지리적, 언어적, 문화적 배경으로 읽는 열왕기하 2:23-24

Abstract

Even if critics see the same scene in a drama, they often give different reviews and interpretations. This is because they have different impressions depending on their own social environment, educational background, and emotional responses. Only when critics try to understand the background and intention of the director(writer) who wrote the drama and the director who directed it, can they grasp the true meaning of a scene. When it comes to the scene of 2 Kings 2:23-24, biblical scholars also need to return to its background and intent. When we understand the geographical, linguistic, and cultural background of its era, we can forget about the wacky and fiery Bald Elisha, who has cursed little children.BR After Elijah’s ascension, Elisha wearing his master’s coat went up to Bethel where there were religious troubles. He would have met the sons of the prophets in Bethel as he had met them in Jericho. But he could not even enter Bethel because he was blocked by ‘nearim ktanim’ on the way there. The exact meaning of this phrase requires clarification. First, there are various examples of ‘nearim’ in the Bible. The term can refer to young men between the ages of 13 and 25 years. This range of ages means that the ‘nearim’ were at the age of marriage, but they probably had not yet become fathers. The word ‘ktanim’ used to be translated as “little”but this word rather means ‘young’ in this phrase. Thus the ages of ‘nearim ktanim’ must be estimated at around 13-17. They were old enough to be responsible for their own words and actions. They might be immature but they were not childish when they spoke the words “Go up, baldhead!” They meant to tease Elisha, the prophet of YHWH. Despite the fact that the priests of Egypt and other nations were bald, Israel had a negative view of baldness. Given that Elisha was 25-30 years old at the time, he was less likely to be bald. Therefore, it was a blasphemy to call Elisha a bald man because they were referring to him as the leader of foreign religion, not as YHWH’s prophet. Elijah, who chastised them went up (alla, meaning “to go up”) into heaven and did not bother them anymore. The same word ‘alla’ was used against Elisha. They told Elisha to go up, meaning that as Elijah went up and disappeared,“Elisha, you too, go away, get out of here, disappear, and do not bother us.” The act of insulting the prophets of YHWH was to mock YHWH. They were punished based on “Whoever does not listen to my words, to those who speak in my name will be punished by me” (Deu. 18:18-19) and “They will send wild animals among you, and your ways shall be desolate”(Lev 26:22). The result was terrible. Two female bears came and tore them apart. It was not because of their mockery of Elisha’s physical condition that they were punished, but because of their faithlessness in interfering in the ministry of YHWH’s prophet. The rumor about this event in Bethel likely spread throughout Israel and proclaimed that the Lord had started to pass judgment on Israel’s religious problems.