Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, [but he was] a leper. Ver. 1. _Because by him the Lord had given deliverance._] At that time, probably... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife._ Ver. 2. A little maid; and she waited on Naaman' s wife.] The captivity of this poor Hebrew girl is a means to make Naaman, the greatest lord of Syria,... [ Continue Reading ]
And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord [were] with the prophet that [is] in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. Ver. 3. _For he would recover him of his leprosy._] Few in Israel believed thus much. Luk 4:27 This poor girl was confident that the prophet, famous in her countr... [ Continue Reading ]
And [one] went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that [is] of the land of Israel. Ver. 4. _And one went and told his lord._] Told the king of Syria, who thereupon sent to the king of Israel, out of his love to Naaman, whom he slighted not, though a leper; nor the wench's wo... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand [pieces] of gold, and ten changes of raiment. Ver. 5. _And took with him ten talents of silver, &c._] Very great sums he took - ten or... [ Continue Reading ]
And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have [therewith] sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy. Ver. 6. _That thou mayest recover him of his leprosy,_] _sc., _ By commending him to thy prophet,... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, [Am] I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me. Ver. 7. _He rent... [ Continue Reading ]
And it was [so], when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. Ver. 8. _Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes?_] K... [ Continue Reading ]
So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. Ver. 9. _And stood at the door._] Where the prophet held him; not out of pride, - as that Pope did the emperor whom he made to wait three days at his gate in the depth of winter ere he would admit him... [ Continue Reading ]
And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. Ver. 10. _Go and wash in Jordan seven times._] This was the prophet's oracle, which he construeth for a contempt, and thereupon blustereth. 2Ki 5:11-12 T... [ Continue Reading ]
But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Ver. 11. _Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me._] Here we have a lively pictur... [ Continue Reading ]
2 Kings 5:12 [Are] not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. Ver. 12. _Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus_] Benjamin in his "Itinerary" saith, there is not so fruitful and s... [ Continue Reading ]
And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, [if] the prophet had bid thee [do some] great thing, wouldest thou not have done [it]? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Ver. 13. _And his servants came near, &c._] These were faithful servants indee... [ Continue Reading ]
Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. Ver. 14. _Then went he down, &c._] He was not so morose or self-willed, though now in a great pelt, but that he w... [ Continue Reading ]
And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that [there is] no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. Ver. 15. _And he returned to the man of God._] Like the tent... [ Continue Reading ]
But he said, [As] the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take [it]; but he refused. Ver. 16. _Before whom I stand._] As his menial servant, being θεοφορος, _i.e., _ carrying God in him, as Isidor Pelusiot was called, full of God. _Particeps Dei est vir sapien... [ Continue Reading ]
And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD. Ver. 17. Two mules' burden of earth.] Not to put under his feet when he stood in the... [ Continue Reading ]
In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, [that] when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing. Ver. 18. _In this thing the... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way. Ver. 19. _Go in peace._] A friendly dismission, or as some will have it, a dilatory answer - _q.d., _ Go thy way, trouble not thyself with points of this nature, the resolution whereof thou, being a babe as yet, art uncapable... [ Continue Reading ]
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 somewhat of him. Ver. 20. But Gehazi … said, Behold, my master, &c.] _Ubi observa_... [ Continue Reading ]
So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw [him] running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, [Is] all well? _Ver. 2l. So Gehazi followed._] Being acted and agitated by the devil of discontent, Judas-like.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, All [is] well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be 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. Ver. 22. _My master hath sent me._] This was all false and forged.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 bare [them] before him. Ver. 23. _Be content, take two talents._] Which amount to seven hundred and fifty po... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he came to the tower, he took [them] from their hand, and bestowed [them] in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed. Ver. 24: He took them from their hand.] A cunning thief; but his cunning deceived him, as familiars do witches, at the last, when they are in hold. _ And they... [ Continue Reading ]
But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence [comest thou], Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither. Ver. 25. _Thy servant went no whither._] Another flat lie; _sic mendaciuui mendacio assuit; _ but with ill success. Our false hearts will answer us in like... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto him, Went not mine heart [with thee], when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? [Is it] a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? Ver. 26. _Went not mine heart with thee?_]... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 27. _The leprosy therefore of Naaman._] As thou hast his money, so take his leprosy, a filthy disease for thy filthy lucre; a sad bequeath to thy ch... [ Continue Reading ]