An Old Jew by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It originates from 2 Kings 2:23–24 in the Hebrew Bible. The prophet Elisha is on his way to Bethel when a group of youths confronts him, mocking him by calling him "bald-head" and telling him to "go up," likely referencing his mentor Elijah's ascent to heaven. Elisha curses them in God's name, and two female bears quickly emerge from the woods nearby, mauling forty-two of the children. This passage is among the most unsettling and controversial in the Old Testament.

He is using it as a warning—essentially saying: children like you once mocked a holy man, and look at the consequences they faced. It's a threat cloaked in scripture, something an exasperated elder might pull out when he wants the kids to back off and feel a bit of fear.

There’s a definitely dark comic twist to it. The image of an exasperated old man calling for bear attacks on annoying kids is absurd at its core, and Longfellow seems to get that. Yet, the anger beneath it is genuine, and the poem also delivers a serious message about the disrespect faced by elderly and marginalized individuals.

It’s the taunt that children in the Bible directed at Elisha. "Go up" likely mocks the way Elijah, Elisha's mentor, was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind — the youths are sarcastically telling Elisha to vanish like that. "Bald-head" is just a jab at his looks, intended to belittle his dignity as a prophet.

"Tare" is an old past tense of the verb "to tear." Thus, "tare them" indicates that the bears tore the children apart. Longfellow intentionally uses this archaic form — it aligns with the biblical tone of the old man's speech and adds a raw, timeless gravity to the ending.

The title directs our focus to the speaker rather than the story being told. Longfellow portrays a character sketch of a real, living individual — an elderly Jewish man facing harassment in his era. While the biblical story serves as his tool, the poem centers on him: his dignity, his anger, and his position in a world that doesn't consistently show him respect.

The poem uses free verse, lacking a consistent rhyme scheme or meter. Its short, punchy lines reflect the rhythm of someone speaking in agitation. This informal structure enhances the raw and spontaneous feel of expressing anger and frustration.

At its core, the poem explores age and the disrespect often directed at the elderly, linking to themes of identity and justice. It also reflects on memory—the old man embodies the weight of scripture as a living resource—and addresses anger as a rightful response to mistreatment.