BY HIM THE LORD HAD GIVEN DELIVERANCE UNTO SYRIA - An Assyrian monarch had pushed his conquests as far as Syria exactly at this period, bringing into subjection all the kings of these parts. But Syria revolted after a few years and once more made herself independent. It was probably in this war of i... [ Continue Reading ]
No peace had been made on the failure of Ahab’s expedition 1 Kings 22:1. The relations of the two countries therefore continued to be hostile, and plundering inroads naturally took place on the one side and on the other.... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE WENT IN - Rather, “he went in,” i. e. Naaman went and told his lord, the king of Syria.... [ Continue Reading ]
SIX THOUSAND PIECES OF GOLD - Rather, “six thousand shekels of gold.” Coined money did not exist as yet, and was not introduced into Judea until the time of Cyrus. Gold was carried in bars, from which portions were cut when need arose, and the value was ascertained by weighing. If the gold shekel of... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU MAYEST RECOVER HIM - literally, “And thou shalt recover him.” The Syrian king presumes that, if there is a cure for leprosy to be had in Israel, the mode of obtaining it will be well known to his royal brother.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE RENT HIS CLOTHES - The action indicated alarm and terror quite as much as sorrow 2 Samuel 13:19; Ezra 9:3; 2 Chronicles 34:27; Jeremiah 36:22. CONSIDER, I PRAY YOU - Jehoram speaks to his chief officers, and bids them mark the animus of the Syrian monarch. Compare the conduct of Ahab 1 Kings 20:... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL KNOW ... ISRAEL - namely, “That which thou (the king of Israel) appearest to have forgotten, that there is a prophet - a real Yahweh prophet - in Israel.”... [ Continue Reading ]
Elisha was not deterred from personally meeting Naaman because he was a leper. He sent a messenger because Naaman had over-estimated his own importance 2 Kings 5:11), and needed rebuke. AND WASH IN JORDAN - Compare the marginal references. A command is given which tests the faith of the recipient,... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WILL SURELY COME OUT TO ME - In the East a code of unwritten laws prescribes exactly how visits are to be paid, and how visitors are to be received, according to the worldly rank of the parties (compare 2 Kings 5:21). No doubt, according to such a code, Elisha should have gone out to meet Naaman... [ Continue Reading ]
The Abana is the Barada, or true river of Damascus, which, rising in the anti-Libanus, flows westward from its foot and forms the oasis within which Damascus is placed. The Pharpar is usually identified with the Awaaj. Naaman thinks that, if washing is to cure him, his own rivers may serve the purp... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN TIMES - Compare 1 Kings 18:43. In both cases a somewhat severe trial was made of the individual’s faith. Compare the seven compassings of Jericho, and the sudden fall of the walls Joshua 6:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE RETURNED - Naaman was grateful (compare Luke 17:15). From the Jordan to Samaria was a distance of not less than 32 miles. Naaman further went to Damascus, far out of his way, lengthening his necessary journey by at least three days. His special object in returning seems to have been to relieve hi... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL RECEIVE NONE - The prophets were in the habit of receiving presents from those who consulted them 1 Samuel 9:7; 1 Kings 14:3, but Elisha refused. It was important that Naaman should not suppose that the prophets of the true God acted from motives of self-interest, much less imagine that “the... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO MULES’ BURDEN OF EARTH - This earth, Naaman thought, spread over a portion of Syrian ground, would hallow and render it suitable for the worship of Yahweh.... [ Continue Reading ]
Rimmon is known to us as a god only by this passage. The name is connected with a root “to be high.” Hadad-rimmon Zechariah 12:11, the name of a place near Megiddo, points to the identity of Rimmon with Hadad, who is known to have been the Sun, the chief object of worship to the Syrians. WHEN HE LE... [ Continue Reading ]
SO HE DEPARTED ... - This clause should not be separated from the succeeding verse. The meaning is, “So he departed from him, and had gone a little way, when Gehazi bethought himself of what he would do, and followed after him.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS SYRIAN - The words are emphatic. Gehazi persuades himself that it is right to spoil a Syrian - that is, a Gentile, and an enemy of Israel. AS THE LORD LIVETH - These words are here a profane oath. Gehazi, anxious to make himself believe that he is acting in a proper, and, even, in a religions... [ Continue Reading ]
HE LIGHTED DOWN FROM THE CHARIOT - This was an act of quite uncalled-for courtesy. It indicates eagerness to honor the master in the person of his servant.... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM MOUNT EPHRAIM - Bethel and Gilgal 2 Kings 2:1, at both of which there were “schools of the prophets,” were situated on Mount Ephraim. A TALENT OF SILVER - A large demand in respect of the pretended occasion; but small compared with the amount which Naaman had pressed on the prophet 2 Kings 5:4... [ Continue Reading ]
BE CONTENT - i. e. “consent.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TOWER - Rather, “the hill,” the well-known hill by Elisha’s house. The hill interrupted the view in the direction taken by Naaman, and Gehazi dismissed Naaman’s servants at this point lest they should be seen from his master’s residence.... [ Continue Reading ]
Lest his absence should be noticed, Gehazi hastened, without being called, to appear before his master. In the East it is usual for servants to remain most of the day in their lord’s presence, only quitting it when given some order to execute.... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT NOT MINE HEART WITH THEE? - i. e. “Was I not with thee in spirit - did I not see the whole transaction, as if I had been present at it?” He uses the verb “went,” because Gehazi has just denied his “going.” IS IT A TIME ... - i. e. “Was this a proper occasion to indulge greed, when a Gentile wa... [ Continue Reading ]