2 Kings 5

1Naaman, general of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man before his master and highly esteemed, because through him Yahweh had granted deliverance to Syria; the man was a mighty warrior of valor, but he was a leper.

2The Syrians went out in raiding bands and took captive from the land of Israel a little girl, and she served Naaman's wife.

3She said to her mistress, "If only my master stood before the prophet in Samaria! Then he would recover him from his leprosy."

4Someone went in and told his master, saying, "The girl from the land of Israel said this and that."

5The king of Aram said, "Go, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." He went and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of garments.

6He brought the letter to Israel's king, saying, "Now when this letter reaches you, see, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may recover him from his leprosy."

7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his garments and said, "Am I God, to kill and to give life, that this man sends to me to cure someone of his leprosy? But please know and see how he seeks a quarrel against me."

8When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me now, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel."

9Naaman came on his horses and in his chariot and stood at the door of Elisha's house.

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

11Naaman became angry and left, saying, "Look, I told myself he would surely come out to me, stand, call on the name of Yahweh his God, lift his hand toward the place, and cure the leper."

12Aren't Abana, Amana, and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Can't I wash in them and be clean? He turned and went away in anger.

13His servants came near, spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had directed a great matter to you, wouldn't you have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash and be clean?'"

14He went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh returned like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

15He returned to the man of God—he and his entire company—came and stood before him, and said, "See now, I know there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So now, please accept a blessing from your servant."

16He said, "As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will take nothing." He urged him to accept it, but he refused.

17Naaman said, "Please let a pair of mules' load of soil be given to your servant, for from now on your servant will offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to Yahweh."

18In this matter may Yahweh pardon your servant: when my master enters the house of Rimmon to bow down there, and as he leans on my hand and I bow down in the house of Rimmon—whenever I bow down in the house of Rimmon—may Yahweh please pardon your servant in this matter.

19He said to him, “Go in peace.” Then he went a little way from him.

20Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Look, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian by not accepting from his hand what he brought. As Yahweh lives, I will run after him and take something from him."

21Gehazi pursued Naaman. Naaman saw him running after him, got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, "Is it well?"

22He said, “Peace, my lord. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Look, just now two young men from Mount Ephraim, sons of the prophets, have come to me. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments.’”

23Naaman said, "Please accept two talents." He pressed him, wrapped two talents of silver in two bags along with two changes of clothes, laid them on two of his attendants, and they carried them before him.

24He came to the tower, took them from their hands, and deposited them in the house. He sent the men away, and they departed.

25He entered and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, "Where did you come from, Gehazi?" He said, "Your servant went nowhere."

26He said to him, "Didn't my heart go with you when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to take silver and to take garments, olive trees, vineyards, sheep, cattle, male servants, and female servants?"

27Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and your descendants forever. He went out from his presence leprous, white as snow.