2 Kings Chapter 5
Naaman’s Leprosy Healed
1 Naaman, commander of Aram’s army, was a great man with his master and highly respected, because by him Yahveh had given victory to Aram. He was a mighty soldier, but he was a leper. 2 The Arameans had gone out in bands and taken captive a little girl from Israel, who became a maid for Naaman’s wife. 3 She told her mistress, “I wish my master would go see the prophet that’s in Samaria. He’d cure his leprosy.”
4 Naaman went in and told his master what she’d said.
5 The king said, “Go ahead. I’ll send a letter to the king of Israel.”
He left with 755 lbs 10 talents of silver, 150 lbs 6,000 shekels of gold, and 10 changes of clothes. 6 He took the letter to king Ahab and said, “Along with this letter, I’ve sent my servant Naaman so you can cure his leprosy.”
7 When he read it, he tore his clothes,
“Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man is sending me a message to cure a man from leprosy? He’s trying to pick a fight.” 2 Kg 5:1-7
8 When Elisha heard the king had torn his clothes, he sent him a message, “Why tear your clothes? Send him to me. He’ll know there’s a prophet in Israel.” 9 Naaman went with his horses and chariots, and stood at Elisha’s door. 10 Elisha sent his messenger to him, “Go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Your flesh will be restored, and you’ll be clean.” 11 Naaman was furious and left,
“I thought surely he’d come out and call on Yahveh his God, and wave his hand over the place to cure a leper. 12 Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than any river in Israel? Couldn’t I have dipped myself in them to be clean?”
He turned around and left in a rage.
13 His officers came up to him,
“Father, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? How much more when he just says to dip yourself to be clean?”
14 He went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan. His flesh became like a little child’s, and he was clean. 2 Kg 5:8-14
15 He went back to the man of God with his company, stood in front of him, and said, “Now I know there’s no God except in Israel. Please accept a present from me.”
16 But Elisha swore, “As sure as Yahveh lives that I serve, I won’t take a thing.”
He urged him to take it, but he refused.
17 Naaman said,
“If not, please let me at least have two mules’ loads of dirt, because I won’t offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but Yahveh. 18 May Yahveh pardon me when my master goes into Rimmon’s temple to worship and leans on my hand and I bow there too.”
19 He told him, “Have a good day.”
He went away to go home.
2 Kg 5:15-19
20 Gehazi thought, “My master has spared this Naaman the Aramean by not accepting what he brought. As sure as Yahveh lives, I’ll run and accept something from him.” 21 When Naaman saw somebody running after him, he got down out of the chariot to meet him, “Is everything all right?”
22 He said,
“Everything’s fine. My master sent me to say that two young men from the school of the prophets just came from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them 75½ lbs a talent of silver and two changes of clothes.”
23 Naaman said, “Please take 151 lbs two talents.” 2 Kg 5:20-23a
He urged him and put 151 lbs two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes, and gave them to two of his men to carry ahead of him. 24 When Gehazi got to the hill, he took them and put them in the house, and they left. 25 But when he went inside, Elisha said, “Where’ve you been?”
“I didn’t go anywhere.”
26 Didn’t my spirit go with you when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money and clothes, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? 27 You and your descendants will permanently have to cope with leprosy like Naaman’s.”
He went away as a leper as white as snow. 2 Kg 5:23b-27