2 Kings 5:20-27

20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian in not receiving at his hands that which he brought; but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him and take something from him."
21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he alighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, "Is all well?"
22 And he said, "All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, `Behold, even now there have come to me from Mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver and two changes of garments.'"
23 And Naaman said, "Be content, take two talents." And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bore them before him.
24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand and stowed them in the house; and he let the men go, and they departed.
25 But he went in and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, "From whence comest thou, Gehazi?" And he said, "Thy servant went nowhere."
26 And he said unto him, "Went not mine heart with thee when the man turned back from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money and to receive garments, and olive yards and vineyards, and sheep and oxen, and menservants and maidservants?
27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee and unto thy seed for ever." And he went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow.

2 Kings 5:20-27 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.

Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.