Day 168-11

And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.  (2 Kings 2:23)

little  - H6996 - From H6962; abbreviated, that is, diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance.

• H6962 - A primitive root; properly to cut off, that is, (figuratively) detest.

children - H5288 - From H5287; (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication a servant; also (by interchange of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age).

• H5287 - A primitive root (probably identical with H5286, through the idea of the rustling of mane, which usually accompanies the lion’s roar); to tumble about.

Gill's commentary:

there came forth little children out of the city; the word for "children" is used of persons of thirty or forty years of age; and though these are said to be "little", they were so well grown as to be able to go forth out of the city of themselves, without any to guide them, or to take care of them; and were of an age capable not only of taking notice of Elijah's baldness, but knew him to be a prophet, and were able to distinguish between good and evil; and, from a malignant spirit in them, mocked at him as such, and at the assumption of Elijah; which they had knowledge of, and to whom, taught by their idolatrous parents, they had an aversion: some Jewish writers (x) say, they were called "Naarim", which we render "children", because shaken from the commandments, or had shaken off the yoke of the commands; and "little", because they were of little faith: 

So...they ought to have known better!  Which makes me ponder the word mock...and would or could I be guilty of the same?

mocked - H7046 - A primitive root; to disparage, that is, ridicule.

Used only 4 times in 4 verses.  Intriguing.  The verse above, Ezekiel 16:31; 22:5; and Habakkuk 1:10.

And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.  (2 Kings 2:24)

cursed - H7043 - A primitive root; to be (causatively make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.).

Mar every good piece of land with stones?  2 Kings 3:19 and 25.

Gill:  and mar every good piece of land with stones; as that it could not be ploughed and sowed, nor anything spring up and grow upon it.

and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; which they had taken out of the walls and houses they pulled down; or which they picked up in the highway, as they passed along, being a stony country; or which being laid in heaps, gathered out of the fields, they took and scattered them all over them: 

And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.  But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.  (2 Kings 3:14-15)

minstrel - H5059 - A primitive root; prop to thrum, that is, beat a tune with the fingers; especially to play on a stringed instrument; hence (generally) to make music.

Used 15 times in 12 verses...Used in 1 Samuel in reference to David and his playing.  In the Psalms of playing  skillfully or with a loud noise.  (I had to laugh at that one...definitely need to research that loud portion.)  In Isaiah of making a melody, singing a song.

And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.  (2 Kings 4:4)

My notation on this one...a witness to her sons.  How am I representing Father to my children, friends, family?  Am I giving a proper estimate of Him?  Trusting Him in and through all of life and its challenges?

Lord, help each of Your vessels to give a proper estimate of You in all our ways.  Daily drawing closer and give a better reflection of You.