ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Bears, Boys, and a Bald Prophet

Ko e Ongo Pea, Kau Tamaiki mo e Palofita Tula

2 KINGS 2:23-24

[ELISHA] 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!" AND HE TURNED AROUND, AND WHEN HE SAW THEM, HE CURSED THEM IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. AND TWO SHE-BEARS CAME OUT OF THE WOODS AND TORE FORTY-TWO OF THE BOYS.

2 TU’I 2:23-24

23 Pea ne ‘alu hake mei ai ki Pēteli: pea ‘i he‘ene fononga ‘i he hala, na‘e hū ki tu‘a ha kau tamaiki mei he kolo, ‘o nau taukae‘i ia he‘enau pehē, Hiki mo e tula! Hiki mo e tula!

24 Pea ne tafoki ki mui, ‘o sio kiate kinautolu, ‘o ne tukitala‘i kinautolu ‘i he huafa ‘o Sihova. Pea hū mai mei he vao ha ongo pea fefine, ‘o na hae ha toko fāngofulu mā ua ‘o e tamaiki ko ia.

Ko e talanoa ‘o e peaa ‘oku lahi ‘a e ma’u halaa. Ko e fo’i lea faka-Hepelu ki he “kau tamaiki” ‘e lava pe ia ke liliu ko e “kau talavou.”  ‘Oku ‘i ai ‘a e tui, ko e kau tangata mei he kau lotu Peali ‘i Peteli. Ko e fo’i lea keleake (“tula”) ‘oku ha pe ia heni pea mo Levitiko 13:40 fekau’aki mo e mahaki kili. ‘Oku ‘i ai ‘a e tui, na’a nau talakae’i (lau’i) ‘a ‘Ilaisa ‘oku ta’ema’a. ‘Oku nau lea, “hiki” (‘alu hake), ‘o ‘uhinga ke fai mo “puli” hangee ko ‘Ilaisiaa, ‘a ‘ene tamai fakalaumalie. ‘I hono fakama’opo’opoo, ko e fehangahangai taimi nounou ‘a e palofita ‘a Sihova mo e kau lotu Peali. 

Kimu’a ‘i he hoko ‘a e me’a ni, na’e kolosi hala momoa ‘a ‘Ilaisa ‘i he vai Soatani hangee pe ko ‘Ilaisiaa. Pea hangee ko ‘Ilaisiaa, na’e fehangahangai ‘a ‘Ilaisa ‘o fai tau mo e kau lotu ‘aitoli, pea ne talatuki’i kinautolu pea iku tamate’i ‘e he ongo pea. Ko e taha pe eni ‘i he ngaahi tau ‘i he vaha’a ‘o e fa’ahi ‘a e maamaa mo e po’uli - mo’oni mo e loi - ko e tau ‘e toki ‘osi ‘i he foki mai ‘a e Tu’i kuo hilifaki ‘a e kalauni ki hono ‘ulu (Fakaha 1:14; 19:12).

Fakahaofi kimautolu, ‘E ‘Otua, mei he ngaahi ngutu loi mo e ‘elelo taukae, kae tuku ke mau fakalangilangi’i pe koe tokotaha.

This "bear story" is easily misunderstood. The Hebrew for "small boys" could just as accurately be translated "young men." They were likely associated with the worship of Baal in Bethel. The word qereach ("baldhead") occurs only here and in Leviticus, in a section about skin disease (13:40). This suggests they were mocking him as unclean. They also say, "Go up!" meaning disappear, just like Elijah, his spiritual father, had just done. In short, this is a brief but fierce confrontation between the prophet of Yahweh and the worshipers of Baal.

Right before this, Elisha crossed the Jordan on dry ground, like Joshua had done. And like Joshua, Elisha now confronts and fights idolaters, who he curses and kills with bears. This is just one more episode in the age-old war between light and darkness, truth and lies - a war that will end when the King returns with a diadem crown adorning his brow (Rev. 1:14; 19:12).

Rescue us, O Lord, from lying lips and mocking tongues, that we may glorify you alone.