh really? Now, remember, no man has any such supernatural power besides God, correct. Remember Moses? Didn't he turn a snake into a staff and vice versa? Did Moses have this power? Or was it God? Exactly! Most say it was power bestowed by God. Therefore, God's power was responsible. God is the true source of the curses and miracles in the Bible. Sadly, the Bible never condemns Elisha for this act. And why not? Because God did it. Can't chastise himself now can he?

My children can say some crazy stuff now and again such as "pooty head" and "biscuit face" but I would never sic some wild animals on them for being kids. A good scolding should be sufficient.

The II Kings 2:23 story is a reminder of the vengeful and blood-thirsty mindset many believers had during that period. Biblical literalists have a peculiar position to take on this. If the story is 100% true, the Old Testament God is cruel and malicious. Who would want to worship that? Jesus' timing is just right. As societies began to grow and become more sophisticated and more morally conscious, Yahweh simply did not have the same appeal. Jesus is ushered in as a much needed political replacement. The New Testament, however, isn't a replacement for the Old Testament. In fact, Jesus makes it clear in:

Matthew 5:18-19

Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.

So Jesus himself supports many of the OT laws. Isn't this the same God?

Is Yahweh, Yahweh, or not? If Yahweh is Yahweh then he's still the same murderous, malicious creature that's feared in the OT. If he's not, what is he? Jesus? But what of the Trinity? 

Some Christian churches teach that Jesus was here with God from the beginning. But if true, you mean Jesus condoned 2 Kings 2:23? World-wide floods that killed cute little bunnies and sleeping babies? Did Jesus turn people into salt? Jesus is a killer? Jesus did all that? Something is amiss here.

This passage is so disturbing amongst many others, that one has to convince themselves that these stories aren't relevant theologically. I think this story is just as relevant as God killing the firstborn of every person and animal in Exodus 11:5. It's an issue of truth and morality. 

I ask my Christian thinkers. Why would you believe and support a father that possesses such cruelty?

As I mentioned above, there are many other horrible stories in the Bible. These are a few of hundreds.

SkepticsAnnotatedBible.com is a wonderful resource for discovering those aspects of the Bible that your pastor and ministers will NOT mention or don't even know themselves.

I beg of you. Go! Read The Bible: All of it!