2 Kings 5 (NET)

Elisha Heals a Syrian General

1 Now Naaman, the commander of the king of Syria’s army, was esteemed and respected by his master,1 for through him the Lord had given Syria military victories. But this great warrior had a skin disease.2 2 Raiding parties went out from Syria and took captive from the land of Israel a young girl, who became a servant to Naaman’s wife. 3 She told her mistress, “If only my master were in the presence of the prophet who is in Samaria!3 Then he would cure him of his skin disease.”

4 Naaman4 went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 The king of Syria said, “Go! I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman5 went, taking with him ten talents6 of silver, six thousand shekels of gold,7 and ten suits of clothes. 6 He brought the letter to king of Israel. It read: “This is a letter of introduction for my servant Naaman,8 whom I have sent to be cured of his skin disease.” 7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill or restore life? Why does he ask me to cure a man of his skin disease?9 Certainly you must see that he is looking for an excuse to fight me!”10

8 When Elisha the prophet11 heard that the king had torn his clothes, he sent this message to the king, “Why did you tear your clothes? Send him12 to me so he may know there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood in the doorway of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent out a messenger who told him, “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan; your skin will be restored13 and you will be healed.” 11 Naaman went away angry. He said, “Look, I thought for sure he would come out, stand there, invoke the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the area, and cure the skin disease. 12 The rivers of Damascus, the Abana and Pharpar, are better than any of the waters of Israel!14 Could I not wash in them and be healed?” So he turned around and went away angry. 13 His servants approached and said to him, “O master,15 if the prophet had told you to do some difficult task,16 you would have been willing to do it.17 It seems you should be happy that he simply said, “Wash and you will be healed.”18 14 So he went down and dipped in the Jordan seven times, as the prophet had instructed.19 His skin became as smooth as a young child’s20 and he was healed.

15 He and his entire entourage returned to the prophet. Naaman21 came and stood before him. He said, “For sure22 I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel! Now, please accept a gift from your servant.” 16 But Elisha23 replied, “As certainly as the Lord lives (whom I serve),24 I will take nothing from you.” Naaman25 insisted that he take it, but he refused. 17 Naaman said, “If not, then please give your servant a load of dirt, enough for a pair of mules to carry,26 for your servant will never again offer a burnt offering or sacrifice to a god other than the Lord.27 18 May the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to worship, and he leans on my arm and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.”28 19 Elisha29 said to him, “Go in peace.”

When he had gone a short distance,30 20 Gehazi, the prophet Elisha’s servant, thought,31 “Look, my master did not accept what this Syrian Naaman offered him.32 As certainly as the Lord lives, I will run after him and accept something from him.” 21 So Gehazi ran after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from his chariot to meet him and asked, “Is everything all right?”33 22 He answered, “Everything is fine.34 My master sent me with this message, ‘Look, two servants of the prophets just arrived from the Ephraimite hill country.35 Please give them a talent36 of silver and two suits of clothes.’” 23 Naaman said, “Please accept two talents of silver.37 He insisted, and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, along with two suits of clothes. He gave them to two of his servants and they carried them for Gehazi.38 24 When he arrived at the hill, he took them from the servants39 and put them in the house. Then he sent the men on their way.40

25 When he came and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” He answered, “Your servant hasn’t been anywhere.” 26 Elisha41 replied, “I was there in spirit when a man turned and got down from his chariot to meet you.42 This is not the proper time to accept silver or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, cattle, and male and female servants.43 27 Therefore Naaman’s skin disease will afflict44 you and your descendants forever!” When Gehazi45 went out from his presence, his skin was as white as snow.46

15:1tn Heb “was a great man before his master and lifted up with respect to the face.” 25:1tn For a discussion of מְצֹרָע (mÿtsora’), traditionally translated “leprous,” see M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 63. Naaman probably had a skin disorder of some type, not leprosy/Hansen’s disease. 35:3map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1. 45:4tn Heb “he”; the referent (Naaman) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 55:5tn Heb “he”; the referent (Naaman) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 65:5tn The Hebrew term כִּכָּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or to a standard unit of weight, generally regarded as a talent. Since the accepted weight for a talent of metal is about 75 pounds, this would have amounted to about 750 pounds of silver (cf. NCV, NLT, CEV). 75:5tn Heb “six thousand gold […].” The unit of measure is not given in the Hebrew text. A number of English versions supply “pieces” (e.g., KJV, ASV, NAB, TEV) or “shekels” (e.g., NASB, NIV, NRSV). 85:6tn Heb “and now when this letter comes to you, look, I have sent to you Naaman my servant.” 95:7tn Heb “Am I God, killing and restoring life, that this one sends to me to cure a man from his skin disease?” In the Hebrew text this is one lengthy rhetorical question, which has been divided up in the translation for stylistic reasons. 105:7tn Heb “Indeed, know and see that he is seeking an occasion with respect to me.” 115:8tn Heb “man of God” (also in vv. 15, 20). 125:8tn Heb “Let him come.” 135:10tn Heb “will return to you.” 145:12tn Heb “Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all of the waters of Israel?” The rhetorical question expects an emphatic “yes” as an answer. 155:13tn Heb “my father,” reflecting the perspective of each individual servant. To address their master as “father” would emphasize his authority and express their respect. See BDB 3 s.v. אָב and the similar idiomatic use of “father” in 2 Kgs 2:12. 165:13tn Heb “a great thing.” 175:13tn Heb “would you not do [it]?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course you would.” 185:13tn Heb “How much more [when] he said, “Wash and be healed.” The second imperative (“be healed”) states the expected result of obeying the first (‘wash”). 195:14tn Heb “according to the word of the man of God.” 205:14tn Heb “and his skin was restored, like the skin of a small child.” 215:15tn Heb “he”; the referent (Naaman) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 225:15tn Heb “look.” 235:16tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 245:16tn Heb “before whom I stand.” 255:16tn Heb “he”; the referent (Naaman) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 265:17tn Heb “and [if] not, may there be given to your servant a load [for] a pair of mules, earth.” 275:17tn Heb “for your servant will not again make a burnt offering and sacrifice to other gods, only to the Lord.” 285:18tn Heb “When my master enters the house of Rimmon to bow down there, and he leans on my hand and I bow down [in] the house of Rimmon, when I bow down [in] the house of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this thing.”sn Rimmon was the Syrian storm god. See M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 65. 295:19tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 305:19tn Heb “and he went from him a distance of land.” The precise meaning of כִּבְרַה (kivrah) “distance,” is uncertain. See BDB 460 s.v. כִּבְרַה, and HALOT 459-60 s.v. II *כְּבָרַה, and M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 65. 315:20tn Heb “said” (i.e., to himself). 325:20tn Heb “Look, my master spared this Syrian Naaman by not taking from his hand what he brought.” 335:21tn Heb “Is there peace?” 345:22tn Heb “peace.” 355:22tn Heb “Look now, here, two servants came to me from the Ephraimite hill country, from the sons of the prophets.” 365:22tn The Hebrew term כִּכָּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or to a standard unit of weight, generally regarded as a talent. Since the accepted weight for a talent of metal is about 75 pounds, this would have amounted to about 75 pounds of silver (cf. NCV, NLT, CEV). 375:23tn Heb “Be resolved and accept two talents.” 385:23tn Heb “before him.” 395:24tn Heb “from their hand.” 405:24tn Heb “and he sent the men away and they went.” 415:26tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 425:26tn Heb “Did not my heart go as a man turned from his chariot to meet you?” The rhetorical question emphasizes that he was indeed present in “heart” (or “spirit”) and was very much aware of what Gehazi had done. In the MT the interrogative particle has been accidentally omitted before the negative particle. 435:26tn In the MT the statement is phrased as a rhetorical question, “Is this the time…?” It expects an emphatic negative response. 445:27tn Heb “cling to.” 455:27tn Heb “he”; the referent (Gehazi) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 465:27tn Traditionally, “he went from before him, leprous like snow.” But see the note at 5:1, as well as M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 66.