2 Kings 5:14-17
Chapter 5
14
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.
15
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.”
16
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.
17
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.
Commentaries
Naaman of Syria and Elisha.
This story can be summarized as follows: “There is no God in all the earth except the God of Israel” (15), words spoken by Naaman, a Syrian officer who is healed by the prophet Elisha. It also shows how the Deuteronomistic perspective, responsible for the Book of Kings, understands and illustrates the issue of God’s universality and, therefore, His absolute sovereignty.