2 Kings 5

Naaman's Healing and Gehazi's Punishment

¹Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria; he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.

²The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little girl, and she waited on Naaman’s wife.

³She said to her mistress, “I wish that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy.”

⁴Someone went in and told his lord, saying, “The girl who is from the land of Israel said this.”

⁵The king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” He departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing.

⁶He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.”

⁷When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his leprosy? But please consider and see how he seeks a quarrel against me.”

⁸It was so, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

⁹So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

¹⁰Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean.”

¹¹But Naaman was angry, and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.’

¹²Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.

¹³His servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had asked you do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”

¹⁴Then went he down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

¹⁵He returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, “See now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel. Now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.”

¹⁶But he said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” He urged him to take it; but he refused.

¹⁷Naaman said, “If not, then, please let two mules’ load of earth be given to your servant; for your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to the LORD.

¹⁸In this thing may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon. When I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may the LORD pardon your servant in this thing.”

¹⁹He said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him a little way.

²⁰But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him, and take something from him.”

²¹So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him, and said, “Is all well?”

²²He said, “All is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Behold, even now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’”

²³Naaman said, “Be pleased to take two talents.” He urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants; and they carried them before him.

²⁴When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand, and stored them in the house. Then he let the men go, and they departed.

²⁵But he went in, and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you come from, Gehazi?” He said, “Your servant went nowhere.”

²⁶He said to him, “Didn’t my heart go with you when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive groves and vineyards, and sheep and cattle, and male servants and female servants?

²⁷Therefore the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and to your offspring forever.” He went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow.

Previous 2 Kings 4

Next 2 Kings 6

Naaman, a Syrian military commander afflicted with leprosy, seeks healing from the prophet Elisha after learning of him through an Israelite servant girl. Initially offended by Elisha's simple instruction to wash in the Jordan River, Naaman eventually obeys and is miraculously healed, leading to his confession of faith in Israel's God. The chapter concludes with Gehazi, Elisha's servant, being struck with leprosy as punishment for secretly accepting gifts that Elisha had refused.

Context

This chapter continues the Elisha cycle, demonstrating God's power extending beyond Israel's borders and contrasting faithful service with corrupt opportunism.

Key Themes

Outline

1-4
Naaman's Condition and the Servant Girl's Testimony A leprous Syrian commander learns of Elisha's healing power through a captive Israelite girl.
5-7
The King's Letter and Israel's King's Distress Syria's king sends Naaman with gifts to Israel's king, who fears this is a pretext for war.
8-12
Elisha's Simple Prescription and Naaman's Anger Elisha instructs Naaman to wash in the Jordan, but the proud commander rejects this humble remedy.
13-14
Servants' Counsel and Naaman's Obedience Naaman's servants persuade him to try the simple cure, resulting in complete healing.
15-19
Naaman's Confession and Elisha's Refusal of Payment The healed commander acknowledges Israel's God and offers gifts, which Elisha refuses.
20-27
Gehazi's Deception and Divine Punishment Elisha's servant secretly pursues Naaman for rewards and is struck with leprosy for his greed.

Naaman's Healing and Gehazi's Punishment

5:1–5:27

narrative narration solemn

Syrian commander Naaman is healed of leprosy through humble obedience to Elisha's simple instructions, while Gehazi is punished with leprosy for his greed. The story contrasts faith and humility with pride and avarice.

person_contrast

Naaman's transformation from proud Syrian commander to humble supplicant mirrors Israel's own journey from exile to restoration, with the foreign general embodying the faith Israel often lacked.

Insight Character Study

Naaman's transformation from proud Syrian commander to humble supplicant mirrors Israel's own journey from exile to restoration, with the foreign general embodying the faith Israel often lacked.