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2 Kings 5:7

7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, "Am I God, killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Think it over and you will see that he is only picking a fight with[a] me."[b]

2 Kings 5:7 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 5:7

And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the
letter, that he rent his clothes
As one in great distress, being thrown into perplexity of mind by it, not knowing what to do; or, as some think, at the blasphemy he supposed to be in it, requiring that of him which only God could do:

and said, am I God, to kill and to make alive;
or have the power of life and death, which only belongs to the Supreme Being:

that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy;
for a leper was reckoned as one dead, his disease incurable, his flesh upon him being mortified by it, see ( Numbers 12:12 ) and therefore not supposed to be in the power of man, only of God, to cure; and therefore, in Israel, none had anything to do with the leper but the priest, in the name of God:

wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel
against me;
to pick a quarrel with him, in order to go to war with him as he supposed. This seems to have been spoken to his lords and courtiers about him.

2 Kings 5:7 In-Context

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.
6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, and it read: When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, "Am I God, killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Think it over and you will see that he is only picking a fight with me."
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel tore his clothes, he sent [a message] to the king, "Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel."
9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house.

Footnotes 2

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