18 Then they returned to Elisha, who had waited at Jericho, and he said to them, “Didn't I tell you not to go?”
19 Some men from Jericho went to Elisha and said, “As you know, sir, this is a fine city, but the water is bad and causes miscarriages.”
20 “Put some salt in a new bowl, and bring it to me,” he ordered. They brought it to him,
21 and he went to the spring, threw the salt in the water, and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I make this water pure, and it will not cause any more deaths or miscarriages.’ ”
22 And that water has been pure ever since, just as Elisha said it would be.
23 Elisha left Jericho to go to Bethel, and on the way some boys came out of a town and made fun of him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they shouted.
24 Elisha turned round, glared at them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and tore 42 of the boys to pieces.