Cursing them in the name of the lord

[nobspeople]

2 Kings 2:23–25
23 He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” 24 And he turned around, and when he saw them, cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys. 25 From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

Is 'the lord' humanity's hit man, of sorts? What happens if you live in an area without any bears? Will bobcats suffice? Coyote?

For discussion:
Does god only kill children when it suits its purpose, or can anyone call upon the lord to have children killed? Or, like most everything else in the bible, is this something we have to think about what it 'really meant', not what it shows?

[1213]

...
Does god only kill children when it suits its purpose, or can anyone call upon the lord to have children killed? Or, like most everything else in the bible, is this something we have to think about what it 'really meant', not what it shows?

I think we should think what it actually says. It doesn’t say God sent them to kill the people. It only says after the cursing, bears came and killed the children.

Maybe it happened, because God didn’t protect them anymore. Maybe it happened because God sent them… …in Biblical point of view it is so that unrighteous will not live eternally. and by what I see the children were unrighteous and evil, which is why I believe God could have send the bears to kill them.

[JehovahsWitness]

I'm with 1213 on this; you walk about in bear country, you pay the price.



Seriously, in scripture God promised to protect the people from attack from wild animals, but only if they were faithful; the faithless were on their own.



JW




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To learn more please go to other posts related to...

BIBLICAL KILLING , ANIMALS and ...ELISHA'S BEARS

[Purple Knight]

Is the punishment harsh, sure. No one can really argue with that. In modern day it's obscenely harsh to kill someone for making fun of you, but in either reality or the minds of the people who made up the story, this is just what you get when you cross one of the favoured. Do we have more equality in modern day and fairer punishments? Well, we have more pretence to it, but in a world where Epstein gets a slap on the wrist for running a paedophilia ring and then mysteriously dies when he crosses the big wigs, I don't really think so. I think there will always be the favoured. To me this is evidence that if there is a God, he likes it this way.

I do also question why there is a mob of unsupervised children tormenting random chrome domes, and I don't have a lot of sympathy for people who let their children wander about alone, especially in universes with fantastical dangers.

Unrelated but it came to mind: Bears actually tame quite well and are among the few animals that can form strong bonds with humans. Not saying they're safe though.

[brunumb]

...
Does god only kill children when it suits its purpose, or can anyone call upon the lord to have children killed? Or, like most everything else in the bible, is this something we have to think about what it 'really meant', not what it shows?

I think we should think what it actually says. It doesn’t say God sent them to kill the people. It only says after the cursing, bears came and killed the children.

Maybe it happened, because God didn’t protect them anymore. Maybe it happened because God sent them… …in Biblical point of view it is so that unrighteous will not live eternally. and by what I see the children were unrighteous and evil, which is why I believe God could have send the bears to kill them.

Killing children, or allowing them to be killed, is unrighteous and evil. I am so thankful that my Christian indoctrination didn't take.

[nobspeople]

I'm with 1213 on this; you walk about in bear country, you pay the price.



Seriously, in scripture God promised to protect the people from attack from wild animals, but only if they were faithful; the faithless were on their own.



JW



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Did Elisha's bears kill little children?
viewtopic.php?p=830572#p830572

What exact scripter states this protection?

[1213]

What exact scripter states this protection?

I think these are good examples of such scriptures.

I will say of Yahweh, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day; Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes, And see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made Yahweh your refuge, And the Most High your dwelling place, No evil shall happen to you, Neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. For he will give his angels charge over you, To guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, So that you won’t dash your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot. “Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him. I will satisfy him with long life, And show him my salvation.” A Psalm. A song for the Sabbath day.
Ps. 91:2-16

"Therefore I tell you, don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.
Luke 12:22-31

[JehovahsWitness]

I'm with 1213 on this; you walk about in bear country, you pay the price.



Seriously, in scripture God promised to protect the people from attack from wild animals, but only if they were faithful; the faithless were on their own.



JW



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Did Elisha's bears kill little children?
viewtopic.php?p=830572#p830572

What exact scripter states this protection?

LEVITICUS 26: 3, 6

“‘If you continue walking in my statutes and keeping my commandments ... I will rid the land of vicious wild animals, and a sword of war will not pass through your land.

[nobspeople]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #8]

Thanks for the supplied quote that, this time at least, you're willing to entertain, conveniently.

‘If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them,

4 then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

5 Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing;

you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

6 I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid;

I will rid the land of evil[a] beasts,

and the sword will not go through your land.'

Seems these aren't anything special when you look at the whole text. This happens all the time with people that "walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them," and those that don't.
I'd have to conclude, this is meaningless as 'special protection'.