2 Kings 5:17

And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given R.V. If not, yet I pray thee, let there be given. The reason for the variation lies in a comprehension of the grammatical force of the Hebrew. There is no mark of interrogation in the verse, but neither is there any word for -if" which the R.V. gives. But the Hebrew can express a hypothetical clause without the insertion of any such particle. Literally the original has -And Naaman said, and not" &c. by which is meant -and if not &c.", i.e. -if it may not be as I wish, and you will not receive a present, yet &c." Thus in Genesis 44:22 the literal rendering is -and he leaves his father, and he will die", which the A.V. rightly represents by -for if he leave … he will die". And more like the present example is 2 Samuel 13:26, where David has objected to Absalom's too liberal invitation, -And Absalom said, and not [i.e. and if it may not be] yet let my brother Amnon go with us". The LXX. renders rightly καὶ εἰ μὴ.

two mules" burden of earth Naaman still has no notion of Jehovah but as a territorial deity. He thinks therefore that by carrying with him a quantity of the soil of Israel, he may provide a place for acceptable sacrifice to Him in his country of Syria. It was holy ground and would sanctify all that it came near.

will henceforth offer neither burnt offering The other so-called gods are worth nothing. This much he has learnt, and so he will himself pay them no homage. But it would be too hard a thing to expect from so new a convert strength enough to become a witness for Jehovah. Hence his petition to God, to which Elisha gives a merciful answer.