Lessons from Naaman's Healing and the Sevenfold Bathing
Naaman, commander of the Syrian army, suffered from leprosy during the reign of King Joram of Israel [2, 3]. His healing, recorded in 2 Kings 5, provides several theological lessons, particularly concerning God's sovereignty, the nature of faith, and the means of salvation.
The narrative begins with a young Israelite slave girl in Naaman's household suggesting that a prophet in Samaria could cure her master [2]. Naaman, a man of high standing and close to King Ben-hadad II, traveled to Israel with a letter from his king to Joram [2, 3]. King Joram, upon reading the letter, suspected a hostile intent and tore his clothes, believing Naaman's request for healing was a pretext for conflict [2]. Elisha, hearing of the king's distress, sent word for Naaman to come to him [4].
When Naaman arrived at Elisha's house with his impressive retinue, Elisha did not meet him personally but sent a messenger with instructions: "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean" [1, 5, 6]. This seemingly rude reception and the simple instruction deeply offended Naaman [4, 7]. He had expected Elisha to come out, call upon the name of the Lord, wave his hand over the affected area, and instantly heal him [6]. Naaman was also indignant that he was told to wash in the Jordan River, which he considered inferior to the rivers of Damascus, Abana and Pharpar [7]. His pride was wounded by Elisha's refusal to grant him special treatment befitting his status and by the seemingly mundane nature of the prescribed cure [7, 8].
However, Naaman's servants persuaded him to obey Elisha's command, reasoning that if the prophet had asked for something difficult, he would have done it, so he should certainly comply with a simple instruction [6]. Naaman then "went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored and became like that of a little child, and he was clean" [1].
Several lessons emerge from this account. First, God's healing power is not limited by human expectations or status. Elisha's refusal to meet Naaman directly and his simple instruction served to humble the proud Syrian general [7, 8]. The prophet's actions underscored that healing was a divine act, not a magical performance or a transaction based on Naaman's wealth or position [7, 9].
Second, the choice of the Jordan River and the sevenfold bathing highlights God's sovereignty in choosing the means of healing. The waters of the Jordan had no inherent medicinal properties for leprosy [5]. As Adam Clarke notes, God has the right to dispense health and salvation "by whatsoever means he pleases" [5]. The act of washing seven times, a number often associated with completion or perfection in biblical contexts, was a test of obedience and faith [8]. It was not the water itself that healed Naaman, but his obedient act of faith in response to God's command through Elisha [5].
Third, Naaman's initial reluctance and eventual obedience illustrate the nature of faith. He had to set aside his preconceived notions and pride to accept God's chosen method [7]. His physical healing led to a spiritual conversion, as he declared, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel" [9]. This demonstrates that God's grace and blessings are not obtained through human merit, money, or favors, but through humble submission and faith [9]. The narrative serves as a reminder that God often works through seemingly ordinary means to accomplish extraordinary ends, requiring simple obedience rather than elaborate rituals or human-devised solutions.
Sources
- II Kings “II Kings 5:14 (BSB) — So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored and became like that of a little child, and he was clean.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Naaman — Pleasantness, a Syrian, the commander of the armies of Benhadad II. in the time of Joram, king of Israel. He was afflicted with leprosy; and when the little Hebrew slave-girl that waited on his wife told her of a prophet in Samaria who could cure her master, he obtained a letter from Benhadad and proceeded with it to Joram. The king of Israel suspected in this some evil design against him, and rent his clothes. Elisha the prophet hearing of this, sent for Naaman, and the strange interview which took place is recorded in 2 Kings 5. The narrative contains all ”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Naaman — (pleasantness). + "Naaman the Syrian." (Luke 4:27) Naaman was commander-in-chief of the army of Syria, and was nearest to the person of the king, Ben-hadad II., whom he accompanied officially and supported when he went to worship in the temple of Rimmon, (2 Kings 5:18) at Damascus, the capital. (B.C. 885.) A Jewish tradition at least as old as the time of Josephus, and which may very well be a genuine one identifies him with the archer whose arrow, whether at random or not, struck Ahab with his mortal wound, and thus "gave deliverance to Syria." The expressio”
- 2 Kings (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Kings 5:8: ELISHA SENDS HIM TO JORDAN, AND HE IS HEALED. (Kg2 5:8-15) when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, . . . let him come now to me--This was the grand and ultimate object to which, in the providence of God, the journey of Naaman was subservient. When the Syrian general, with his imposing retinue, arrived at the prophet's house, Elisha sent him a message to "go and wash in Jordan seven times." This apparently rude reception to a foreigner of so high dignity incensed Naaman to suc”
- 2 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Kings 5:10: Sent a messenger - Did not come out to speak with him: he had got his orders from God, and he transmitted them to Naaman by his servant. Wash in Jordan seven times - The waters of Jordan had no tendency to remove this disorder but God chose to make them the means by which he would convey his healing power. He who is the author of life, health, and salvation, has a right to dispense, convey, and maintain them, by whatsoever means he pleases.”
- 2 Kings (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 5:9: We have here the cure of Naaman's leprosy. I. The short and plain direction which the prophet gave him, with assurance of success. Naaman designed to do honour to Elisha when he came in his chariot, and with all his retinue, to Elisha's door, Kg2 5:9. Those that showed little respect to prophets at other times were very complaisant to them when they needed them. He attended at Elisha's door as a beggar for an alms. Those that would be cleansed from the spiritual leprosy must wait at Wisdom's gate, and watch at the posts of her doors. Naaman expected to have his co”
- 2 Kings (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Kings 5:9: 5:9-12 Rather than receiving Naaman, who came to buy his healing, Elisha left him standing at the door and communicated with him by messenger. Naaman expected special treatment befitting his station and was disappointed both in Elisha’s failure to receive him and at his instructions to wash . . . seven times in the Jordan River, which he considered inferior to the rivers of Aram. Washing in the Jordan would be a visible reminder that only Yahweh, the God of Israel, could heal Naaman.”
- 2 Kings (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Kings 5:10: And Elisha sent a messenger unto him,.... Or returned an answer by Naaman's messenger; he did not go out to him, choosing to be retired, as he commonly did; and being perhaps employed in prayer for the cure; and it may be also to show his contempt of or little regard he had to worldly grandeur and honour, as well as to mortify the pride of Naaman: saying, go and wash in Jordan seven times; so, according to the law of the cleansing the leper, he was to be sprinkled seven times, and on the seventh day his flesh was to be bathed or dipped all over in water, which is m”
- 2 Kings (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Kings 5:15: 5:15-16 No God . . . except in Israel: Naaman’s physical healing led to spiritual conversion. Like the Samaritan leper healed by Jesus, Naaman returned to give thanks to his benefactor (Luke 17:15-16). • Naaman offered a gift out of gratitude, but Elisha refused; God’s grace and blessings were not to be obtained through money, gifts, or favors (Isa 55:1-5; Rom 2:4; 1 Cor 2:12; Eph 4:8).”