Naaman Healed, Gehazi Judged

5:1 Now Naaman, the commander of the king of Syria’s army, was esteemed and respected by his master, for through him the Lord had given Syria military victories. But this great warrior had a skin disease. 5:2 Raiding parties went out from Syria and took captive from the land of Israel a young girl, who became a servant to Naaman’s wife. 5:3 She told her mistress, “If only my master were in the presence of the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his skin disease.” 5:4 Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5:5 The king of Syria said, “Go! I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten suits of clothes. 5:6 He brought the letter to king of Israel. It read: “This is a letter of introduction for my servant Naaman, whom I have sent to be cured of his skin disease.” 5:7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill or restore life? Why does he ask me to cure a man of his skin disease? Certainly you must see that he is looking for an excuse to fight me!” 5:8 When Elisha the prophet heard that the king had torn his clothes, he sent this message to the king, “Why did you tear your clothes? Send him to me so he may know there is a prophet in Israel.” 5:9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood in the doorway of Elisha’s house. 5:10 Elisha sent out a messenger who told him, “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan; your skin will be restored and you will be healed.” 5:11 Naaman went away angry. He said, “Look, I thought for sure he would come out, stand there, invoke the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the area, and cure the skin disease. 5:12 The rivers of Damascus, the Abana and Pharpar, are better than any of the waters of Israel! Could I not wash in them and be healed?” So he turned around and went away angry. 5:13 His servants approached and said to him, “O master, if the prophet had told you to do some difficult task, you would have been willing to do it. It seems you should be happy that he simply said, “Wash and you will be healed.” 5:14 So he went down and dipped in the Jordan seven times, as the prophet had instructed. His skin became as smooth as a young child’s and he was healed. 5:15 He and his entire entourage returned to the prophet. Naaman came and stood before him. He said, “For sure I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel! Now, please accept a gift from your servant.” 5:16 But Elisha replied, “As certainly as the Lord lives (whom I serve), I will take nothing from you.” Naaman insisted that he take it, but he refused. 5:17 Naaman said, “If not, then please give your servant a load of dirt, enough for a pair of mules to carry, for your servant will never again offer a burnt offering or sacrifice to a god other than the Lord. 5:18 May the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to worship, and he leans on my arm and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.” 5:19 Elisha said to him, “Go in peace.” When he had gone a short distance, 5:20 Gehazi, the prophet Elisha’s servant, thought, “Look, my master did not accept what this Syrian Naaman offered him. As certainly as the Lord lives, I will run after him and accept something from him.” 5:21 So Gehazi ran after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from his chariot to meet him and asked, “Is everything all right?” 5:22 He answered, “Everything is fine. My master sent me with this message, ‘Look, two servants of the prophets just arrived from the Ephraimite hill country. Please give them a talent of silver and two suits of clothes.’” 5:23 Naaman said, “Please accept two talents of silver. He insisted, and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, along with two suits of clothes. He gave them to two of his servants and they carried them for Gehazi. 5:24 When he arrived at the hill, he took them from the servants and put them in the house. Then he sent the men on their way. 5:25 When he came and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” He answered, “Your servant hasn’t been anywhere.” 5:26 Elisha replied, “I was there in spirit when a man turned and got down from his chariot to meet you. This is not the proper time to accept silver or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, cattle, and male and female servants. 5:27 Therefore Naaman’s skin disease will afflict you and your descendants forever!” When Gehazi went out from his presence, his skin was as white as snow.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

God heals Naaman, a foreign commander, by calling him to humble obedience. Naaman learns that the Lord alone is God, while Gehazi is judged for lying and trying to profit from God’s free gift.

Naaman was a powerful Syrian military commander, but he had a skin disease. God had already given Syria military success, showing that the Lord rules over nations, not just over Israel. A captive Israelite servant girl told Naaman’s wife that a prophet in Samaria could heal him.

Naaman went to Israel with wealth and a letter from his king. The king of Israel panicked because he knew he could not heal anyone. Elisha then sent word that Naaman should come to him. But Elisha did not use a grand show. He simply told Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River.

Naaman was angry because the command seemed too plain. He wanted honor, ceremony, and a better river. But his servants wisely urged him to obey the prophet’s word. When he finally did, he was completely healed.

Naaman then returned and confessed that there is no God except the Lord in Israel. He wanted to give Elisha a gift, but Elisha refused, so no one could say the healing had been bought. Naaman also asked for soil from Israel and spoke about how he would have to deal with worship in his own land. Elisha sent him away in peace.

The second half of the chapter is a warning. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, lied and secretly took gifts from Naaman after Elisha had refused them. He used the Lord’s name to cover his sin. Elisha exposed the lie and said Gehazi’s greed would bring Naaman’s skin disease on him and his descendants. Gehazi left with a white skin disease. The chapter shows the difference between humble faith and greedy corruption.

• God is sovereign over nations, kings, illness, and healing.
• The Lord can use unexpected people, even a foreign commander and a captive servant girl.
• Pride can keep a person from receiving God’s help.
• God’s gifts are not for sale.
• Naaman learned that the Lord alone is God.
• Gehazi’s lying and greed brought serious judgment.
• Association with a prophet does not protect a person from sin.

• Do not try to earn God’s grace by gifts or status.
• Do not demand that God work only in the way you prefer.
• Obey God’s word even when it seems simple or humble.
• Do not use religious office to gain money through deceit.
• The Lord is holy and sees hidden sin.
• God can cleanse and welcome people from outside Israel when they come to him in faith and obedience.

This passage belongs to Israel’s history under the Mosaic covenant, when God was still preserving a prophetic witness in the land despite Israel’s unfaithfulness. It shows that the Lord’s mercy was not limited to ethnic Israel, because he healed a foreign commander and led him to confess that there is no God but the Lord. This fits the wider Bible theme that God would bless the nations through Abraham’s line, while still keeping Israel’s covenant role distinct. The chapter also shows that true healing and true worship come through God’s word, not human pride, payment, or ritual display.

We should come to God with humility, not pride. We should obey his word even when the instruction seems small or ordinary. We should never treat ministry or spiritual help as a way to make money. And we should remember that God can save and restore people from places and backgrounds we might not expect.

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