2 Kings 5
5:1 a The king of Aram was probably Ben-hadad II (860–843 BC).• the Lord had given Aram great victories: The Lord is sovereign over all nations (Pss 47:8 b; 99:1-2 c; Rom 13:1 d).
• from leprosy: Naaman’s access to society and Gehazi’s later social freedom (2 Kgs 8:4-5 e) suggest that the problem was not Hansen’s disease but another incurable skin disease (see Lev 13:10-11 f, 45-46 g).
Summary for 2Kgs 5:2-3: 5:2-3 h During Joram’s reign, strained relations between Israel and the Arameans led to incursions by Aramean raiders into the northern kingdom (see 6:8 i, 24 j).
Summary for 2Kgs 5:5-6: 5:5-6 k The lavish gifts and the royal letter of introduction, common practices in the ancient Near East, underscored Naaman’s wealth, his value to the Aramean king, and Elisha’s reputation. Unlike Ahaziah, who sent his messengers directly to the temple of Baal-zebub in Philistia (1:2 l), the Aramean king followed diplomatic protocol by sending Naaman first to King Joram.
5:7 m tore his clothes: This action was often a sign of intense agitation (11:4 n), grief (Gen 37:34 o; 2 Sam 13:31 p), or sorrow (2 Kgs 6:30 q; Job 1:20 r; 2:12 s). Due to the perennial distrust and hostilities between the Arameans and the Israelites, Joram assumed that the Aramean king was trying to pick a fight, as had occurred in the days of his father Ahab (1 Kgs 20:1-12 t).
5:8 u Elisha had no respect for King Joram (3:14 v), but he sent the message because of the opportunity for a testimony to the Lord’s power.
Summary for 2Kgs 5:9-12: 5:9-12 w Rather than receiving Naaman, who came to buy his healing, Elisha left him standing at the door and communicated with him by messenger. Naaman expected special treatment befitting his station and was disappointed both in Elisha’s failure to receive him and at his instructions to wash ... seven times in the Jordan River, which he considered inferior to the rivers of Aram. Washing in the Jordan would be a visible reminder that only Yahweh, the God of Israel, could heal Naaman.
Summary for 2Kgs 5:13-14: 5:13-14 x Naaman swallowed his pride. He did as the man of God had instructed him and experienced God’s healing power. Obedience to God brings God’s blessings and purity (Ps 119:9-11 y).
Summary for 2Kgs 5:15-16: 5:15-16 z No God ... except in Israel: Naaman’s physical healing led to spiritual conversion. Like the Samaritan leper healed by Jesus, Naaman returned to give thanks to his benefactor (Luke 17:15-16 aa).
• Naaman offered a gift out of gratitude, but Elisha refused; God’s grace and blessings were not to be obtained through money, gifts, or favors (Isa 55:1-5 ab; Rom 2:4 ac; 1 Cor 2:12 ad; Eph 4:8 ae).
5:17 af earth from this place: Ancient Near Eastern custom identified a nation’s god with the soil of the country where he was worshiped; Naaman apparently believed he needed Israelite soil in order to build an altar to properly worship Israel’s God.
5:18 ag The name Rimmon appears in the name Tabrimmon (1 Kgs 15:18 ah), the father of Ben-hadad I. In Aramean, the god’s name is properly Ramman (the thunderer), a storm-god noted in Assyrian inscriptions. The spelling Rimmon (which means pomegranate) may reflect a deliberate pun belittling the deity.
Summary for 2Kgs 5:22-23: 5:22-23 ai Naaman believed Gehazi’s fabricated story to be genuine and was happy to repay Elisha.
5:24 aj the citadel: The Hebrew word means hill or high point in a city. Citadels were often erected in such places (2 Chr 27:3 ak).
Summary for 2Kgs 5:25-27: 5:25-27 al Gehazi could not conceal his deed from Elisha. Gehazi’s deception and misuse of his privileged position earned his master’s disapproval and the loss of his status as Elisha’s servant. But it also brought on him the penalty of Naaman’s leprosy, a sign that Gehazi had traded places with Naaman spiritually as well.
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