Go in peace. God's servants are not "directors of conscience", but ministers of His Word. To have sanctioned it would have recognized idolatry. To have forbidden it would have put Naaman under a yoke to Elisha. It was for Naaman to decide whether he could do this thing, and be at "peace". a little way. A phrase found only here and Genesis 35:16 with Genesis 48:7 . = a stone's throw. read more
God’s ability to heal and cleanse ch. 5Naaman (Aram. gracious) was commander of the Aramean army under Ben-Hadad II (cf. 1 Kings 15:18; 1 Kings 15:20). Some forms of leprosy in the ancient world degenerated the bodies of its victims and eventually proved fatal. At this time no one could cure this disease. In Israel the priests normally isolated lepers from non-lepers because the disease was contagious, at least in certain stages (cf. Leviticus 13-14). Naaman was able to carry on his duties as... read more
The Healing of Naaman and the Punishment of Gehazi1. The Lord.. Syria] Possibly the enemies from whom the Syrians had been saved were the Assyrians. Naaman, in delivering his countrymen from them, had been an unconscious instrument in the hands of Jehovah. A leper] see on Leviticus 13. Leprosy is of slow development, and as Naaman retained his military command, his malady cannot have reached a very advanced stage. It is not likely, in any case, that the Syrians observed the same strict rules... read more
(19) A little way.—Heb., a kibrâh of ground (Genesis 35:16). It seems to mean “a length of ground,” “a certain distance,” without defining exactly how far. Had it been a parasang, as the Syriac renders, Gehazi could not have overtaken the company so easily. read more
Now Naaman Was a Leper, But 2 Kings 5:1 As a rule our interest in the story of Naaman centres round the dramatic incident of his healing in the waters of Jordan. Looking at the story as a whole, and seeing it in its true perspective, it is inevitable that this should be the case. But I am going to ask you to look at the history of Naaman from another point of view. What can we gather from the story of Naaman's life before there came into it the whisper of hope through the lips of the little... read more
THE STORY OF NAAMAN2 Kings 5:1-27And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:3AFTER these shorter anecdotes we have the longer episode of Naaman.A part of the misery inflicted by the Syrians on Israel was caused by the forays in which their light-armed bands, very much like the borderers on the marshes of Wales or Scotland, descended upon the country and carried off plunder and captives before they could be... read more
4. Naaman and His Healing CHAPTER 5 1. Naaman, the leper (2 Kings 5:1 ) 2. The testimony of the maid of Israel (2 Kings 5:2-4 ) 3. The message to the king of Israel (2 Kings 5:5-8 ) 4. Naaman and Elisha (2 Kings 5:9-19 ) 5. Gehazi; His sin and punishment (2 Kings 5:20-27 ) The story of this chapter is peculiarly rich in its spiritual and dispensational meaning. Naaman, captain of Ben-hadad, the King of Syria, was a Gentile. He was no common man. In all his greatness and might, with... read more
5:19 And he said unto him, {k} Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.(k) The prophet did not approve his act, but after the common manner of speech he bids him farewell. read more
NAAMAN THE LEPER HEALED (vv.1-19) The history continues in this chapter to focus attention, not on the kings, but on Elisha the man of God. When the kings had failed so badly the Lord used a prophet as the real connection between Himself and the people. This was pure grace, as the chapter concerning Naaman shows. Naaman was not an Israelite, but a Syrian army commander. He was indeed an apt candidate for the grace of God, for though he was a great man in the world's eyes, he was afflicted... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 5:1-27
More miracles of care (5:1-6:7)Syria was Israel’s most powerful neighbour during Elisha’s lifetime, and was a constant source of trouble around Israel’s borders. When the Syrian army commander Naaman approached the king of Israel with a request to be treated for leprosy, the king of Israel interpreted this as a trick by Syria aimed at creating war (5:1-7). Elisha, however, saw it as an opportunity to reveal God’s power to the military commander whom God was preserving to lead Syria against... read more