Lightbulb, I have learned that we as Westerners (not Yahhooooooo-westerners, but western hemisphere), need to remember that the bible was written by Hebrews for Hebrews.
What I mean is that Easterner's speak with pictures and many times that is hard for us westerners (who like nice neat definitions) to phathom. I don't know exactly all of the context of the story yet, but there are a few things that I would like to throw out there.
"First Elisha was not in lands where God was worshipped, Baal was the predominant god (little "g")" This is true, but also remember these youth were probably of the school of some celebrated teacher in their region; but under his instruction they had learned neither piety nor good manners. To an easterner the picture they would get from this part of the story is not one so much of "defyant kids" but I believe it was one of unGodly teachings. Kids have always been rambunxious and probably always will, but the insults they were throwing out were not about his clothes or his age, but were aimed at his mantle or authority--that could only be taught by one with authority.
They were as sLattier rightly stated throwing out insults that have been lost over the years so we might miss its true meaning if we look at it from westerner's eyes.
"Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head." `Aleeh qeereeach; `aleeh qereeach." This to an easterner would imply one of the grossest insults?
What they were saying was "Ascend, thou empty skull, to heaven, as it is pretended thy master did!" This was blasphemy against God; and their punishment (for they were Beth-elite idolaters) was only proportioned to their guilt.
Secondly, sLattier, you are on the right track....but the fact that God IS a jealous God and not WAS a jealous God makes me confused by the next statement somewhat.
"This is the Old Covenant time with Isreal and God Himself said that He was a jealous God."
Is it His jealousy that has changed or our respect for His authority that has been forgotten? I believe that Elisha cursed them, i. e., pronounced a curse upon them, in the name of the Lord, by the name or authority of Jehovah. The spirit of their offence lies in their ridiculing a miracle of the Lord: the offence was against Him, and He punished it. Elisha was speaking as a mouthpiece of the Lord Himself.
Again, these are just some tidbits I have thought of, but I am still working on it. I hope it adds to the discussion a little.
RRRRRFfffffffff
innerdawg
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