Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 2
The inhabitants of Jericho were pleased when Elisha came to their city (2:19-22). They knew that they needed God’s help. So they respected greatly Elisha as a prophet (a holy man).
Bethel was the next town that Elisha visited. In both Bethel and Jericho, there lived groups of people who were loyal to the true God (2:3-5).
However, Bethel was also one of the places where Jeroboam had established his false religion (1 Kings 12:31-33). On the hill above Bethel, the people prayed in front of images.
The young people at Bethel saw that Elisha wore the poor, rough clothes of a prophet of the true God. They realised, therefore, that he would not go up to pray at their high place, because of their images. So, they began to laugh at him and to insult him.
They called Elisha ‘bald man’. We do not know whether he was in fact bald. He would have covered his head as he walked, to protect himself from the hot sun. So really, this insult was not about his hair. The young people were saying that Elisha disgusted them. God did not permit Israel’s holy people to shave their heads (Leviticus 21:5; Numbers 6:5). So, the insult meant that Elisha was not really holy. These young people were insisting that Elisha was unfit to be a prophet or to serve God.
This was not just foolish laughter. These young people said these things on purpose. They wanted to bring shame upon Elisha, or to make him afraid to do his work for God. They were opposing Elisha, God’s servant, in a nasty manner – and so, they were causing God to be angry against them.
Next part: Elijah curses the young people, and bears attack them (2 Kings 2:24-25)
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