2 Kings 2:18-25

18 Then they came back to Elisha at Jericho where he was staying. He said to them, "I told you not to go, didn't I?"

19 The people of the city said to Elisha, "Look, master, this city is a nice place to live as you can see. But the water is so bad the land cannot grow crops."

20 Elisha said, "Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it." So they brought it to him.

21 Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt in it. He said, "This is what the Lord says: 'I have healed this water. From now on it won't cause death, and it won't keep the land from growing crops.'"

22 So the water has been healed to this day just as Elisha had said.

23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. On the way some boys came out of the city and made fun of him. They said to him, "Go up too, you baldhead! Go up too, you baldhead!"

24 Elisha turned around, looked at them, and put a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two mother bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys to pieces.

25 Elisha went to Mount Carmel and from there he returned to Samaria.

2 Kings 2:18-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 2

This chapter relates, how that Elisha accompanied Elijah to several places, and on the other side Jordan Elijah was taken up from him to heaven, which occasioned great lamentation in him, 2Ki 2:1-12, but having the mantle of Elijah, he divided the waters of Jordan, and passed over, 2Ki 2:13,14, and the sons of the prophets at Jericho, perceiving the spirit of Elijah on him, showed him great respect, and proposed sending men to seek his master, which they did in vain, 2Ki 2:15-18, when he healed the waters at Jericho, at the request of the men of it, 2Ki 2:19-22, and the chapter is concluded with the destruction of forty two children at Bethel by bears, who mocked him, 2Ki 2:23,24.