2 Kings 5:13 - Exposition

And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father. Naaman's attendants did not share his indignation, or, if they did, since servants in the East are apt to be jealous of their masters' honor, had their feelings more under control; and they therefore inter-feted with mild words, anxious to pacify him, and persuade him to follow the prophet's advice. "My father" is a deferential and, at the same time, an affectionate address, not unnatural in the mouth of a confidential servant. There is thus no need of any alteration of the text, such as Ewald ( לוֹ for אָבִי ) or Thenius ( אִם for אָבִי ) proposes. It must be admitted, however, that the LXX . seem to have had לוֹ in their copies. If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing —"had set thee," i.e; "some difficult task"— wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, [shouldest thou perform his behest] when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? The reasoning was unanswerable, and took effect. Naaman was persuaded.