THE BEAR. 45

subject, to explain the term “little children” as used in
this chapter, which has often given rise to animadversion.
“The term is the same which Solomon applied to himeelf
when not much, if anything, less than twenty years of age,
- and which is elsewhere applied to young but full-grown
men. The translation ‘little children’ is, therefore, cal-
culated to give a wrong impression of this transaction.
They were, doubtless, profane young men, of the city where
the golden calf was worshipped, well enough able to know
what they were about; but who, nevertheless, poured forth
not merely, or principally, expressions of personal contempt
to Elisha, but of derision at the translation of Elijah, when
they thus abusively told him to‘go up’ after his master.
Their act, therefore, did not incur the fearful punishment
which followed, merely as an act of disrespect to the prophet,
but also as a grievous insult to the power and majesty of
God.”*

To the use of the bear, either as food, or of its fur in
clothing, we find no allusions in the Scriptures. It was cer-
tainly not eaten by the Jews, being included amongst those
animals which, from their conformation, were considered
unclean, and were forbidden to them; the fur would also

* Pictorial Bible—2 Kings i.