2 Kings 5:15-27

Gehazi’s Greed and Punishment

15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that ¹there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so ²accept now a present from your servant. ”

16 But he said, ³“As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, ⁴I will receive none. ” And he urged him to take it, but he refused.

17 Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord.

18 In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of ⁵Rimmon to worship there, ⁶leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter. ”

19 He said to him, ⁷“Go in peace. ”But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance,

20 ⁸Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. ⁹As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him. ”

21 So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, ¹⁰“Is all well? ”

22 And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from ¹¹the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and ¹²two changes of clothing. ’”

23 And Naaman said, ¹³“Be pleased to accept two talents. ” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi.

24 And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed.

25 He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi? ” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere. ”

26 But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants?

27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever. ” So he went out from his presence ¹⁴a leper, like snow.

2 Kings 5:15-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 5

This chapter gives an account of the leprosy of Naaman the Syrian, and of the cure of it by Elisha; how he came to hear of him, and the recommendation he had from the king of Syria to the king of Israel, 2Ki 5:1-8, who, coming to Elisha's house, was ordered to dip himself seven times in Jordan, which made him depart in wrath; but one of his servants persuaded him to do it, and he did, and was cured, 2Ki 5:9-14, upon which he returned to Elisha, and offered him a present, which he refused, 2Ki 5:15-19 but Gehazi, his servant, ran after him with a lie in his mouth, and obtained it, and returned to his master with another, for which he was smitten with the leprosy of Naaman, 2Ki 5:20-27.

Cross References

• 1. 5:15 [Dan. 2:47; 3:29; 6:26, 27]
• 2. 5:15 [Gen. 33:11]
• 3. 5:16 ch. 3:14; 1 Kgs. 17:1
• 4. 5:16 [Gen. 14:23]
• 5. 5:18 [1 Kgs. 15:18; Zech. 12:11]
• 6. 5:18 ch. 7:2, 17
• 7. 5:19 1 Sam. 1:17
• 8. 5:20 ch. 4:12
• 9. 5:20 See Ruth 3:13
• 10. 5:21 ch. 9:11
• 11. 5:22 See Josh. 24:33
• 12. 5:22 ver. 5
• 13. 5:23 ch. 6:3
• 14. 5:27 Ex. 4:6; Num. 12:10; [ch. 15:5]