We see a remarkable contrast between the ministry of Elijah and Elisha, although each was no doubt called of God and each was faithful to God in the character of service entrusted to him. Elijah’s name means “my God is Jehovah,” and he sought to bring the people of Israel back to the God of their fathers and back to the law of God. They had turned away from God to worship idols, and for this reason many of his miracles were miracles of judgment. Although he openly demonstrated God’s power and was able to destroy the prophets of Baal on one occasion, it does not seem that the heart of the people was changed. But during the last few years of his life, he was given the privilege of training the younger man Elisha to be prophet in his stead.
Grace Refused
Elisha’s ministry was different, and it was characterized by grace, not law. For the most part his miracles were miracles of grace, and for this reason his few miracles of judgment stand out. Three of them are recorded in the Word of God—the tearing of the children of Bethel by the she bears (2 Kings 2), the leprosy of Gehazi (2 Kings 5), and the death of the lord who was given charge of the food left by the fleeing Syrians (2 Kings 7). All are connected with the scorning of grace, and thus do not in any way reflect adversely on Elisha’s ministry, but rather show us God’s judgment on those who despise and reject His grace. God loves to act in grace, but grace refused brings down judgment.
At first glance, the awful incident involving the children of Bethel and the she bears might seem unusual in its severity. Should one act of mockery by children be punished by death, and in such a terrible way? Yet we must remember that while Elisha cursed the children in the name of the Lord, it was God Himself who sent the bears. There is a solemn lesson to be learned in all this.
Tarnished History
Bethel as a city had a long history, and its name means “the house of God.” In the early days of Israel’s history in the land of Canaan, people went there to inquire of the Lord, for Shiloh was very close to Bethel, and the tabernacle was there at first. But things had deteriorated to the point where, in the time of Elisha, a golden calf was there, having been set up by Jeroboam. It was one of the two places in the northern kingdom of the ten tribes designated by Jeroboam for idolatrous worship, and this was still carried on in the days of Elijah and Elisha. As another example of the tarnished state of the city, Scripture records that it was a man by the name of Hiel, from Bethel, who defied the word of the Lord and rebuilt the city of Jericho.
But God had not left Himself without witness. There was a school of the prophets there, where young men were trained in the way of the Lord. No doubt godly men like Elijah and Elisha were used of the Lord to teach these young men, and this very school was a witness to the people of Bethel. But it seems that the idolatry continued in spite of this testimony; the ministry of God’s faithful prophets was not wanted.
The Mockers
But then something most remarkable happened. Elijah was caught up to heaven in a whirlwind, without going through death. It was no secret, although only Elisha saw it, for the sons of the prophets in Bethel knew it ahead of time. This news should have had a sobering effect on these sinful people, yet it seems that they were only too glad to be rid of Elijah. When his successor appears, they want to be rid of him too. The mocking words “bald head” were a real insult to Elisha, as they called him to go up, as his late master had gone up. It is highly unlikely that the children had conceived this insult by themselves. Surely they had heard it at home, among older ones; they merely repeated what their parents and others had said.
The Judgment
The judgment from the Lord was awful, but it is striking to notice on whom it fell. It is not as apparent in our English translations, but in the original Hebrew, the word used for “children” in verse 23 is not the same as that used in verse 24. The word used in verse 23 to describe the whole group—“there came forth little children out of the city”—is correctly translated, for the word means young children, from infancy to adolescence. But the word used in verse 24—“there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them” — although it can be translated “children,” can also mean “sons or young men.” It is translated “young men” a number of times in the Word of God, as, for example, in 1 Kings 12:88But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: (1 Kings 12:8), concerning the young men of whom Rehoboam sought counsel, or in Genesis 4:2323And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. (Genesis 4:23), concerning the young man slain by Lamech. Thus it would seem that the Lord laid His hand on the older ones of the group—the older boys who were most responsible. Again, what a solemn response by the Lord Himself to the rejection of His prophet of grace! Undoubtedly it was what might be called a “signal judgment,” intended as a warning, not only to the people of Bethel, but to all Israel.
A Prophetic Message
There is perhaps a hint of prophecy here too. God is acting in grace today toward the guilty nation of Israel, inviting them to come to Christ and be saved. We are thankful for each one who responds, but, sad to say, the bulk of the nation are like most of the Bethelites, who rejected God’s grace. Israel today has not only rejected Christ in His earthly pathway (typified by Elijah), who sought to bring them back to their responsibility toward God, but they now reject the grace of God from Christ in resurrection (typified by Elisha). In a coming day they will suffer great tribulation under something far worse than two she bears: They will be exposed to the tyranny of the Roman beast and the Antichrist. The number of those young men who were slain is significant too, for the suffering of the Jews during the tribulation will continue for forty-two months, or three and a half years.
But grace will have the victory. From Bethel, Elisha goes to Carmel, which means “garden,” or “fruitful field.” This will be the final condition of Israel after the judgment, when God’s promises are fulfilled. “Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever” (Isa. 32:16-1716Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. 17And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. (Isaiah 32:16‑17)).
W. J. Prost