2 Kings 5:18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 5:15-19

Of the ten lepers that our Saviour cleansed, the only one that returned to give thanks was a Samaritan, Luke 17:16. This Syrian did so, and here expresses himself. I. Convinced of the power of the God of Israel, not only that he is God, but that he is God alone, and that indeed there is no God in all the earth but in Israel (2 Kgs. 5:15)-- a noble confession, but such as intimates the misery of the Gentile world; for the nations that had many gods really had no God, but were without God in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 5:18

In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant ,.... Which he next mentions, and on account of which he desires the prayers of Elisha for him, as the Vulgate Latin version; or it may be, this is a prayer of his own, put up at this time to the true Jehovah, in whom he believed: that when my master : meaning the king of Syria: goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon; the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 5:18

In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant - It is useless to enter into the controversy concerning this verse. By no rule of right reasoning, nor by any legitimate mode of interpretation, can it be stated that Naaman is asking pardon for offenses which he may commit, or that he could ask or the prophet grant indulgence to bow himself in the temple of Rimmon, thus performing a decided act of homage, the very essence of that worship which immediately before he solemnly assured... 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 5:4-19

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 5:8-19

The story of Naaman: 2. The suggestive cure. The cure which Naaman came to seek was, nevertheless, obtained by him. We have here— I. THE INTERPOSITION OF ELISHA . Naaman was on the point of being sent away, when Elisha interposed. God's prophet vindicates God's honor. 1. Elisha sends to the king . " He sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes?" etc; His words were: 2. Naaman comes to Elisha . His horses and chariot drive up to Elisha's... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 5:18

Rimmon is known to us as a god only by this passage. The name is connected with a root “to be high.” Hadad-rimmon Zechariah 12:11, the name of a place near Megiddo, points to the identity of Rimmon with Hadad, who is known to have been the Sun, the chief object of worship to the Syrians.When he leaneth on mine hand - The practice of a monarch’s “leaning on the hand” of an attendant was not common in the East (compare the marginal reference). It probably implied age or infirmity.The Lord pardon... read more

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