2 Kings 5:1

Naaman's Disease Healed

1 Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a great man in his master's sight[a] and highly regarded because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was a brave warrior, but he had a skin disease.

2 Kings 5:1 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 5:1

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria
The general of Benhadad's army; for he was now king of Syria, though some think Hazael his successor was:

was a great man with his master;
high in his favour and esteem:

and honourable;
not only acceptable to the king, and loaded with honours by him, but greatly respected by all ranks and degrees among the people:

because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria;
out of the hands of their enemies, and victory over them, and particularly in the last battle with Israel, in which Ahab was slain, and, as the Jews suppose, by the hands of Naaman, (See Gill on 1 Kings 22:34) however, when any salvation was wrought, or victory obtained, even by Heathens, and by them over Israel, the people of God, it was of the Lord:

he was also a mighty man in valour;
a very courageous valiant man:

but he was a leper;
was stricken with the leprosy, which had deformed and disgraced his person, and weakened his strength, and dispirited him; all his grandeur and honour could not protect him from this loathsome disease.

2 Kings 5:1 In-Context

1 Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a great man in his master's sight and highly regarded because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was a brave warrior, but he had a skin disease.
2 Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman's wife.
3 She said to her mistress, "If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease."
4 So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said.
5 Therefore, the king of Aram said, "Go and I will send a letter [with you] to the king of Israel." So he went and took with him 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and 10 changes of clothes.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Lit man before his master
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.