Single lesson
Elisha Is Mocked at Bethel
2 Kings 2:23–25
On the road to Bethel, Elisha is mocked, and a severe judgement follows.
Before you teach
Elisha went up from there towards Bethel. As he was going along the road, some youths came out of the city and mocked him. They called out, “Go up, you baldy! Go up, you baldy!” Elisha looked behind him and saw them. He cursed them in Yahweh’s name. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. It is a hard and sobering moment in the passage.
Explain the central teaching of Elisha Is Mocked at Bethel, using two details from the reading. On the road to Bethel, Elisha is mocked, and a severe judgement follows.
Welcome: Elisha Is Mocked at Bethel
5 minIntroduce “Elisha Is Mocked at Bethel” and locate 2 Kings 2:23–25. On the road to Bethel, Elisha is mocked, and a severe judgement follows. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
2 Kings 2:23, 2 Kings 2:24, 2 Kings 2:25
Read and explain the passage
12 minElisha went up from there towards Bethel. As he was going along the road, some youths came out of the city and mocked him. They called out, “Go up, you baldy! Go up, you baldy!”
Elisha looked behind him and saw them. He cursed them in Yahweh’s name. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. It is a hard and sobering moment in the passage.
After that, Elisha went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria. This short account ends without explanation, leaving the reader to feel the seriousness of the mocking and the judgement that followed.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Elisha Is Mocked at Bethel”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
2 Kings 2:23, 2 Kings 2:24, 2 Kings 2:25
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with ““Elisha looked behind him and saw them.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. On the road to Bethel, Elisha is mocked, and a severe judgement follows. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
2 Kings 2:24, 2 Kings 2:23, 2 Kings 2:25
Make and respond: Choices and outcomes evidence map
12 minWork on “Elisha Is Mocked at Bethel: Choices and outcomes evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Elisha Is Mocked at Bethel” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
2 Kings 2:23, 2 Kings 2:24, 2 Kings 2:25
Closing: return to Elisha Is Mocked at Bethel
3 minRevisit 2 Kings 2:23–25. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Elisha Is Mocked at Bethel and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
2 Kings 2:23, 2 Kings 2:24, 2 Kings 2:25
Questions to explore
“Elisha looked behind him and saw them.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?
Elisha looked behind him and saw them. He cursed them in Yahweh’s name. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. It is a hard and sobering moment in the passage.
2 Kings 2:24, 2 Kings 2:23, 2 Kings 2:25
How does this moment affect the rest of the account: “Elisha looked behind him and saw them.”?
Elisha looked behind him and saw them. He cursed them in Yahweh’s name. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. It is a hard and sobering moment in the passage.
2 Kings 2:24, 2 Kings 2:23, 2 Kings 2:25
“After that, Elisha went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.” How does this ending connect with the beginning?
After that, Elisha went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria. This short account ends without explanation, leaving the reader to feel the seriousness of the mocking and the judgement that followed.
2 Kings 2:25, 2 Kings 2:23, 2 Kings 2:24
Make, think or respond
Elisha Is Mocked at Bethel: Choices and outcomes evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Words or actions”, “What happens next”, “Verse reference”.
- Read 2 Kings 2:23–25. Use “Elisha Is Mocked at Bethel” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Compare two actions or statements in the account and explain their different outcomes.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Elisha Is Mocked at Bethel connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Elisha Is Mocked at Bethel” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of 2 Kings 2:23–25. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read 2 Kings 2:23–25. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 Kings 2
23 He went up from there to Bethel. As he was going up by the way, some youths came out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldy! Go up, you baldy!”
24 He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in Yahweh’s name. Then two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of those youths.
25 He went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.