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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 5:20-27

Naaman, a Syrian, a courtier, a soldier, had many servants, and we read how wise and good they were, 2 Kgs. 5:13. Elisha, a holy prophet, a man of God, has but one servant, and he proves a base, lying, naughty fellow. Those that heard of Elisha at a distance honoured him, and got good by what they heard; but he that stood continually before him, to hear his wisdom, had no good impressions made upon him either by his doctrine or miracles. One would have expected that Elisha's servant should be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 5:21

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 ? fearing something ill had befallen Elisha; or he himself had done something wrong, which occasioned the servant to run after him. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 5:21

He lighted down from the chariot - He treats even the prophet's servant with the profoundest respect, alights from his chariot, and goes to meet him. Is all well ? - השלום hashalom ; Is it peace, or prosperity? read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:1-27

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 2:1-25 ; 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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:1-27

History of Naaman's disease and cure, illustrative of certain forces in the life of man. "Now Naaman, captain of the host of the King of Syria, was a great man with his master," etc. Naaman, in a worldly point of view, was a great man—one of the magnates of his age. But he was the victim of a terrible disease. "He was a leper." Leprosy was a terrible disease —hereditary , painful , contagious , loathsome , and fatal . In all these respects it resembled sin. Naaman's disease and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:20-27

The lessons taught by the sin and punishment of Gehazi. Gehazi's is a sad case, but a not unusual one; the case of a person brought into close contact with a high form of moral excellence and spirituality, who, instead of profiting by the example, willfully casts it aside, and adopts a low standard of life and conduct—a standard which always tends to become lower. The first lesson to be learnt from his case is this— I. IF CONTACT WITH EXCELLENCE FAIL TO RAISE US , IT ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:20-27

Elision and Gehazi. We shall, perhaps, derive most profit from the study of these two characters if we look at them together, as they are here set before us, in sharp and striking contrast. I. CONTRAST THE COVETOUSNESS OF THE ONE WITH THE UNSELFISHNESS OF THE OTHER . 1. Look, first of all, at Elisha ' s unselfishness . It is a sublime picture. We hardly know which to admire most— Elijah as he stands forth alone in rugged grandeur to confront the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:20-27

The story of Naaman: 3. Gehazi's falsehood. In Elisha's company we might have expected only honor, integrity, truthfulness. But the society of the good will not of itself make another good. Hypocrisy can cover a foul interior. A fair outward seeming can cloak a heart ruled by very evil principles. In the first apostolic band there was a Judas. In Elisha's service there was a Gehazi. The sin of both was covetousness. The offspring of covetousness in Gehazi's ease was hypocrisy and falsehood. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:21

So Gehazi followed after Naaman. A company of travelers in the East, even though it consist of the retinue of a single great man, will always contain footmen, as well as those who ride on horses or in chariots, and will not travel at a faster pace than about three miles an hour. Thus Gehazi, if he went at his best speed, could expect to overtake, and did actually overtake, the cavalcade of Naaman. He probably overtook them at a very short distance from Samaria. And when Naaman saw him... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 5:21

He lighted down from the chariot - This was an act of quite uncalled-for courtesy. It indicates eagerness to honor the master in the person of his servant. read more

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