Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 5:20-27

Naaman, a Syrian, a courtier, a soldier, had many servants, and we read how wise and good they were, 2 Kgs. 5:13. Elisha, a holy prophet, a man of God, has but one servant, and he proves a base, lying, naughty fellow. Those that heard of Elisha at a distance honoured him, and got good by what they heard; but he that stood continually before him, to hear his wisdom, had no good impressions made upon him either by his doctrine or miracles. One would have expected that Elisha's servant should be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 5:24

And when he came to the tower ,.... Of Samaria, or which was near it; a fortified place, and where was a watch, to whom he could safely commit the money and clothes: he took them from their hand ; not willing they should go any further with him, lest the affair should be discovered to his master: and bestowed them in the house ; deposited them there in the hands of some person whom he could trust; or laid them out, or ordered them to be laid out, in the purchase of houses, lands,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 5:24

When he came to the tower - The Chaldee, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic understand the word עפל ophel , which we translate tower, as signifying a secret, dark, or hiding place. He was doing a deed of darkness, and he sought darkness to conceal it. He no doubt put them in a place little frequented, or one to which few had access besides himself. But the prophet's discerning spirit found him out. 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 5:20-27

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 5:24

And when he came to the tower ; rather, to the hill (Revised Version). Some well-known eminence at a little distance from the Damascus gate of Samaria must be intended. Here Gehazi stopped the slaves, and took the money from them. It was important for his purpose that they should not be seen re-entering the city, as that would have occasioned remark, and might naturally have led to inquiry. He took them— i.e; the bags— from their hand — i.e. from the hands of Naaman's servants— ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 5:24

The tower - Rather, “the hill,” the well-known hill by Elisha’s house. The hill interrupted the view in the direction taken by Naaman, and Gehazi dismissed Naaman’s servants at this point lest they should be seen from his master’s residence. read more

Group of Brands