2 Kings 5:8

8 It happened when Elisha ¹the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent word to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Now let him come to me, and he shall 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 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, "And now as this letter comes to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy."

7 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 is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? But consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me."

8 It happened when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent word to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Now let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel."

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

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

Cross References

• 1. 1 Kings 12:22