1
Naaman, commander of the king of Aram’s army, was a man held in honor before his master and highly favored, because by him the LORD had given victory to the Arameans. But the man, a mighty warrior, had leprosy.
2
The Arameans had gone out in bands and had carried off a young girl from the land of Israel. She became a servant to Naaman’s wife.
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She said to her mistress, “If only my lord would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would surely heal him of his disease.”
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So Naaman went and told his master, saying, “This and this is what the girl from the land of Israel said.”
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Then the king of Aram said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman went, taking with him as a gift ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.
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He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read: “When this letter comes to you, know that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.”
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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 sends word to me to heal a man of his leprosy? Surely now, consider and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”
8
When Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent word to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
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So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
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Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”
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But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out to me, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy!
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Are not Abana 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
But his servants came near and said to him, “Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and you shall be clean.’”
14
Then 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
Then he returned with all his company to the man of God. When he had come near, he stood before Elisha and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”
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But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing.” And though Naaman urged him to accept something, he refused.
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Then Naaman said, “If not, please let your servant be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will no longer offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any other god except to the LORD.
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May the LORD pardon your servant in this matter: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and I am leaning on his arm, so that I must bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD pardon your servant in this matter.”
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And Elisha said to him, “Go in peace!”
After Naaman had gone a little way from him,
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Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean, not receiving what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him.”
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So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he quickly got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?”
22
He answered, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘Just now two young men from the hill country of Ephraim, from among the sons of the prophets, have come to me. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’”
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Naaman said, “Please, take two talents.” And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and gave them to two of his servants; and they carried them before Gehazi.
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When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and stored them in the house, and sent the men away, and they departed.
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But when Gehazi went in and stood before his master, Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.”
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But Elisha said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Now you have received silver, and you can obtain gardens, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, oxen, male servants, and female servants,
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but Naaman’s leprosy shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So Gehazi went out from his presence, leprous, white as snow.
🩺💧👑 Summary of 2 Kings 5 – Naaman’s Healing and Gehazi’s Greed
2 Kings 5 is a dramatic account of Naaman, the great commander of Aram, suffering from leprosy, and then being healed by the Lord through the prophet Elisha. Yet this healing is not only about the body — it is also about the renewing of the heart. On the other hand, this chapter also warns us through the tragic story of Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, who was greedy for gifts and finally came under the disease that had once afflicted Naaman.
📌 1. Naaman, the Successful Commander Who Suffered from Leprosy (verses 1–7)
➡️ Naaman was a hero of Aram — deserving honor and respected, but he had leprosy
➡️ An Israelite captive girl who served Naaman’s wife said:
“If only my lord would go before the prophet in Samaria, he would be healed.”
➡️ Naaman went, carrying a letter from the king of Aram and great gifts to the king of Israel
➡️ The king of Israel tore his clothes, feeling helpless
🎯 Worldly greatness cannot heal spiritual and physical wounds; only God can
📌 2. Elisha Rejects Formality and Tests Naaman’s Faith (verses 8–12)
➡️ Elisha heard and asked that Naaman come to him
➡️ But Elisha did not come out to meet him — he only sent a messenger and said:
“Wash seven times in the Jordan River, and you will be healed.”
➡️ Naaman was angry:
“Should he not have come out, stood, called on the name of the Lord, and waved his hand over me?”
➡️ He was disappointed because he did not receive honor and a wondrous ceremony
🎯 True healing comes through humility, not splendor
📌 3. Naaman Is Healed After Yielding and Believing (verses 13–14)
➡️ His servants gently advised:
“If the prophet had commanded some great thing, surely you would have done it — how much more this, only to wash?”
➡️ Naaman finally humbled himself, and washed seven times in the Jordan
➡️ He was healed, and his skin became like that of a little child
🎯 Faith begins when pride is brought low, and simple obedience is done
📌 4. Naaman Repents and Worships the Lord (verses 15–19)
➡️ Naaman returned to Elisha and said:
“Now I know that in all the earth there is no God except in Israel.”
➡️ He offered a great gift, but Elisha firmly refused
➡️ Naaman asked for soil from Israel to worship the Lord in his own land
🎯 Physical healing must lead to worship and a changed heart
📌 5. Gehazi’s Greed Brings Leprosy (verses 20–27)
➡️ Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, ran after Naaman and lied to ask for a gift
➡️ He kept the gift, then lied again to Elisha
➡️ Elisha said:
“Did not my heart go with you when you met Naaman?”
➡️ Judgment: Naaman’s disease came upon Gehazi and his descendants
🎯 Greed and hypocrisy in ministry bring divine judgment
📖 Main Lessons
- God’s power goes beyond nation and religion
- Pride and trust in ritual can actually hinder a miracle
- True faith is willing to submit and obey even a command that seems small
- Ministry must be free from motives of gain
- Hidden sin remains seen in the eyes of the Lord
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“There were many lepers in Israel in the days of Elisha, but none was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
➡️ Jesus quoted this account to show God’s grace is not limited by nation
“For by grace you have been saved through faith…”
➡️ Naaman was healed not because he deserved it, but because of faith and grace
“God opposes the proud, but gives mercy to the humble.”
➡️ Naaman learned that humility opens the way to healing
“The root of all evil is the love of money…”
➡️ Gehazi became an example of a servant of God caught in mammon
🕊️ “If my lord were to go before the prophet in Samaria, he would be healed.” – 2 Kings 5:3
🕊️ “Wash seven times in the Jordan River…” – 2 Kings 5:10
🕊️ “Now I know… there is no God except in Israel.” – 2 Kings 5:15
🕊️ “Naaman’s disease will cling to you and to your descendants.” – 2 Kings 5:27
