2 Kings 5:15

NAAMAN RETURNED TO THANK AND HONOR ELISHA; THE MAN OF GOD

"And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a present of thy servant. But he said, As Jehovah liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it, but he refused. And Naaman said, If not, yet, I pray thee, let there be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth; for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt-offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto Jehovah. In this thing Jehovah pardon thy servant: when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, Jehovah pardon thy servant in this thing. And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way."

"And he returned to the man of God" (2 Kings 5:15). It was no easy thing that Naaman did here. His dipping seven times in Jordan had been accomplished on his way back to Syria, at least some twenty miles from Samaria, and some scholars say thirty miles. Making the whole round trip with the animal-drawn conveyances of that era was a matter of several days additional travel. It is therefore a mark of Naaman's character and of his high appreciation for the miracle God had been performed on his behalf that he would undertake this additional travel to return to Samaria.

"Let there be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth" (2 Kings 5:17). In this request of Naaman, there is evident the ancient conception of God's being identified with a certain land. Much as he honored God, he did not at that time understand that God is God of ALL lands. Jonah learned that he could not get away from God's presence merely by going to a different country, but the common superstition of that period of history is evident in this request.

Montgomery tells us that when the Jews built a synagogue in Persia, "It was composed entirely of earth and stone brought from Jerusalem." and that, "The empress Helena imported holy soil to Rome."[9]

"When I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, Jehovah pardon thy servant" (2 Kings 5:18). Rimmon, of course was a pagan deity worshipped in Damascus; and Martin wrote that, "Rimmon is only the Syrian title for Baal."[10] Keil wrote that, "Rimmon is probably a short form for Hadad-rimmon, because Hadad was the supreme deity of the Damascene Syrians, the sun god."[11]

Scholars of all generations have had trouble with this passage. Did Elisha actually give his consent to what Naaman suggested here? Did he not say, "Go in peace"? Stigers interpreted this as meaning that, "Naaman received assurance that God understood his heart." However, such a conclusion appears to be very questionable.

"Elisha answered, `Go in peace,' without thereby either approving or disapproving the religious intentions just expressed by Naaman."[12] "The clause, `go in peace,' merely means farewell."[13] "Elisha's words here, `Go in peace,' should be taken simply as Elisha's parting wish that the peace of God would accompany Naaman on his way back to Damascus."[14]

"So he departed from him a little way" (2 Kings 5:19). The terminology used here seems to be for the purpose of indicating that "some distance" (as in the margin) from the house of Elisha, Naaman paused long enough to load up that two mutes' burden of earth which he had requested. That would also have facilitated the performance of Gehazi's wicked deception.