2 Kings 5
1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a man of high standing with his master and greatly respected, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant warrior, but he had leprosy.
2 The Arameans had gone out in raiding bands and taken captive from the land of Israel a young girl, who came to serve Naaman’s wife.
3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
4 Naaman went and told his master, “The girl from the land of Israel said this and that.”
5 The king of Aram said, “Go, and 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 changes of clothing.
6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel. It said, “Now, when this letter reaches you, know that I am sending my servant Naaman to you, so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, with power to kill and give life? Yet this man sends word to me to cure someone of leprosy! See for yourselves how he is looking for a pretext against me.”
8 When Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent word to the king: “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariot and stopped at the entrance to Elisha’s house.
10 Elisha sent a messenger to him with this message: “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan. Your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean.”
11 Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “I thought he would surely come out to me, stand there, call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leper.
12 Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, Abana and Pharpar, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.
13 But his servants came near and spoke to him: “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’!”
14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had instructed. His flesh became like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.
15 He returned to the man of God with his whole company. He went in, stood before him, and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant.”
16 But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will accept nothing.” Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.
17 Naaman said, “If not, please let your servant be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, because your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but only to the LORD.
18 May the LORD forgive your servant in this matter: when my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow there, leaning on my arm, and I bow in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant in this matter.”
19 Elisha said to him, “Go in peace.” Naaman left him and had gone some distance.
20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said, “My master let that Aramean Naaman go without accepting from his hand what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
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?”
22 He replied, “Everything is all right. My master sent me to say, ‘Just now two young men from the company of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’”
23 Naaman said, “Please take two talents.” He urged him, then tied two talents of silver in two bags, along with two changes of clothing, and gave them to two of his servants, who carried them ahead of Gehazi.
24 When Gehazi reached the hill, he took the things from their hands and stored them in the house. Then he sent the men away, and they left.
25 He went in and stood before his master. Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” He replied, “Your servant didn’t go anywhere.”
26 Elisha said to him, “Wasn’t my heart with you when that man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept silver and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, male servants and female servants?
27 Therefore Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and your descendants forever.” And Gehazi went out from Elisha’s presence with leprosy, white as snow.
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