2 Kings 5:8

8 But when Elisha the ¹man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel."

2 Kings 5:8 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 5:8

And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the
king of Israel had rent his clothes
And upon what account:

that he sent to the king, saying, wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes?
and thereby expressed so much concern and distress:

let him come now to me:
meaning Naaman the Syrian leper:

and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel;
able in the name of the Lord to work miracles, which he should be sensible of and acknowledge, to the glory of the God of Israel, by the cure that should be wrought upon him; and hereby he taxed the king of Israel with ignorance or neglect of him as a prophet.

2 Kings 5:8 In-Context

6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, "When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy."

7 And 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 cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me."

8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel."

9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house.

10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean."

Cross References

• 1. See Deuteronomy 33:1