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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 5:1-8

Our saviour's miracles were intended for the lost sheep of the house of Israel, yet one, like a crumb, fell from the table to a woman of Canaan; so this one miracle Elisha wrought for Naaman, a Syrian; for God does good to all, and will have all men to be saved. Here is, I. The great affliction Naaman was under, in the midst of all his honours, 2 Kgs. 5:1. He was a great man, in a great place; not only rich and raised, but particularly happy for two things:?1. That he had been very serviceable... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 5:1

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria ,.... The general of Benhadad's army; for he was now king of Syria, though some think Hazael his successor was: was a great man with his master ; high in his favour and esteem: and honourable ; not only acceptable to the king, and loaded with honours by him, but greatly respected by all ranks and degrees among the people: because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria ; out of the hands of their enemies, and victory... read more

John Gill

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

And the Syrians had gone out by companies ,.... Not regular troops, but a sort of banditti of robbers, which made excursions into the land of Israel, to plunder and carry off what booty they could: and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid ; for boys and girls were a part of the booty of such robbers, whom they could sell for money, see Joel 3:1 . Jarchi and Kimchi say she was a girl of Naaron, a city so called: and she waited on Naaman's wife ; being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 5:3

And she said unto her mistress ,.... As she was waiting upon her at a certain time, and perhaps her mistress was lamenting the case of her husband as desperate and incurable: would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria ; meaning Elisha, who, though sometimes in one place, and sometimes in another, yet often at Samaria, and it seems was there when this girl was taken captive: for he would recover him of his leprosy ; the maid had heard of the miracles wrought by Elisha,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 5:4

And one went in and told his lord ,.... What the girl had said to her mistress; one of the servants of the house that overheard it; or rather, Naaman went and told his lord the king of Syria; for as this was said to his wife, no doubt she told it to her husband, and not a servant; and the following words require this sense, and is the sense of most Jewish commentators: saying, thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel ; who for her wit and beauty might be well known at... read more

John Gill

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

And the king of Syria said, go to, go ,.... On what Naaman related to him from what the maid had said, he urged him by all means to go directly to Samaria: and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel ; recommending him to use his interest in his behalf; this was Jehoram the son of Ahab: and he departed ; set out on his journey immediately, as soon as he could conveniently: and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold ; partly for the expenses of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 5:6

And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying ,.... The contents of which were, so far as it concerned Naaman and his case, which are only observed, these: now when this letter is come unto thee ; was received by him: behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant unto thee ; the bearer of it: that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy ; meaning not he himself, but that he would recommend him to the care of a proper person, his prophet, and enjoin him to do the best... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 5:7

And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes ,.... As one in great distress, being thrown into perplexity of mind by it, not knowing what to do; or, as some think, at the blasphemy he supposed to be in it, requiring that of him which only God could do: and said, am I God, to kill and to make alive ; or have the power of life and death, which only belongs to the Supreme Being: that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 5:1

Naaman , captain of the host - Of Naaman we know nothing more than is related here. Jarchi and some others say that he was the man who drew the bow at a venture, as we term it, and slew Ahab: see 1 Kings 22:34 ; (note), and the notes there. He is not mentioned by Josephus, nor has he any reference to this history; which is very strange, as it exists in the Chaldee, Septuagint, and Syriac. King of Syria - The Hebrew is ארם מלך melech Aram , king of Aram; which is... read more

Adam Clarke

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

The Syrians had gone out by companies - גדודים gedudim , troops. When one hundred or two hundred men go out by themselves to make prey of whatever they can get, that is called, says Jarchi, גדוד gedud , a troop. They had gone out in marauding parties; and on such occasions they bring away grain, cattle, and such of the inhabitants as are proper to make slaves. A little maid - Who, it appears, had pious parents, who brought her up in the knowledge of the true God.... read more

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