2 Kings 5:1 - Exposition

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the King of Syria. The name "Naaman" is here found for the first time. It is thought to be derived from that of an Aramaean god (Ewald), and appears in the later Arabic under the form of Noman , in which shape it is familiar to the students of Arabian history. Benhadad, who had been wont in his youth and middle age to lead his armies into the field in person, seems now in his old age to have found it necessary to entrust the command to a general, and to have made Naaman captain of his host. Compare the similar practice of the Assyrian monarchs. Was a great man with his master, and honorable —rather, honor ed , or held in esteem ( τεθαυμασμένος , LXX .)— because by him the Lord had given deliverance —literally, salvation , or safety ( σωτηρίαν , LXX .)— unto Syria. Probably he had commanded the Syrian army in some of its encounters with the Assyrians, who at this time, under Shalmaneser II ; were threatening the independence of Syria, but did not succeed in subjecting it. He was also a mighty man in valor —gibbor hail , commonly translated in our version by "mighty man of valor," does not mean much more than "a good soldier"—but he was a leper. Leprosy had many degrees. Some of the lighter kinds did not incapacitate a man for military service, or unfit him for the discharge of court duties ( 2 Kings 5:18 ). But there was always a danger that the lighter forms might develop into the severer ones.