Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Kings 2:23

23 ¶ And he went up from thence unto Bethel : and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city , and mocked him , and said unto him, Go up , thou baldhead , go up thou bald-head .

To the other School or Colledge of Prophets, to inform them of Elijah's translation, and his succession into the same office; and to direct, and comfort, and stablish them, as he saw occasion.

Or, children: or, young men: as this Hebrew word oft signifies, as Gen. 22. 5, 12. and 41. 12. 2 Chr. 13. 7. Isa. 11. 6. It is more than probable they were old enough to discern between good and evil, as their expression sheweth.

Bethel, which was the mother-City of Idolatry, 1 King. 12. 28, 29. Hos. 4. 15. and 5. 8. where the Prophets planted themselves, that they might bear witness against it, and dissuade the people from it; though, it seems, they had but small success there.

With great petulancy and vehemency, as the conjugaiton of the Hebrew Verb signifies; deriding both his Person and Ministry, and that from a prophane contempt of the True Religion, and a passionate Love to that Idolatry which they knew he opposed.

Go up into Heaven, whither thou pretendest that Elijah is gone. Why didst not thou accompany thy Friend and Master to Heaven? O that the same Spirit would take thee up also, that thou mightest not trouble us nor our Israel, as Elijah did!

So they mock his Natural infirmity, which is a great sin.

There petition shews their heartiness and earnestness, that it was no sudden nor rash slip of their Tongue, but a scoff proceeding from a rooted impiety and hatred of God and his Prophets.