2 Kings 5:1

_NOW NAAMAN, CAPTAIN OF THE HOST OF THE KING OF SYRIA, WAS A GREAT MAN WITH HIS MASTER, AND HONOURABLE, BECAUSE BY HIM THE LORD HAD GIVEN DELIVERANCE UNTO SYRIA: HE WAS ALSO A MIGHTY MAN IN VALOUR, BUT HE WAS A LEPER._ Naaman ... was a great man with his master - highly esteemed for his military character and success. AND HONOURABLE, х_ UWNSU'_ (H5375), exalted, looked up to; Septuagint, tethaumasmenos]. BECAUSE BY HIM THE LORD HAD GIVEN DELIVERANCE UNTO SYRIA х_ LA-'ARAAM_ (H758); Septuagint, Suria, the name given in the time of the kings to the country north of Canaan]. Yahweh, the God of Israel, is here represented as guiding the destinies of a pagan kingdom-not a mere local deity, as idolaters placed some one or other of their numerous divinities over certain provinces; but the Great Being whose superintending providence is over a

1-8 Though the Syrians were idolaters, and oppressed God's people, yet the deliverance of which Naaman had been the means, is here ascribed to the Lord. Such is the correct language of Scripture, while those who write common history, plainly show that God is not in all their thoughts. No man's greatness, or honour, can place him our of the reach of the sorest calamities of human life: there is many a sickly, crazy body under rich and gay clothing. Every man has some but or other, something that blemishes and diminishes him, some allay to his grandeur, some damp to his joy. This little maid, though only a girl, could give an account of the famous prophet the Israelites had among them. Children should be early told of the wondrous works of God, that, wherever they go, they may talk of them. As became a good servant, she desired the health and welfare of her master, though she was a captiv...

CHAPTER V _The history of Naaman, captain of the host of the king of_ _Syria, a leper; who was informed by a little Israelitish_ _captive maid that a prophet of the Lord, in Samaria, could_ _cure him_, 1-4. _The king of Syria sends him, with a letter and rich presents,_ _to the king of Israel, that he should recover him of his_ _leprosy_, 5, 6. _On receiving the letter, the king of Israel is greatly_ _distressed, supposing that the Syrian king designed to seek a_ _quarrel with him; in desiring him to cleanse a leper, when it_...

BY HIM THE LORD HAD GIVEN DELIVERANCE UNTO SYRIA - An Assyrian monarch had pushed his conquests as far as Syria exactly at this period, bringing into subjection all the kings of these parts. But Syria revolted after a few years and once more made herself independent. It was probably in this war of independence that Naaman had distinguished himself. BUT HE WAS A LEPER - leprosy admitted of various kinds and degrees Leviticus 13; Leviticus 14 Some of the lighter forms would not incapacitate a man from discharging the duties of a courtier and warrior....

EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 5:1 THE CURE OF NAAMAN'S LEPROSY. HIS GRATITUDE; AND THE SIN OF GEHAZI, The historian continues his narrative of Elisha's miracles, commenced in 2 Kings 2:1; and gives in the present chapter a very graphic and complete account of two which were especially remarkable, and which stood in a peculiar relation the one towards the other. One was the removal of leprosy; the other, its infliction. One was wrought on a foreigner and a man of eminence; the other, on a Hebrew and a servant. The second was altogether consequential upon the first, without which the

NOW NAAMAN, CAPTAIN OF THE HOST OF THE KING OF SYRIA,.... The general of Benhadad's army; for he was now king of Syria, though some think Hazael his successor was: WAS A GREAT MAN WITH HIS MASTER; high in his favour and esteem: AND HONOURABLE; not only acceptable to the king, and loaded with honours by him, but greatly respected by all ranks and degrees among the people: BECAUSE BY HIM THE LORD HAD GIVEN DELIVERANCE UNTO SYRIA; out of the hands of their enemies, and victory over them, and particularly in the last battle with Israel, in which Ahab was slain, and, as the Jews suppose, by the hands of Naaman, 1 Kings 22:34 however, when any salvation was wrought, or victory obtained, even by Heathens, and by them over Israel, the people of God, it was of the Lord: HE WAS ALSO A MIGHTY MAN IN VALOUR; a very courage

4. NAAMAN AND HIS HEALING CHAPTER 5 _ 1. Naaman, the leper (2 Kings 5:1)_ 2. The testimony of the maid of Israel (2 Kings 5:2) 3. The message to the king of Israel (2 Kings 5:5) 4. Naaman and Elisha (2 Kings 5:9) 5. Gehazi; His sin and punishment (2 Kings 5:20) The story of this chapter is peculiarly rich in its spiritual and dispensational meaning. Naaman, captain of Ben-hadad, the King of Syria, was a Gentile. He was no common man. In all his greatness and might, with all the honors heaped upon him and wealth

NAAMAN HEALED OF HIS LEPROSY. This story, familiar to all, presupposes a time of peace between Israel and Syria. As in 1 Kings 20, the king of Syria addresses the king of Israel (unnamed here) as his vassal (2 Kings 5:6 ff.). Elisha was living in Samaria, apparently in his own house. Naaman, on being healed, returned to Elisha, who refused to take any present, using Elijah's formula (1 Kings 17:1 *). Naaman thereupon declared himself a worshipper of Yahweh (it is remarkable that 2 Kings 5:1 ascribes his victories to Yahweh), asking pardon if in his official capacity he bows himself before Rimmon (Ramman, the thunder-god of the Assyrians). Readers of _Tom Brown's Schooldays_ will remember the not unnatural discussion amongst th

NAAMAN. Note the five servants in this chapter: 1. The King's servant (Naaman) 2 Kings 5:1. 2. Naaman's wife's servant (the maid), 2 Kings 5:2. 3. Jehovah's servant (Elisha), 2 Kings 5:8. 4. Naaman's servants (2 Kings 5:13). 5. The Prophet's servant (Gehazi), 2 Kings 5:20. WAS. had come to be. BY HIM. An unconscious instrument. THE LORD. Hebrew. _Jehovah._ App-4. DELIVERANCE. Probably from the Assyrians. BUT, &C. Figure of speech _Anesis._ App-6. A LEPER. Compare...

2 Kings 5:1-14. The cure of Naaman's leprosy (Not in Chronicles) 1. _honourable_ An attempt is made by the LXX. to translate literally the Hebrew expression which is the same as in Isaiah 3:3. τεθαυμασμένος προσώπῳ, -admired in the eyes of". The idea is the passive of -an acceptor of persons". Hence -one accepted and acceptable". _because by him the Lord had given deliverance_ R.V. VICTORY. That the Lord was the deliverer is the thought of the Jewish writer. The Syrians would have put the case differently. It is however a matter of interest to note that Jehovah was not regarded by the compiler of this narrative as exclusively the God of the Jews, nor the Gentiles thought to be beyond, or deprived of, His care. He helps them though they know Him not. deliverance unto Syri