2 Kings 5:1-8

Naaman Healed of Leprosy

1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.^[a]

2 Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife.

3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said.

5 “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents^[b] of silver, six thousand shekels^[c] of gold and ten sets of clothing.

6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”

8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

2 Kings 5:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 5

This chapter gives an account of the leprosy of Naaman the Syrian, and of the cure of it by Elisha; how he came to hear of him, and the recommendation he had from the king of Syria to the king of Israel, 2Ki 5:1-8, who, coming to Elisha's house, was ordered to dip himself seven times in Jordan, which made him depart in wrath; but one of his servants persuaded him to do it, and he did, and was cured, 2Ki 5:9-14, upon which he returned to Elisha, and offered him a present, which he refused, 2Ki 5:15-19 but Gehazi, his servant, ran after him with a lie in his mouth, and obtained it, and returned to his master with another, for which he was smitten with the leprosy of Naaman, 2Ki 5:20-27.

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 10:22; S 2 Samuel 10:19
• 2. S Exodus 4:6; S Numbers 12:10; Luke 4:27
• 3. 2 Kings 6:23; 2 Kings 13:20; 2 Kings 24:2
• 4. S Genesis 20:7
• 5. ver 22; S Genesis 24:53; Judges 14:12; S 1 Samuel 9:7
• 6. 2 Kings 19:14
• 7. S Genesis 30:2
• 8. S Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6
• 9. 1 Kings 20:7
• 10. S 1 Kings 22:7

Footnotes

• [a]. The Hebrew for "leprosy" was used for various diseases affecting the skin; also in verses 3, 6, 7, 11 and 27.
• [b]. That is, about 750 pounds or about 340 kilograms
• [c]. That is, about 150 pounds or about 69 kilograms