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, 2 Kings 5:1, who, coming to Elisha's house, was ordered to dip himsel... [ Continue Reading ]
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 honou... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SYRIANS HAD GONE OUT BY COMPANIES,.... Not regular troops, but a sort of banditti of robbers, which made excursions into the land of Israel, to plunder and carry off what booty they could: AND HAD BROUGHT AWAY CAPTIVE OUT OF THE LAND OF ISRAEL A LITTLE MAID; for boys and girls were a part o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE SAID UNTO HER MISTRESS,.... As she was waiting upon her at a certain time, and perhaps her mistress was lamenting the case of her husband as desperate and incurable: WOULD GOD MY LORD WERE WITH THE PROPHET THAT IS IN SAMARIA; meaning Elisha, who, though sometimes in one place, and sometimes... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ONE WENT IN AND TOLD HIS LORD,.... What the girl had said to her mistress; one of the servants of the house that overheard it; or rather, Naaman went and told his lord the king of Syria; for as this was said to his wife, no doubt she told it to her husband, and not a servant; and the following w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING OF SYRIA SAID, GO TO, GO,.... On what Naaman related to him from what the maid had said, he urged him by all means to go directly to Samaria: AND I WILL SEND A LETTER UNTO THE KING OF ISRAEL; recommending him to use his interest in his behalf; this was Jehoram the son of Ahab: AND HE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE BROUGHT THE LETTER TO THE KING OF ISRAEL, SAYING,.... The contents of which were, so far as it concerned Naaman and his case, which are only observed, these: NOW WHEN THIS LETTER IS COME UNTO THEE; was received by him: BEHOLD, I HAVE THEREWITH SENT NAAMAN MY SERVANT UNTO THEE; the bearer of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN THE KING OF ISRAEL HAD READ THE LETTER, THAT HE RENT HIS CLOTHES,.... As one in great distress, being thrown into perplexity of mind by it, not knowing what to do; or, as some think, at the blasphemy he supposed to be in it, requiring that of him which only God could do: A... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS SO, WHEN ELISHA THE MAN OF GOD HAD HEARD THAT THE KING OF ISRAEL HAD RENT HIS CLOTHES,.... And upon what account: THAT HE SENT TO THE KING, SAYING, WHEREFORE HAST THOU RENT THY CLOTHES? and thereby expressed so much concern and distress: LET HIM COME NOW TO ME: meaning Naaman the Syrian... [ Continue Reading ]
SO NAAMAN CAME WITH HIS HORSES, AND WITH HIS CHARIOT,.... In his chariot drawn by horses; or "with horsemen and chariots", a great retinue, both for his own grandeur, and for the honour of the prophet, and to make him the more respectable by him: AND STOOD AT THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE OF ELISHA; who no... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ELISHA SENT A MESSENGER UNTO HIM,.... Or returned an answer by Naaman's messenger; he did not go out to him, choosing to be retired, as he commonly did; and being perhaps employed in prayer for the cure; and it may be also to show his contempt of or little regard he had to worldly grandeur and h... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT NAAMAN WAS WROTH WITH HIM,.... On more accounts than one: AND WENT AWAY; not to Jordan, but from the prophet's house, with an intention to return to his own country: BEHOLD, I THOUGHT, HE WILL SURELY COME OUT TO ME this he said within himself, making no doubt of it but that he would show him s... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE NOT ABANA AND PHARPAR, RIVERS OF DAMASCUS, BETTER THAN ALL THE WATERS OF ISRAEL?.... Abana is, in the marginal reading, called Amana, and so the Targum; perhaps from the Mount Amana, from whence it sprung, a mountain in Syria g, mentioned with Lebanon, Song of Solomon 4:8. This river is thought... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS SERVANT CAME NEAR, AND SPAKE UNTO HIM, AND SAID, MY FATHER,.... Or my lord, as the Targum; this being not a familiar and affectionate expression, but a term of honour, reverence, and submission: IF THE PROPHET HAD BID THEE DO SOME GREAT THING, WOULDEST THOU NOT HAVE DONE IT? something that... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WENT HE DOWN, AND DIPPED HIMSELF SEVEN TIMES IN JORDAN, ACCORDING TO THE SAYING OF THE MAN OF GOD,.... He listened to the reasoning of his servant, and his passion subsided, and did as the prophet ordered him: AND HIS FLESH CAME AGAIN LIKE UNTO THE FLESH OF A LITTLE CHILD; clear and fresh, sof... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE RETURNED TO THE MAN OF GOD, HE AND ALL HIS COMPANY,.... To give him thanks for the advice he had given him, and by him to give thanks to God for the cure he had received; for he was sensible it was from the Lord, his words show: AND CAME AND STOOD BEFORE HIM; for being admitted into the prop... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE SAID, AS THE LORD LIVETH, BEFORE WHOM I STAND,.... Whose minister and prophet he was, and by whom he swears: I WILL RECEIVE NONE: to let him know that this cure was not to be attributed to him, but the Lord only; and that what concern he had in it was not for the sake of money, but for the g... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NAAMAN SAID, SHALL THERE NOT THEN, I PRAY THEE, BE GIVEN TO THY SERVANT TWO MULES' BURDEN OF EARTH..... Not that he desired of Elisha that he would suffer his servant Gehazi to receive a present as much as two mules could carry; but inasmuch as the prophet refused a present from him, his servant... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THIS THING THE LORD PARDON THY SERVANT,.... Which he next mentions, and on account of which he desires the prayers of Elisha for him, as the Vulgate Latin version; or it may be, this is a prayer of his own, put up at this time to the true Jehovah, in whom he believed: THAT WHEN MY MASTER: meanin... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO HIM,.... That is, the prophet said to Naaman: GO IN PEACE: in peace of mind; be assured that God has pardoned this and all other transgressions: SO HE DEPARTED FROM HIM A LITTLE WAY; about a mile, as the Targum, and so other Jewish writers; of this phrase, Genesis 35:16, some say... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GEHAZI THE SERVANT OF ELISHA THE MAN OF GOD SAID,.... Within himself, observing what had passed: BEHOLD, MY MASTER HATH SPARED NAAMAN THIS SYRIAN, IN NOT RECEIVING AT HIS HANDS THAT WHICH HE BROUGHT: he speaks contemptibly of Naaman, as an alien from the commonwealth of Israel, and reproaches h... [ Continue Reading ]
SO GEHAZI FOLLOWED AFTER NAAMAN,.... As fast as he could: AND WHEN NAAMAN SAW HIM RUNNING AFTER HIM; which he might observe, looking back, or be informed of by some of his servants: HE LIGHTED DOWN FROM THE CHARIOT TO MEET HIM; in honour to the prophet, whose servant he was: AND SAID, IS ALL WELL... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NAAMAN SAID, BE CONTENT,.... Or be pleased; do not object to it: TAKE TWO TALENTS: a talent for each young man, which amounted to between three hundred and four hundred pounds apiece: AND HE URGED; pressed him hard, insisted upon his taking them, who might pretend a great deal of modesty, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE CAME TO THE TOWER,.... Of Samaria, or which was near it; a fortified place, and where was a watch, to whom he could safely commit the money and clothes: HE TOOK THEM FROM THEIR HAND; not willing they should go any further with him, lest the affair should be discovered to his master: AN... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE WENT IN, AND STOOD BEFORE HIS MASTER,.... To know his will, and minister to him, as he had used to do, and as if he had never been from the house: AND ELISHA SAID UNTO HIM, WHENCE COMEST THOU, GEHAZI? where had he been, and where was he last? AND HE SAID, THY SERVANT WENT NO WHITHER; he pre... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, WENT NOT MINE HEART WITH THEE?.... Did my heart or knowledge go from me, that what thou hast done should be hid from me? so Ben Gersom and others; or my heart did not go with thee, it was contrary to my mind and will what thou didst; so Abendana; or rather, as the Targum, by a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LEPROSY THEREFORE OF NAAMAN SHALL CLEAVE UNTO THEE, AND UNTO THY SEED FOR EVER,.... As long as any of his race remained; as through his covetousness he had his money, so for his punishment he should have his disease: AND HE WENT OUT FROM HIS PRESENCE; as one ashamed and confounded, and discharg... [ Continue Reading ]