Dawn on the Jordan: a quiet bend of narrow brown-green river between tamarisk and reed thickets, a gray clay bank in front, a thin mist on the water and bare hills beyond, under a pale, empty morning sky.

The Book of

2 Kings 5

A great general with a disease he cannot hide, a captive girl who knows where help is, and a river that is not good enough for him.

27 verses≈ 7 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–8ElishaThe prophet's double portionChapter 5
9–12JehuThe house of Ahab falls
13–17Last kings of IsraelSamaria falls
18–20HezekiahTrust in the LORD
21–23JosiahThe Book found
24–25ExileJerusalem falls

Naaman Cured of Leprosy

A courtyard in Damascus in late-afternoon light: a tall commander in a fringed blue robe stands among saluting officers, grave and honored, drawing his mantle over the back of one hand; orchards and bare hills rise beyond the wall.

Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.

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A cool inner room of a fine house: a young Israelite girl in a plain brown dress kneels beside her mistress and looks up, speaking earnestly; the lady in a deep red robe turns to listen.

At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”

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

The king of Aram

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

So Naaman departed, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing.

And the letter that he took to the king of Israel stated: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman, so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

Joram

When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life, that this man expects me to cure a leper? Surely you can see that he is seeking a quarrel with me!”

Elisha

Now when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: “Why have you torn your clothes? Please let the man come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

From Damascus to the Jordan

Naaman came south from Damascus, about a hundred miles, to Samaria and the house of Elisha, then went down to the Jordan, some twenty-five miles to the east. Damascus lies beyond the top of this map. The Abanah and Pharpar, the clear rivers of Damascus, are probably the Barada and the Awaj.

Reflect

The girl from the land of Israel

A captive child, far from home, serving in an enemy’s house, and she pointed her master to the LORD’s prophet: “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria.” Where are you a long way from comfort? Who near you needs to hear where help is, and what would it take for you to say it?

Late morning outside a plain stone house: a commander in a fringed blue robe waits by his halted chariot while a plain young messenger at the open wooden door speaks to him; pack mules behind, an olive tree and a clear sky above.

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

Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean.”

0:13

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Naaman

But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the spot to cure my leprosy. Are not the Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not have washed in them and been cleansed?”

So he turned and went away in a rage.

Naaman’s servants

Naaman’s servants, however, approached him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’?”

So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored and became like that of a little child, and he was clean.

Question

Quick question

Naaman wanted a ceremony. The prophet sent a plain word instead.

How many times did Naaman dip himself in the Jordan?

Gehazi’s Greed and Leprosy

Midday before a plain stone house: a commander with clean skin and an open, moved face stands before a bald, bearded prophet in a dark cloak with one hand on his chest; attendants behind hold out folded garments and tied bags, and the prophet raises a hand in refusal.

Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

there is no God in all the earth except in Israel

2 Kings 5:15

Elisha

But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.”

And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused.

Naaman

“If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry. For your servant will never again make a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the LORD. Yet may the LORD forgive your servant this one thing: When my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my arm, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant in this matter.”

Elisha

“Go in peace,” said Elisha.

But after Naaman had traveled a short distance,

Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, by not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

Elisha

When Gehazi went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Gehazi, where have you been?”

Gehazi

“Your servant did not go anywhere,” he replied.

Elisha

But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants? Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!”

And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow.

Pray

Freely given

Elisha would not take a gift: “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” Thank God that His grace cannot be bought and is freely given. Ask for the humility to obey His plain word, as Naaman did when he went down to the Jordan. Ask Him to free your heart from Gehazi’s love of gain, and for the courage of the girl from Israel to tell others where help is found.

You’ve experienced

2 Kings 5

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A verse to carry with you

Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.

2 Kings 5:15

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