2 Kings

Naaman of Syria and Elisha

Naaman was the army commander of the king of Aram. This man was highly regarded and enjoyed the king’s favor, for the Lord had helped him lead the Aramean army to victory. But this valiant man was sick with leprosy.

One day, some Aramean soldiers raided the land of Israel and took a young girl captive, who became a servant to the wife of Naaman. She said to her mistress:

“If my master would only present himself to the prophet in Samaria, he would surely cure him of his leprosy.”

Naaman went to tell the king what the young Israelite maid had said.

The king of Aram said to him: “Go to the prophet, and I shall also send a letter to the king of Israel.”So Naaman took ten silver talents, six thousand gold pieces, and ten festal garments with him.

On his arrival, he delivered the letter to the king of Israel. It said, “I present my servant Naaman to you that you may heal him of his leprosy.

When the king read the letter, he tore his clothes to show his indignation: “I am not God to give life or death. And the king of Aram sends me this man to be healed! You see, he is just looking for an excuse for war.”

Elisha, the man of God, learned that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, so he sent this message to him: “Why have you torn your clothes? Let the man come to me, that he may know that Israel has a prophet.”

So Naaman stopped before Elisha’s house with his horses and chariots.

Elisha then sent a messenger to tell him: “Go to the river Jordan and wash seven times, and your flesh shall be as it was before, and you shall be cleansed.”

Naaman was angry, so he left. He thought: “On my arrival, he should have personally come out and then paused and called on the name of the Lord, his God. And he should have touched the infected part with his hand, and I would have been healed.

Are the rivers of Damascus, Abana, and Pharpar not better than all the rivers of the land of Israel? Could I not wash there to be healed?”

His servants approached him and said: “Father, if the prophet had ordered you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? But how much easier when he said: ‘Take a bath and you will be cleansed.’”

So Naaman went down to the Jordan, washing himself seven times as Elisha had ordered. His skin became soft like a child’s, and he was cleansed.

Then Naaman returned to the man of God with all his men. He entered and said to him, “Now I know that there is no other God anywhere in the world but in Israel. I ask you to accept these gifts from your servant.”

But Elisha answered: “I swear by the Lord whom I serve, I will accept nothing.” And however much Naaman insisted, Elisha would not accept his gifts.

So Naaman told him: “Since you refuse, let me get some sacks of soil from your land—the amount that two mules can carry. I shall use it to build an altar to the Lord, for I shall not offer sacrifices to any other god but him.

But may the Lord pardon me: when my king goes to the temple of his god Rimmon, he leans on my arm, and I bow down with him. May the Lord pardon me for this.”

Elisha answered: “Go in peace.” And Naaman went.Naaman was already at a certain distance,

when Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, thought:“Imagine that my lord refused to take the gifts that the Aramean brought! As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get some of them!”

Gehazi went after Naaman, and Naaman saw Gehazi running after him, so he jumped out of his chariot to greet him.

Gehazi said to him: “Pardon me, lord, my master sent me to say to you: ‘Two young men from the community of the prophets have just come to me from the mountain of Ephraim. ‘Kindly give me a talent of silver and two new garments for them.’” Naaman replied:

“Please accept two talents of silver.”He insisted that Gehazi accept them, so he put the two talents of silver, along with two new garments, in two sacks and handed them over to two of his servants, who carried them before Gehazi.

When they reached the hill, Gehazi took them from their hands and put them away in his house. Then he sent the two servants of Naaman away, and they left.

When he appeared before his master, Elisha asked him: “Where have you been, Gehazi?” He answered: “Your servant has not been anywhere.”

Elisha replied: “I was there in spirit when a man turned and got down from his chariot to meet you. This is not the proper time to accept silver or clothes, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, cattle, and male and female servants.

Therefore, Naaman’s skin disease will afflict you and your descendants forever!” When Gehazi left his presence, his skin was as white as snow.