The answer is: Two bears came out of the woods and killed them

2 Ki 2:24

In 2 Kings 2:24, the story of Elisha and the bear attack certainly stands out as one of the more surprising events in the Bible. The passage highlights not just Elisha’s prophetic authority but also how quickly a light-hearted moment can turn grim. One could ponder the role of humor in biblical texts—with the children probably playfully taunting Elisha’s baldness, their actions unintentionally spiraling into chaos when faced with the divine authority Elisha carried.

Interestingly enough, this grievous incident reflects the cultural context of the time. Young people showing disrespect to a leader, especially a prophet, was seen as a serious offense, revealing deeply held beliefs about authority and divine representation. Also worth noting is the power symbolism in biblical storytelling; the arrival of the two bears acts as a vivid illustration of immediate justice from on high, perhaps aiming to remind the reader of the serious nature of standing against the divine calling.

Bears in historical contexts, particularly in ancient Israel, were symbols of ferocity and power, which may echo stories larger than this one moment—like those of David who fought bears as a youth in 1 Samuel 17:34-36. So while this story might elicit a laugh at first biracial glimpse, it paints a larger picture of respect for divine guidance and the real, earnest consequences of our words and actions, calling us toward a big-picture perspective on purpose and consequence in our lives.