14 Then went he down, H3381 and dipped H2881 himself seven H7651 times H6471 in Jordan, H3383 according to the saying H1697 of the man H376 of God: H430 and his flesh H1320 came again H7725 like unto the flesh H1320 of a little H6996 child, H5288 and he was clean. H2891
A word H1697 fitly H212 H655 spoken H1696 is like apples H8598 of gold H2091 in pictures H4906 of silver. H3701 As an earring H5141 of gold, H2091 and an ornament H2481 of fine gold, H3800 so is a wise H2450 reprover H3198 upon an obedient H8085 ear. H241
Afterward he brought me again H7725 unto the door H6607 of the house; H1004 and, behold, waters H4325 issued out H3318 from under the threshold H4670 of the house H1004 eastward: H6921 for the forefront H6440 of the house H1004 stood toward the east, H6921 and the waters H4325 came down H3381 from under from the right H3233 side H3802 of the house, H1004 at the south H5045 side of the altar. H4196 Then brought he me out H3318 of the way H1870 of the gate H8179 northward, H6828 and led me about H5437 the way H1870 without unto the utter H2351 gate H8179 by the way H1870 that looketh H6437 eastward; H6921 and, behold, there ran out H6379 waters H4325 on the right H3233 side. H3802 And when the man H376 that had the line H6957 in his hand H3027 went forth H3318 eastward, H6921 he measured H4058 a thousand H505 cubits, H520 and he brought me through H5674 the waters; H4325 the waters H4325 were to the ankles. H657 Again he measured H4058 a thousand, H505 and brought me through H5674 the waters; H4325 the waters H4325 were to the knees. H1290 Again he measured H4058 a thousand, H505 and brought me through; H5674 the waters H4325 were to the loins. H4975 Afterward he measured H4058 a thousand; H505 and it was a river H5158 that I could H3201 not pass over: H5674 for the waters H4325 were risen, H1342 waters H4325 to swim in, H7813 a river H5158 that could not be passed over. H5674 And he said H559 unto me, Son H1121 of man, H120 hast thou seen H7200 this? Then he brought H3212 me, and caused me to return H7725 to the brink H8193 of the river. H5158 Now when I had returned, H7725 behold, at the bank H8193 of the river H5158 were very H3966 many H7227 trees H6086 on the one side and on the other. Then said H559 he unto me, These waters H4325 issue out H3318 toward the east H6930 country, H1552 and go down H3381 into the desert, H6160 and go H935 into the sea: H3220 which being brought forth H3318 into the sea, H3220 the waters H4325 shall be healed. H7495 And it shall come to pass, that every thing H5315 that liveth, H2416 which moveth, H8317 whithersoever the rivers H5158 shall come, H935 shall live: H2421 and there shall be a very H3966 great H7227 multitude of fish, H1710 because these waters H4325 shall come H935 thither: for they shall be healed; H7495 and every thing shall live H2425 whither the river H5158 cometh. H935
By faith G4102 Noah, G3575 being warned of God G5537 of G4012 things not G3369 seen G991 as yet, G3369 moved with fear, G2125 prepared G2680 an ark G2787 to G1519 the saving G4991 of his G846 house; G3624 by G1223 the which G3739 he condemned G2632 the world, G2889 and G2532 became G1096 heir G2818 of the righteousness G1343 which is by G2596 faith. G4102 By faith G4102 Abraham, G11 when he was called G2564 to go out G1831 into G1519 a place G5117 which G3739 he should after G3195 receive G2983 for G1519 an inheritance, G2817 obeyed; G5219 and G2532 he went out, G1831 not G3361 knowing G1987 whither G4226 he went. G2064
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Kings 5
Commentary on 2 Kings 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 5
2Ki 5:1-7. Naaman's Leprosy.
1. Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master—highly esteemed for his military character and success.
and honourable—rather, "very rich."
but he was a leper—This leprosy, which, in Israel, would have excluded him from society, did not affect his free intercourse in the court of Syria.
2-5. a little maid—who had been captured in one of the many predatory incursions which were then made by the Syrians on the northern border of Israel (see 1Sa 30:8; 2Ki 13:21; 24:2). By this young Hebrew slave of his wife, Naaman's attention was directed to the prophet of Israel, as the person who would remove his leprosy. Naaman, on communicating the matter to his royal master, was immediately furnished with a letter to the king of Israel, and set out for Samaria, carrying with him, as an indispensable preliminary in the East, very costly presents.
5. ten talents of silver—£3421; 6000 shekels of gold; a large sum of uncertain value.
ten changes of raiment—splendid dresses, for festive occasions—the honor being thought to consist not only in the beauty and fineness of the material, but on having a variety to put on one after another, in the same night.
7. when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes—According to an ancient practice among the Eastern people, the main object only was stated in the letter that was carried by the party concerned, while other circumstances were left to be explained at the interview. This explains Jehoram's burst of emotion—not horror at supposed blasphemy, but alarm and suspicion that this was merely made an occasion for a quarrel. Such a prince as he was would not readily think of Elisha, or, perhaps, have heard of his miraculous deeds.
2Ki 5:8-15. Elisha Sends Him to Jordan, and He Is Healed.
8-12. when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, … let him come now to me—This was the grand and ultimate object to which, in the providence of God, the journey of Naaman was subservient. When the Syrian general, with his imposing retinue, arrived at the prophet's house, Elisha sent him a message to "go and wash in Jordan seven times." This apparently rude reception to a foreigner of so high dignity incensed Naaman to such a degree that he resolved to depart, scornfully boasting that the rivers of Damascus were better than all the waters of Israel.
11. strike his hand over the place—that is, wave it over the diseased parts of his body. It was anciently, and still continues to be, a very prevalent superstition in the East that the hand of a king, or person of great reputed sanctity, touching, or waved over a sore, will heal it.
12. Abana and Pharpar—the Barrady and one of its five tributaries—uncertain which. The waters of Damascus are still highly extolled by their inhabitants for their purity and coldness.
14. Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan—Persuaded by his calmer and more reflecting attendants to try a method so simple and easy, he followed their instructions, and was cured. The cure was performed on the basis of God's covenant with Israel, by which the land, and all pertaining to it, was blessed. Seven was the symbol of the covenant [Keil].
2Ki 5:15-19. Elisha Refuses Naaman's Gifts.
15, 16. he returned to the man of God—After the miraculous cure, Naaman returned to Elisha, to whom he acknowledged his full belief in the sole supremacy of the God of Israel and offered him a liberal reward. But to show that he was not actuated by the mercenary motives of the heathen priests and prophets, Elisha, though he accepted presents on other occasions (2Ki 4:42), respectfully but firmly declined them on this, being desirous that the Syrians should see the piety of God's servants, and their superiority to all worldly and selfish motives in promoting the honor of God and the interests of true religion.
17. two mules' burden of earth—with which to make an altar (Ex 20:24) to the God of Israel. What his motive or his purpose was in this proposal—whether he thought that God could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil; or whether he wished, when far away from the Jordan, to have the earth of Palestine to rub himself with, which the Orientals use as a substitute for water; or whether, by making such a request of Elisha, he thought the prophet's grant of it would impart some virtue; or whether, like the modern Jews and Mohammedans, he resolved to have a portion of this holy earth for his nightly pillow—it is not easy to say. It is not strange to find such notions in so newly a converted heathen.
18. goeth into the house of Rimmon—a Syrian deity; probably the sun, or the planetary system, of which a pomegranate (Hebrew, Rimmon) was the symbol.
leaneth on my hand—that is, meaning the service which Naaman rendered as the attendant of his sovereign. Elisha's prophetic commission not extending to any but the conversion of Israel from idolatry, he makes no remark, either approving or disapproving, on the declared course of Naaman, but simply gives the parting benediction (2Ki 5:19).
2Ki 5:20-27. Gehazi, by a Lie, Obtains a Present, but Is Smitten with Leprosy.
20-25. I will run after him, and take somewhat of him—The respectful courtesy to Elisha, shown in the person of his servant, and the open-handed liberality of his gifts, attest the fulness of Naaman's gratitude; while the lie—the artful management is dismissing the bearers of the treasure, and the deceitful appearance before his master, as if he had not left the house—give a most unfavorable impression of Gehazi's character.
23. in two bags—People in the East, when travelling, have their money, in certain sums, put up in bags.
27. leper as white as snow—(See on Le 13:3). This heavy infliction was not too severe for the crime of Gehazi. For it was not the covetousness alone that was punished; but, at the same time, it was the ill use made of the prophet's name to gain an object prompted by a mean covetousness, and the attempt to conceal it by lying [Keil].