seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
2 Kings 2:19 The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”
20 “Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
21 Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’” 22 And the water has remained pure to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.
23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here, baldy!” 24 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 boys. 25 And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria.
20 “Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
21 Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’” 22 And the water has remained pure to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.
23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here, baldy!” 24 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 boys. 25 And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria.
Do you remember reading about Jericho? Do you remember "And the walls came tumbling down"...? Back in Joshua 6 Joshua and his men walked around the city and walked around the city and when they had walked around the city for several days... they shouted and the walls fell down. Well that's where the first part of our verses takes place. The town was rebuilt [at the cost of two sons] but the water was never any good. With the help of God, Elisha fixed that.
Then the story changes to Elisha being accosted by a group of thugs. They were making fun of him, calling him Baldy. He took them out with two bears.... how cool is that? Saved by Yogi!
This is from bible-studys.org.
Cruse … salt”: Salt purifies water, but the small amount used there could not clean the whole water supply. Rather, the use of salt from a new jar symbolized the cleansing of the waters that God would miraculously do. The healing of Jericho’s water through Elisha, freed the city from Joshua’s curse, making it habitable for humans once again (Joshua 6:26; 1 Kings 16:34).
The spring intended is probably that now called Ain-es-Sultan, which is not much more than a mile from the site of the ancient town. It is described as a large and beautiful fountain of sweet and pleasant water. The springs issuing from the eastern base of the highlands of Judah and Benjamin are to this day generally brackish.
The waters obeyed the Word of the Lord spoken by the prophet Elisha.
“Bald head” was a taunt of scorn (Isa. 3:17, 24). These “children” were older youths of responsible age who were actually blaspheming God by casting doubt upon Elisha’s report of the “going up” of Elijah. The baldness was regarded as a disgrace.
The baldness of Elisha referred to here may be:
The boys were probably following Elisha and jeering at him. This is a terrible time for anyone to come against him. It would be important for all to show great respect for the one the LORD had chosen to follow in Elijah's footsteps. This cursing them was in the name of the LORD, which meant they had tried to defame his position with the LORD. They were suddenly punished by being torn by she (female), bears. This is not something for Christians to do. This was under the law, and Christians live under grace. It is however, a very dangerous thing to say bad things about God's anointed.
The spring intended is probably that now called Ain-es-Sultan, which is not much more than a mile from the site of the ancient town. It is described as a large and beautiful fountain of sweet and pleasant water. The springs issuing from the eastern base of the highlands of Judah and Benjamin are to this day generally brackish.
The waters obeyed the Word of the Lord spoken by the prophet Elisha.
“Bald head” was a taunt of scorn (Isa. 3:17, 24). These “children” were older youths of responsible age who were actually blaspheming God by casting doubt upon Elisha’s report of the “going up” of Elijah. The baldness was regarded as a disgrace.
The baldness of Elisha referred to here may be:
(1) Natural loss of hair;
(2) A shaved head denoting his separation to the prophetic office; or more likely,
(3) An epithet of scorn and contempt, Elisha not being literally bald.
These youths were sarcastically taunting and insulting the lord’s prophet by telling him to repeat Elijah’s translation (“go up”).(2) A shaved head denoting his separation to the prophetic office; or more likely,
(3) An epithet of scorn and contempt, Elisha not being literally bald.
The boys were probably following Elisha and jeering at him. This is a terrible time for anyone to come against him. It would be important for all to show great respect for the one the LORD had chosen to follow in Elijah's footsteps. This cursing them was in the name of the LORD, which meant they had tried to defame his position with the LORD. They were suddenly punished by being torn by she (female), bears. This is not something for Christians to do. This was under the law, and Christians live under grace. It is however, a very dangerous thing to say bad things about God's anointed.
So... This was interesting reading.
