"And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the c…" — 2 Kings 2:23

2 Kings 2:23 · KJV

“And he 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.”

— 2 Kings 2:23

Verse 22

So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

Verse 24

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.

2 Kings 2 — Context

And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren {land}.

So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.

And he 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.

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.

And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.

Cross References

2 Chronicles 36:16

But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till {there was} no remedy. {remedy: Heb. healing}

Job 19:18

Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. {young...: or, the wicked}

Job 30:1

But now {they that are} younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. {younger...: Heb. of fewer days than I}

Psalms 31:18

Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. {grievous...: Heb. a hard thing}

Amos 5:5

But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. {Train...: or, Catechise} {in...: Heb. in his way}

Genesis 21:9

And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

Proverbs 20:11

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work {be} pure, and whether {it be} right.

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