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QUESTION:  The story of Elisha when he "is encountered by some youth who call him names. He curses them in the name of God and two she bears come out of the woods and tear 42 of the boys to pieces. I am usually at a loss of words on how to reconcile that with the mercy and love of God. In this particular story, it is hard for
me to explain how the punishment fits the crime. Any suggestions on how to deal with this?"

RESPONSE:   Remember some basics when interpreting the Holy Scriptures:

1) God is by definition perfectly just. He cannot go against his own divine nature. He cannot be
unjust.

2) God is best defined by Love and Mercy is ours for the asking provided we repent.

3) St. Augustine says that any apparent contradictions in Scripture are not because of an error on
the part of the Holy Spirit, but rather because an error in the manuscript or in your Bible translation or our own limited knowledge or misinterpretation.  God is perfectly consistent, just, omnipotent, etc.

4) See additional important considerations in para. 111-119 in the CCC (Catechism of the
Catholic Church), which is available online if you do not have a personal copy--go to

 http://www.kofc.org/publications/cis/catechism/index.cfm

Let's examine the passage in question in light of these basics. The passage is translated in the
Douay Rheims Version thusly,

"2 Kings 2:23. And he went up from thence to Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, little boys came
out of the city and mocked him, saying: Go up, thou bald head, go up, thou bald head.

2 Kings 2:24. And looking back, he saw them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord: and there came
forth two bears out of the forest, and tore of them, two and forty boys."

"Cursed them... This curse, which was followed by so visible a judgment of God, was not the effect
of passion, or of a desire of revenging himself; but of zeal for religion, which was insulted by these
boys, in the person of the prophet; and of a divine inspiration: God punishing in this manner the
inhabitants of Bethel, [the chief seat of the calf worship and idolatry], who had trained up their
children in a prejudice against the true religion and its ministers."  [From the Haydock Commentary of Rev. George Haydock].

Remember please, that curses are usually triggered by violation of the covenant which the people swore to God. Remember too when people die their existence does not end, it merely changes. Also
talk of justice from a human perspective and saying that the punishment does not fit the crime, misses
the point.  In the ancient world (heck, for that matter in colonial America too!) minor crimes could
be punishable by death (look at the Deuteronomic code--the second Law, which is a form of
concessionary law based on the sinful nature of the people. The more sinful they are, the more
laws they need and the more hemmed in they become.  Hence Deuteronomic law permits divorce,
but Jesus explains in Matthew's gospel that this was not how it was from the beginning with God
but rather was permitted only because of the "hardness of their hearts." [Cf. Mt 19:8 ; Deut 24:1 .]

Numerous seemly minor crimes were punishable by death in the code but this does not mean God is unjust, but rather speaks of the sinfulness of the people. One could ask how could God let the great earthquake kill so many in Mexico City in the 1990's? Is this just?  Shall we presume to judge God?  The action of the Bear appears to be divine retribution for a very sinful people similar to the divine retribution meted out to the Egyptians who lost all, I repeat, all of their firstborn sons! This may seem unjust except that life is short and temporary on this earth, a test to see if we want to be with God in the next life, the outcome of which is certain, namely divine judgment which is merciful, just and lasts forever. The innocent go to their reward [and God knows what each life would turn out like before it is lived so the number of years of life has no bearing on a just judgment] and the evil doers to their punishment. Scripture is very clear on this.  For example:

"Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure man, or one who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them, for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:5-10).

"Do you suppose, then, that you will escape judgment, you who condemn these things in others yet do them yourselves? . . . Do you not know that God's kindness [and forbearance] is an invitation to you to repent? In spite of this, your hard and impenitent heart is storing up retribution for the day of wrath when the just judgment of God will be revealed, when he will repay every man for what he has done: eternal life to those who strive for glory, honor, and immortality by patiently doing right; wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness."
(Romans 2: 3-10)

"Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. " (Galatians 6: 7-10)


What matters is that we do not always seek to judge by human standards. Are you so sure you
know what offends God and how much? Can we even conclude that the boys were being
punished?  No. Their people (Canaanites) were being put on notice to change their ways because in
His mercy wants to save the greatest number and sometimes He permits what seems extreme to
us to get the people's attention.  They (the children) may have all gone on to a heavenly reward as
innocents or not. What is certain is that we must trust in God and in His holy word. Scripture has
it:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa 55:8-9)

Remember too these words taken from Jeremiah 9: 23-24:

23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man
glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; 24 but let him who glories glory
in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practice steadfast love,
justice, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, says the Lord.”

25 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will punish all those who are
circumcised but yet uncircumcised— 26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab,
and all who dwell in the desert that cut the corners of their hair; for all these nations are
uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.”

*Quotations taken from The Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, (New York: The National Council of Churches) 1997, c1994.


God's peace and love are available to all men. He died for all men. His love for us is infinite.
Read the Scriptures daily and your heart will become more like His!  Your understanding will increase accordingly, but the mysteries of God will always be mysteries.  When we lose our sense of mystery, we lose our faith.  God forbid!

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