2 Re 5:26

26 Ma Eliseo gli disse: "Il mio spirito non era egli là presente, quando quell’uomo si voltò e scese dal suo carro per venirti incontro? E’ forse questo il momento di prender danaro, di prender vesti, e uliveti e vigne, pecore e buoi, servi e serve?

2 Re 5:26 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 5:26

And he said unto him, went not mine heart with thee?
&c.] Did my heart or knowledge go from me, that what thou hast done should be hid from me? so Ben Gersom and others; or my heart did not go with thee, it was contrary to my mind and will what thou didst; so Abendana; or rather, as the Targum, by a spirit of prophecy it was shown unto me I knew full well what thou wentest for, and hast done; and so Maimonides ^F25; was not I employed in my thoughts? or, did I not think that so it was as thou hast done? I did:

when the man turned again from chariot to meet thee?
meaning Naaman the Syrian:

is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments:
as Gehazi had now done:

and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep and oxen, and menservants,
and maidservants?
that is, to purchase those with the two talents of silver he had received, as he thought in his heart, or intended to do, as the Targum; or had given orders to purchase such for him to the persons to whom he had committed the care of them in the tower; this was not a proper time, when the honour of the prophet, and the credit of religion, and the good of this man, as a new proselyte, were in danger thereby.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Moreh Nevochim, par. 1. c. 39.

2 Re 5:26 In-Context

24 E, giunto che fu alla collina, prese i sacchi dalle loro mani li ripose nella casa, e licenziò quegli uomini, che se ne andarono.

25 Poi andò a presentarsi davanti al suo signore. Eliseo gli disse: "Donde vieni, Ghehazi?" Questi rispose: "Il tuo servo non è andato in verun luogo".

26 Ma Eliseo gli disse: "Il mio spirito non era egli là presente, quando quell’uomo si voltò e scese dal suo carro per venirti incontro? E’ forse questo il momento di prender danaro, di prender vesti, e uliveti e vigne, pecore e buoi, servi e serve?

27 La lebbra di Naaman s’attaccherà perciò a te ed alla tua progenie in perpetuo". E Ghehazi uscì dalla presenza di Eliseo, tutto lebbroso, bianco come la neve.