2 Kings 5

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:1-3

The captive Israelitish maid. There are four personages that stand out with special prominence in this chapter, from each of which important lessens may be learned. These are—the little Hebrew maid; Naaman, the commander-in-chief of the Syrian army; the Prophet Elisha; and Gehazi, the prophet's servant. We shall speak first of the little maid. I. THIS LITTLE MAID DID NOT FORGET HER RELIGION WHEN SHE WENT FROM HOME . We see that, though in a foreign land, she... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:1-7

The story of Naaman: 1. The disinterested maiden. The story of the great Syrian captain, who was healed of his leprosy and brought to the knowledge of the true God through the instrumentality of a captive Hebrew maid directing him to Elisha, is one of the most beautiful, as it is one of the richest in gospel suggestion, of the narratives of the Old Testament. Our Lord refers to it in his discourse at Nazareth, as showing that it is not always the direct possessors of privileges who know best... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:1-19

The lessons taught by the story of Naaman. "The story of Naaman," says Menken, "is a worthy part of the history of those revelations and manifestations of the living God which, in their connection and continuation through many centuries, and in their tendency towards one goal and object, were designed to plant upon earth the knowledge and the worship of the true God! But it offers besides to our consideration a rich store of reflections , in which neither heart nor understanding can... 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 5:2

And the Syrians had gone out by companies ; or, in marauding bands . No peace had been made after Ahab's expedition against Ramoth-Gilead. Hostilities, therefore, still continued upon the borders, where raids were frequent, as upon our own northern border in mediaeval times. And had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid. The marauding expeditions of ancient times had for one of their main objects the capture of slaves. In Africa wars are still carried on chiefly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:3

And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! literally, Oh that my lord were before the prophet who is in Samaria ! Elisha had a house in Samaria ( 2 Kings 6:1-33 :82), where he resided occasionally. For he would recover him of his leprosy. The "little maid" concludes from her small experience that, if her master and the great miracle-working prophet of her own land could be brought together, the result would be his cure. She has, in her... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:4

And one went in, and told his lord, saying. "One went in" is a possible translation; but it is simpler and more natural to translate "he went in ," i.e. Naaman went in, and told his lord, Ben-hadad, the King of Syria. Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel. Being "of the land of Israel," her words had a certain weight—she had means of knowing—she ought to know whether such a thing as the cure of leprosy by the intervention of a prophet was a possible occurrence in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:4-19

Naaman the Syrian. This case of Naaman is an illustration of the imperfection that there is in all things human. Naaman was commander-in-chief of the Syrian army. Not only so, but he had seen service. He had won his spurs in active warfare. He had led his troops to victory. "By him the Lord had given deliverance to Syria" Hence, as we read, "he was a great man with his master, and honorable." No doubt he had been greeted on his return from battle, as victorious generals were greeted then and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:5

And the King of Syria said, Go to, go ; rather, Go , depart ; i.e. lose no time; go at once, if there is any such possibility as the maiden has indicated. "We see," Bahr says, "from the king's readiness, how anxious he was for the restoration of Naaman." And I will send a letter unto the King of Israel. Letters had been interchanged between Solomon and Hiram, King of Tyro ( 2 Chronicles 2:3-11 ), a century earlier; and the communications of king with king in the East, though... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:1-19

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:1-27

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:1-27

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:2

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:4

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:4-19

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:5

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