Elisha & the bears

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Promotor_Fidei

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2 Kings 2:23-24 *From there Elisha went up to Bethel. While he was on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him. “Go up, baldhead,” they shouted, “go up, baldhead!” The prophet turned and saw them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the children to pieces. *

Does God savagely tear to pieces small boys who call an old man “bald”? What’s the Catholic view on this?
 
God, ever powerful, ever living, who created the whole Universe can do whatever He wants. Especially this God of the Hebrews. Never heard of Sodom and Gomorrah? Whole towns stricken dead.

Elisha cursed them in God’s name; God heard; punishment dealt out. This is Elisha, God’s special prophet to His Elected people, Israel. You don’t mess with those Old Testament prophets! 😃

Darn: should have remembered that verse when some kids called out ‘Baldy’ to me yesterday. :mad:
 
Cockney Clive:
Never heard of Sodom and Gomorrah? Whole towns stricken dead.
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I can understand Sodom and Gomorrah, the sins of their parents doomed children there. However, in this case no parents did wrong. The children were called ‘small’, they could not have been of the age of reason. Did all 47 children call him “baldy”?

I am looking for a response for a non-Christian friend who asked about this. Should I say, “God feels it appropriate to maul children who call names”?
 
i know it’s not the answer you want (or the answer that a non_Christian can understand) but God can and does do what He wants. elisha was the prophet of the Lord and everyone knew it. just because the translation says they were “small boys” doesn’t mean they hadn’t reached the age of reason yet. Mary was a “young girl” by some translations but God deemed her coherent enough to say yes to bearing His Son. these “boys” knew who elisha was and publicly jeered him. when you attack the prophet of God, you attack God Himself and He responded. it’s not a pretty answer, but it’s one that i can deal with. as c.s. lewis says, " He’s not safe, but He’s good." our view of good and God’s can sometimes differ but He knows what He’s doing and if that is a stumbling block for some, i think God knew that it would be ahead of time and had already reconciled that with Himself.
 
Promotor Fidei:
2 Kings 2:23-24 *From there Elisha went up to Bethel. While he was on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him. “Go up, baldhead,” they shouted, “go up, baldhead!” The prophet turned and saw them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the children to pieces. *

Does God savagely tear to pieces small boys who call an old man “bald”? What’s the Catholic view on this?
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Scripture speaks at both the plaintext level and sensus plenior or “typological” level.

PLAINTEXT LEVEL JUSTIFICATION: God kills children elsewhere in the Bible: When He incinerates Sodom and Gomorrah, at Genesis 19:24-25; and when He places Jericho “under the ban,” at Joshua 6:18, 21, which is explicit: “They observed the ban BY PUTTING TO THE SWORD ALL LIVING CREATURES IN THE CITY: Men and women, YOUNG and old…”!

God is God. He’s allowed to “pull the plug” whenever He wants.

TYPOLOGICAL LEVEL JUSTIFICATION: Here is the Elisha story, with typological interps inserted…

23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. While he was on the way, some small boys Children Type = incipient Christians; converts] came out of the city and jeered at him. “Go up, baldhead,” they shouted, “go up, baldhead!” They are attacking his prophet’s tonsure, and so reflecting the nasty skepticism of the people there].

24 The prophet turned and saw them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two Two Type = Church] she-bears came out of the woods “Woods” = Non-Fig Tree Type = the cross] and tore forty-two “Forty-two” = (-:- the Two Type)(x the Seven Type)(x the Twelve Type) = (“opposing the Church’s”)(“perfection of”)(“all of God’s people”)] of the children to pieces.
 
Promotor Fidei:
Thanks BengalFan & Clive. I found a good article which explains the incident: stlukesrec.org/sermons99/18trin99.html
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Thanks for the link to such a fine article, PF. When I read it was “Reformed Episcopal” (so many “reformed” denoms these days are heterodox organizations, sad to say) I feared it wouldn’t be an orthodox treatment, but it was quite good and informative.

I am a Lay Carmelite to whom Elisha is quite special as the prophet who carried on and even surpassed his spiritual father, Elijah, who is regarded as the true founder of the Carmelite Order. It was great to read something so well written and positive about these OT men of faith. I’ve bookmarked it so I can share it with the members of my Lay Carmelite community. Thanx again!
 
As a bald guy, I don’t see a problem here… :tiphat:

JUST KIDDING!!!****
 
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