2 Kings 5
5
Elisha Heals a Syrian General
1 Now Naaman, the commander of the king of Syria’s army, was esteemed and respected by his master,#tn Heb “was a great man before his master and lifted up with respect to the face.” for through him the Lord had given Syria military victories. But this great warrior had a skin disease.#tn 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. 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!#map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1. Then he would cure him of his skin disease.”
4 Naaman#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Naaman) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 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 Naaman#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Naaman) has been specified in the translation for clarity. went, taking with him ten talents#tn 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). of silver, six thousand shekels of gold,#tn 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). 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,#tn Heb “and now when this letter comes to you, look, I have sent to you Naaman my servant.” 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?#tn 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. Certainly you must see that he is looking for an excuse to fight me!”#tn Heb “Indeed, know and see that he is seeking an occasion with respect to me.”
8 When Elisha the prophet#tn Heb “man of God” (also in vv. 15, 20). heard that the king had torn his clothes, he sent this message to the king, “Why did you tear your clothes? Send him#tn Heb “Let him come.” 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 restored#tn Heb “will return to you.” 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!#tn 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. 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,#tn 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. if the prophet had told you to do some difficult task,#tn Heb “a great thing.” you would have been willing to do it.#tn Heb “would you not do [it]?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “Of course you would.” It seems you should be happy that he simply said, “Wash and you will be healed.”#tn 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”). 14 So he went down and dipped in the Jordan seven times, as the prophet had instructed.#tn Heb “according to the word of the man of God.” His skin became as smooth as a young child’s#tn Heb “and his skin was restored, like the skin of a small child.” and he was healed.
15 He and his entire entourage returned to the prophet. Naaman#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Naaman) has been specified in the translation for clarity. came and stood before him. He said, “For sure#tn Heb “look.” I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel! Now, please accept a gift from your servant.” 16 But Elisha#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity. replied, “As certainly as the Lord lives (whom I serve),#tn Heb “before whom I stand.” I will take nothing from you.” Naaman#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Naaman) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 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,#tn Heb “and [if] not, may there be given to your servant a load [for] a pair of mules, earth.” for your servant will never again offer a burnt offering or sacrifice to a god other than the Lord.#tn Heb “for your servant will not again make a burnt offering and sacrifice to other gods, only to the Lord.” 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.”#tn 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. 19 Elisha#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity. said to him, “Go in peace.”
When he had gone a short distance,#tn 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. 20 Gehazi, the prophet Elisha’s servant, thought,#tn Heb “said” (i.e., to himself). “Look, my master did not accept what this Syrian Naaman offered him.#tn Heb “Look, my master spared this Syrian Naaman by not taking from his hand what he brought.” 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?”#tn Heb “Is there peace?” 22 He answered, “Everything is fine.#tn Heb “peace.” My master sent me with this message, ‘Look, two servants of the prophets just arrived from the Ephraimite hill country.#tn Heb “Look now, here, two servants came to me from the Ephraimite hill country, from the sons of the prophets.” Please give them a talent#tn 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). of silver and two suits of clothes.’” 23 Naaman said, “Please accept two talents of silver.#tn Heb “Be resolved and accept two talents.” 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.#tn Heb “before him.” 24 When he arrived at the hill, he took them from the servants#tn Heb “from their hand.” and put them in the house. Then he sent the men on their way.#tn Heb “and he sent the men away and they went.”
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 Elisha#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Elisha) has been specified in the translation for clarity. replied, “I was there in spirit when a man turned and got down from his chariot to meet you.#tn 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. This is not the proper time to accept silver or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, cattle, and male and female servants.#tn In the MT the statement is phrased as a rhetorical question, “Is this the time…?” It expects an emphatic negative response. 27 Therefore Naaman’s skin disease will afflict#tn Heb “cling to.” you and your descendants forever!” When Gehazi#tn Heb “he”; the referent (Gehazi) has been specified in the translation for clarity. went out from his presence, his skin was as white as snow.#tn 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.
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2 Kings 5
5
1Now was there one Naaman captaine of the hoste of the King of Aram, a great man, and honourable in the sight of his lorde, because that by him the Lord had deliuered the Aramites. He also was a mightie man and valiant, but a leper. 2And the Aramites had gone out by bands, and had taken a litle mayde of the land of Israel, and shee serued Naamans wife. 3And she sayd vnto her mistres, Would God my lord were with the Prophet that is in Samaria, he would soone deliuer him of his leprosie. 4And he went in, and tolde his lorde, saying, Thus and thus saith the mayde that is of the land of Israel. 5And the King of Aram sayde, Goe thy way thither, and I will send a letter vnto the King of Israel. And he departed, and tooke with him ten talents of siluer, and sixe thousand pieces of golde, and ten change of rayments, 6And brought the letter to the King of Israel to this effect, Now when this letter is come vnto thee, vnderstand, that I haue sent thee Naaman my seruant, that thou maiest heale him of his leprosie. 7And when the King of Israel had read the letter, he rent his clothes, and sayde, Am I God, to kill and to giue life, that hee doth send to mee, that I should heale a man from his leprosie? wherfore consider, I pray you, and see howe he seeketh a quarel against me. 8But when Elisha the man of God had heard that the King of Israel had rent his clothes, hee sent vnto the King, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall knowe that there is a Prophet in Israel. 9Then Naaman came with his horses, and with his charets, and stoode at the doore of the house of Elisha. 10And Elisha sent a messenger vnto him, saying, Go and wash thee in Iorden seuen times, and thy flesh shall come againe to thee, and thou shalt be clensed. 11But Naaman was wroth and went away, and sayde, Beholde, I thought with my selfe, Hee will surely come out, and stande, and call on the Name of the Lord his God and put his hand on the place, and heale the leprosie. 12Are not Abanah and Pharpar, riuers of Damascus, better then all the waters of Israel? may I not washe mee in them, and bee cleansed? so hee turned, and departed in displeasure. 13But his seruants came, and spake vnto him, and sayd, Father, if the Prophet had commanded thee a great thing, wouldest thou not haue done it? howe much rather then, when hee sayth to thee, Wash and be cleane? 14Then went he downe, and washed him selfe seuen times in Iorden, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came againe, like vnto ye flesh of a litle child, and he was cleane. 15And hee turned againe to the man of God, hee, and all his companie, and came and stood before him, and sayd, Behold, now I knowe that there is no God in all the world, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a reward of thy seruant. 16But hee sayde, As the Lord liueth (before whom I stand) I wil not receiue it. And he would haue constrained him to receiue it, but he refused. 17Moreouer Naaman sayde, Shall there not be giuen to thy seruant two mules loade of this earth? for thy seruant will henceforth offer neither burnt sacrifice nor offring vnto any other god, saue vnto the Lord. 18Herein the Lord bee mercifull vnto thy seruant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon, to worship there, and leaneth on mine hand, and I bowe my selfe in the house of Rimmon: when I doe bowe downe, I say, in the house of Rimmon, the Lord be mercifull vnto thy seruant in this point. 19Vnto whome he saide, Goe in peace. So he departed from him about halfe a dayes iourney of grounde. 20And Gehazi the seruant of Elisha the man of God sayde, Beholde, my master hath spared this Aramite Naaman, receiuing not those things at his hand that he brought: as the Lord liueth, I will runne after him, and take somewhat of him. 21So Gehazi followed speedily after Naaman. And when Naaman sawe him running after him, he light downe from the charet to meete him, and said, Is all well? 22And he answered, All is well: my master hath set me, saying, Behold, there be come to me, euen nowe from mount Ephraim two yong men of the children of the Prophets: giue them, I pray thee, a talent of siluer, and two change of garmets. 23And Naaman saide, Yea, take two talents: and he compelled him, and bound two talents of siluer in two bagges, with two change of garments, and gaue them vnto two of his seruants, that they might beare them before him. 24And when he came to the towre, he tooke them out of their handes, and laide them in the house, and sent away the men: and they departed. 25Then he went in, and stoode before his master. And Elisha said vnto him, Whence commest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy seruant went no whither. 26But he saide vnto him, Went not mine heart with thee when the man turned againe from his charet to meete thee? Is this a time to take money, and to receiue garments, and oliues, and vineyardes, and sheepe, and oxen, and men seruants, and maide seruants? 27The leprosie therefore of Naaman shall cleaue vnto thee, and to thy seede for euer. And he went out from his presence a leper white as snowe.
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