Elisha was a man of mild and kindly spirit; but that he could also be stern is shown by his course when, on the way to Bethel, he was mocked by ungodly youth who had come out of the city. These youth had heard of Elijah's ascension, and they made this solemn event the subject of their jeers, saying to Elisha, "Go up, thou bald head; go up, 236 thou bald head." At the sound of their mocking words the prophet turned back, and under the inspiration of the Almighty he pronounced a curse upon them. The awful judgment that followed was of God. "There came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two" of them. 2 Kings 2:23, 24.

Elisa havde et mildt og venligt væsen, men kunne også være streng. Det viste han, da han engang blev spottet af nogle gudløse unge mennesker uden for Betel. De unge havde hørt om Elias himmelfart og drev spot med denne højtidelige begivenhed ved at sige til Elisa: "Kom herop, skaldepande, kom herop, skaldepande!" Da profeten hørte dem spotte, blev han tilskyndet af den Almægtige til at udtale en forbandelse over dem. Det var Gud, der straffede dem. "Så kom to bjørne ud af krattet og sønderrev to og fyrretyve" af dem. 2Kong. 2,23-24.