2 Kings 2:23-25·~1 min
Elisha Mocked
On the road to Bethel, Elisha is mocked by boys from the city and answers by cursing them in the LORD’s name. He then continues on through Carmel and back to Samaria.
F23rom there, Elisha went up to Bethel, and as he was walking up the road, a group of boys came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” 24Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. 25And Elisha went on to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
Section summaryAs Elisha goes up to Bethel, boys come out and mock him with taunts that echo Elijah’s going up. Elisha answers with a curse in the LORD’s name and then continues on his way, closing the chapter with a severe sign of rejected prophetic authority.
Role in the chapterThis final section balances the healing at Jericho with judgment at Bethel. It shows that the prophet’s word is not only a source of restoration but also a weight that cannot be treated lightly.