2 Kings 5:22

_SO GEHAZI FOLLOWED AFTER NAAMAN. AND WHEN NAAMAN SAW HIM RUNNING AFTER HIM, HE LIGHTED DOWN FROM THE CHARIOT TO MEET HIM, AND SAID, IS ALL WELL?_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

20-27 Naaman, a Syrian, a courtier, a soldier, had many servants, and we read how wise and good they were. Elisha, a holy prophet, a man of God, has but one servant, and he proves a base liar. The love of money, that root of all evil, was at the bottom of Gehazi's sin. He thought to impose upon the prophet, but soon found that the Spirit of prophecy could not be deceived, and that it was in vain to lie to the Holy Ghost. It is folly to presume upon sin, in hopes of secrecy. When thou goest aside into any by-path, does not thy own conscience go with thee? Does not the eye of God go with thee? He that covers his sin, shall not prosper; particularly, a lying tongue is but for a moment. All the foolish hopes and contrivances of carnal worldlings are open before God. It is not a time to increase our wealth, when we can only do it in such ways as are dishonourable to God and religion, or inju...

Verse 2 Kings 5:22. _AND HE SAID_] שלום _shalom_. _It is peace; all is_ _right_. This was a common mode of address and answer. _THERE BE COME TO ME FROM MOUNT EPHRAIM_] There was probably a school of the prophets at this mount....

FROM MOUNT EPHRAIM - Bethel and Gilgal 2 Kings 2:1, at both of which there were “schools of the prophets,” were situated on Mount Ephraim. A TALENT OF SILVER - A large demand in respect of the pretended occasion; but small compared with the amount which Naaman had pressed on the prophet 2 Kings 5:4. Gehazi had to balance between his own avarice, on the one hand, and the fear of raising suspicion on the other....

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

AND HE SAID, ALL IS WELL,.... He need give himself no uneasiness at the coming and sight of him: MY MASTER HATH SENT ME, SAYING, BEHOLD, EVEN NOW THERE BE COME TO ME; just then, since he departed from him: FROM MOUNT EPHRAIM TWO YOUNG MEN OF THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS: where perhaps was a school of them: GIVE THEM, I PRAY THEE, A TALENT OF SILVER, AND TWO CHANGES OF GARMENTS: which, as it was a downright lie, so highly improbable that Elisha should ask so large a sum of money, with two changes of raiment, for two young scholars, see 2 Kings 5:5 and which Naaman, with a little reflection, might have seen through; but his heart was so filled with gratitude for the benefit received, that he was glad of an opportunity, at any rate, of showing respect to the prophet....

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

MOUNT EPHRAIM. There were two schools of the prophets there: Beth-el and Gilgal. Compare 2 Kings 2:1; 2 Kings 2:3....

_My master hath sent me_ Naaman would naturally rejoice at hearing that circumstances had wrought for an acceptance of the present, which for himself the prophet had refused. _from mount_[R.V. THE HILL COUNTRY OF] _Ephraim_ The Gilgal mentioned in the previous chapter [2 Kings 4:38] seems to have been near the hill country of Ephraim. There, we know, there was a college of prophets, and in the neighbourhood may have been others. From all these centres the members would come to Elisha for counsel. Gehazi uses one of the probably common incidents of the prophet's life to form the foundation for his deceit. The communities of prophets would naturally be poor, and few things were more likely than that they should reach Samaria in need both of money and clothing. The story was full of plausibility. _a talent of silver_ Though a large sum to ask for as aid to the pro