51 Now Naaman , captain of the army of the king of Aram , was a great man with his master , and highly respected e , because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram . The man was also a valiant warrior , but he was a leper . 2 Now the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel ; and she waited on Naaman's wife . 3 She said to her mistress , "I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria ! Then he would cure him of his leprosy ." 4 Naaman went in and told his master , saying , "Thus and thus spoke the girl who is from the land of Israel ." 5 Then the king of Aram said , "Go now , and I will send a letter to the king of Israel ." He departed and took with him ten talents of silver and six thousand shekels of gold and ten changes of clothes . 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel , saying , "And now as this letter comes to you, behold , I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy ." 7 When the king of Israel read the letter , he tore his clothes and said , " Am I God , to kill and to make alive , that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy ? But consider now , and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me." 8 It happened when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes , that he sent word to the king , saying , "Why have you torn your clothes ? Now let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel ."
9 So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha . 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying , " Go and wash in the Jordan seven times , and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean ." 11 But Naaman was furious and went away and said , "Behold , I thought , 'He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God , and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper .' 12 "Are not Abanah and Pharpar , the rivers of Damascus , better than all the waters of Israel ? Could I not wash in them and be clean ?" So he turned and went away in a rage . 13 Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said , " My father , had the prophet told you to do some great thing , would you not have done it? How much e more e then, when he says to you, 'Wash , and be clean '?" 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan , according to the word of the man of God ; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean .
15 When he returned to the man of God with all his company , and came and stood before him, he said , "Behold now , I know that there is no God in all the earth , but in Israel ; so please take a present from your servant now ." 16 But he said , " As the Lord lives , before whom I stand , I will take nothing ." And he urged him to take it, but he refused . 17 Naaman said , "If not, please let your servant at least be given two mules' load of earth ; for your servant will no longer offer burnt offering nor will he sacrifice to other gods , but to the Lord . 18 "In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant : when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there , and he leans on my hand and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon , when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon , the Lord pardon your servant in this matter ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 5:1-18
Commentary on 2 Kings 5:1-8
(Read 2 Kings 5:1-8)
Though the Syrians were idolaters, and oppressed God's people, yet the deliverance of which Naaman had been the means, is here ascribed to the Lord. Such is the correct language of Scripture, while those who write common history, plainly show that God is not in all their thoughts. No man's greatness, or honour, can place him our of the reach of the sorest calamities of human life: there is many a sickly, crazy body under rich and gay clothing. Every man has some but or other, something that blemishes and diminishes him, some allay to his grandeur, some damp to his joy. This little maid, though only a girl, could give an account of the famous prophet the Israelites had among them. Children should be early told of the wondrous works of God, that, wherever they go, they may talk of them. As became a good servant, she desired the health and welfare of her master, though she was a captive, a servant by force; much more should servants by choice, seek their masters' good. Servants may be blessings to the families where they are, by telling what they know of the glory of God, and the honour of his prophets. Naaman did not despise what she told, because of her meanness. It would be well if men were as sensible of the burden of sin as they are of bodily disease. And when they seek the blessings which the Lord sends in answer to the prayers of his faithful people, they will find nothing can be had, except they come as beggars for a free gift, not as lords to demand or purchase.
Commentary on 2 Kings 5:9-14
(Read 2 Kings 5:9-14)
Elisha knew Naaman to be a proud man, and he would let him know, that before the great God all men stand upon the same level. All God's commands make trial of men's spirits, especially those which direct a sinner how to apply for the blessings of salvation. See in Naaman the folly of pride; a cure will not content him, unless he be cured with pomp and parade. He scorns to be healed, unless he be humoured. The way by which a sinner is received and made holy, through the blood, and by the Spirit of Christ, through faith alone in his name, does not sufficiently humour or employ self, to please the sinner's heart. Human wisdom thinks it can supply wiser and better methods of cleansing. Observe, masters should be willing to hear reason. As we should be deaf to the counsel of the ungodly, though given by great and respected names, so we are to have our ears open to good advice, though brought by those below us. Wouldst thou not do any thing? When diseased sinners are content to do any thing, to submit to any thing, to part with any thing, for a cure, then, and not till then, is there any hope of them. The methods for the healing of the leprosy of sin, are so plain, that we are without excuse if we do not observe them. It is but, Believe, and be saved; Repent, and be pardoned; Wash, and be clean. The believer applies for salvation, not neglecting, altering, or adding to the Saviour's directions; he is thus made clean from guilt, while others, who neglect them, live and die in the leprosy of sin.
Commentary on 2 Kings 5:15-19
(Read 2 Kings 5:15-19)
The mercy of the cure affected Naaman more than the miracle. Those are best able to speak of the power of Divine grace, who themselves experience it. He also shows himself grateful to Elisha the prophet. Elijah refused any recompence, not because he thought it unlawful, for he received presents from others, but to show this new convert that the servants of the God of Israel looked upon worldly wealth with a holy contempt. The whole work was from God, in such a manner, that the prophet would not give counsel when he had no directions from the Lord. It is not well violently to oppose the lesser mistakes which unite with men's first convictions; we cannot bring men forward any faster than the Lord prepares them to receive instruction. Yet as to us, if, in covenanting with God, we desire to reserve any known sin, to continue to indulge ourselves in it, that is a breach of his covenant. Those who truly hate evil, will make conscience of abstaining from all appearances of evil.