The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:17
And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? Naaman does not state what he intends to do with the earth; and the critics have consequently suggested two uses. Some suppose that he intended to make the earth into an altar upon which he might offer his sacrifices; comp. Exodus 20:24 , where an altar of earth is spoken of (Bahr and others). But the more general opinion (Thenius, Von Gerlach, etc.) is that he wished to spread the earth... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:16
But he said, As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. Elisha regards it as best, under the circumstances, to refuse the offered recompense. It was not compulsory on him so to act; for the precept, "Freely ye have received, freely give" ( Matthew 10:8 ), had not been yet uttered. Pious Israelites commonly brought gifts to the prophets whom they consulted ( 1 Samuel 9:7 , 1 Samuel 9:8 ; 1 Kings 14:3 ). But, in the case of a foreigner, ignorant hitherto of true... read more