Topical Bible: The Bear: Inhabits Woods

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The bear, a formidable creature known for its strength and ferocity, is mentioned several times in the Bible, often symbolizing danger and divine judgment. In the ancient Near East, bears were common in the wooded regions, and their presence in biblical texts reflects both their literal and metaphorical significance.

Biblical References:

1. 2 Kings 2:24 · One of the most notable accounts involving bears is found in the account of the prophet Elisha. After being mocked by a group of youths, Elisha calls down a curse in the name of the LORD, and two female bears come out of the woods and maul forty-two of the boys. This event underscores the seriousness of disrespecting God's prophets and serves as a warning of divine retribution: "Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys."

2. 1 Samuel 17:34-37 · Bears are also mentioned in the context of David's early life as a shepherd. David recounts to King Saul how he defended his flock from both lions and bears, demonstrating his courage and God's protection over him. This passage highlights the bear as a symbol of the challenges and dangers that can be overcome through faith and divine assistance: "But David said to Saul, 'Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it.'"

3. Proverbs 28:15 · In the wisdom literature, the bear is used metaphorically to describe the oppressive nature of a wicked ruler: "Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people." This comparison emphasizes the destructive power and fearsome presence of both the bear and a tyrant, serving as a caution against unjust leadership.

4. Isaiah 11:7 · In prophetic literature, the bear is depicted in a vision of peace and harmony in the Messianic age. Isaiah describes a time when natural enemies will coexist peacefully, symbolizing the restoration and reconciliation brought about by the Messiah: "The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox."

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In biblical symbolism, the bear often represents danger, strength, and judgment. Its presence in the woods, a place of mystery and potential peril, further enhances its role as a creature to be respected and feared. The bear's depiction in Scripture serves as a reminder of God's power to protect and deliver His people from harm, as well as His authority to execute judgment on those who oppose His will.

The bear's role in biblical narratives and metaphors reflects the broader themes of divine justice, protection, and the ultimate peace that will be established in God's kingdom. Through these references, the bear becomes a powerful symbol of both the challenges faced by the faithful and the hope of redemption and restoration.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 2:24
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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Humbly Inscribed to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, one of his ...
... Inhabits all things, but the thought of man. ... Till it has taught him how to bear
it well,. ... The fields, woods, meads, and rivers, he has pass'd; ...
/.../young/youngs night thoughts/humbly inscribed to his grace.htm

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
... have the Holy Spirit taking complete possession of the one whom He inhabits. ... pushing
individual verses in the Scriptures beyond what they will bear and against ...
/.../torrey/the person and work of the holy spirit/chapter xx the baptism with.htm

The Second Theological Oration.
... both what sort of character he ought to bear, and on ... malignantly lurk in his den
among the woods, to catch ... He bring upon it the Nautilus that inhabits the dry ...
/.../lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxviii the second theological.htm

The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea
... panelled with cedar or cypress"rare woods procured as ... with sufficiently acute senses
to bear without danger ... it is said of Merodach that he "inhabits the image ...
/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... title from the mountain-tops which she inhabits"Dindymene on ... the people on whom it
was brought to bear. ... race, attached to their fields and woods, loutish and ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm