2 Kings 5

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:15

And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company. It is not always seen what this involved. It involved going out of his way at least fifty miles. At the Jordan, Naaman was on his way home, had accomplished a fourth part of his return journey; in three more days he would be in Damascus, in his own palace. But he feels that it would be an unworthy act to accept his cure and make no acknowledgment of it, having turned away from the prophet "in a rage" ( 2 Kings 5:12 ), now, without... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:18

In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant. Naaman is not prepared to be a martyr for his religion. On returning to Damascus, it will be among his civil duties to accompany his master to the national temples, and to prostrate himself before the images of the national deities. If he declines, if (like an early Christian) he will not enter "the house of devils," much less bow down before the graven image of a false god, it may cost him his life; it will certainly cost him his court favor. For... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:19

And he said unto him; Go in peace. Elisha declared neither that God would nor that he would net forgive Naaman his departure from the path of strict right. He was not called upon to give an answer, since Naaman had not put a question, but had only expressed a wish. His Go in peace is to be taken simply as "wishing the departing Syrian the peace of God upon the road." So Keil, rightly. So he departed from him a little way. Naaman left the presence of Elisha, quitted Samaria, and had gone a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:20

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said (see 2 Kings 4:12-36 for the position held towards Elisha by Gehazi), Behold, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian. Gehazi either honestly thinks, or at least persuades himself, that a Syrian ought to be, not spared, but spoiled, as being a foreigner and an enemy. In not receiving at his hands that which he brought (see 2 Kings 5:5 ). Gehazi may not have known how much it was, but he had seen the laden animals, and rightly... 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

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:15

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:16

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:17

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:18

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:19

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:20

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:20-27

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:20-27

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:20-27

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 5:21

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