1Naaman, Lk 4:27 commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight Lit man before his master and highly regarded Ex 11:3 because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was a brave warrior, but he had a skin disease. 2Kg 7:3,8

2Aram had gone on raids 2Kg 6:23; 13:20 and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife.

3She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to Lit master was before the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.”

4So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said.

5Therefore, the king of Aram said, “Go and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.”

6He brought the letter to the king of Israel, and it read:

7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes Gn 37:29; 2Kg 11:14 and asked, “Am I God, Gn 30:2 killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Think it over and you will see that he is only picking a fight with Lit only seeking an occasion against me.” 1Kg 20:7

8When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel tore his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.” 1Kg 22:7

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

10Then Elisha sent him a messenger, Nm 5:1-4 who said, “Go wash Jn 9:7 seven times Lv 14:7 in the Jordan and your flesh will be restored and you will be clean.”

11But Naaman got angry and left, saying, “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and will wave his hand Ex 7:19 over the spot and cure the skin disease.

12Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Is 8:6 Could I not wash in them and be clean? ” So he turned and left in a rage. Pr 14:17; 19:11

13But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, 2Kg 2:12; 6:21; 13:14 if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’? ”

14So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean. Lk 4:27

15Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there’s no God in the whole world except in Israel. Jos 2:11; 1Sm 17:46-47 Therefore, please accept a gift Gn 33:11 from your servant.”

16But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, 1Kg 17:1; 2Kg 3:14 I stand before Him. I will not accept it.” Gn 14:22-23 Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.

17Naaman responded, “If not, please let your servant be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry, Ex 20:24 for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but Yahweh. Dt 6:4

18However, in a particular matter may the Lord pardon your servant: When my master, the king of Aram, goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship and I, as his right-hand man, Lit worship, and he leans on my hand, and I 2Kg 7:2 bow in the temple of Rimmon — when I bow LXX, Vg read when he bows himself in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.”

19So he said to him, “Go in peace.” 1Sm 1:17

20Gehazi, 2Kg 4:12,31 the attendant of Elisha the man of God, thought: My master has let this Aramean Naaman off lightly by not accepting from him what he brought. As the Lord lives, Ex 20:7 I will run after him and get something from him.

21So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and asked, “Is everything all right? ”

22Gehazi said, “It’s all right. 2Kg 4:26 My master has sent me to say, ‘I have just now discovered that two young men from the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them 75 pounds Lit a talent of silver and two changes of clothes.’ ” 2Kg 5:5

23But Naaman insisted, “Please, accept 150 pounds.” Lit two talents He urged Gehazi and then packed 150 pounds Lit two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes. Naaman gave them to two of his young men who carried them ahead of Gehazi.

24When Gehazi came to the hill, Or citadel 2Kg 1:9 he took the gifts from them and stored them in the house. Then he dismissed the men, and they left.

25Gehazi came and stood by his master. “Where did you go, Gehazi? ” Elisha asked him.

26But Elisha questioned him, “Wasn’t my spirit 2Kg 2:9,15 there Lit “Did not my heart go when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to accept money and clothes, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves?

27Therefore, Naaman’s skin disease will cling to you and your descendants forever.” So Gehazi went out from his presence diseased — white as snow. Ex 4:6; Nm 12:10