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Naaman's Leprosy and the Healing of Elisha

Naaman, a Syrian military commander, suffered from leprosy during the reign of Ben-hadad II, king of Aram (Syria) and Joram, king of Israel [1, 3]. His story, recorded in 2 Kings 5, details his miraculous healing by the prophet Elisha [1, 9]. This event is also referenced in the New Testament by Jesus in Luke 4:27, highlighting that Naaman, a non-Israelite, was the only leper cleansed in Israel during Elisha's time [2, 15].

Naaman held a prominent position as commander-in-chief of the Syrian army and was highly regarded by his king [3]. Jewish tradition, as old as Josephus, suggests Naaman may have been the archer who fatally wounded King Ahab of Israel, thus "giving deliverance to Syria" [3, 10]. Despite his high status and military success, Naaman was afflicted with leprosy, a severe and often isolating disease [1, 6]. The form of leprosy described in the Old Testament is often characterized by white patches covering the body [6].

The catalyst for Naaman's journey to Israel was a young Israelite slave girl who served his wife [1, 9]. She suggested that a prophet in Samaria could cure her master [1]. This led Naaman to seek permission from King Ben-hadad, who then sent a letter to King Joram of Israel, requesting that Naaman be cured [4, 13]. King Joram, upon receiving the letter, was distressed, interpreting it as a hostile act designed to provoke a quarrel, as he believed only God could cure leprosy [1, 13]. He tore his clothes in despair [1].

Elisha, whose name means "God his salvation" [7], heard of King Joram's distress and sent word for Naaman to come to him, so that the king would know there was a prophet in Israel [1, 9]. Elisha was the successor to Elijah and had been called to prophetic ministry while plowing his field [5]. When Naaman arrived at Elisha's house with his chariots and horses, Elisha did not meet him personally but sent a messenger with instructions: "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed" [11].

Naaman was initially enraged by this seemingly simple and undignified instruction [11]. He expected Elisha to perform a more elaborate ritual, perhaps waving his hand over the affected area and calling on the name of God [11]. He also questioned why he should wash in the Jordan, a river he considered inferior to the rivers of Damascus, Abana and Pharpar [11]. His servants, however, persuaded him to obey the prophet's command, reasoning that if Elisha had asked for something difficult, he would have done it [11]. Naaman then went down to the Jordan, dipped himself seven times as instructed, and his flesh was restored, becoming like that of a young boy, and he was cleansed [11].

Following his healing, Naaman returned to Elisha, acknowledging the God of Israel as the only true God and offering Elisha a gift, which the prophet refused [12]. However, Elisha's servant, Gehazi, driven by greed, secretly pursued Naaman and falsely claimed that Elisha had changed his mind and requested silver and garments [8, 12]. As a punishment for his deceit and avarice, Elisha pronounced that Naaman's leprosy would cling to Gehazi and his descendants forever [8, 14]. Gehazi immediately became leprous, "white as snow" [8, 14]. This incident underscores the severity with which the abuse of a prophet's name and selfish motives were regarded [14].

Sources

  1. 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 ”
  2. Luke “There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian.” -- Luke 4:27”
  3. 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”
  4. II Kings “II Kings 5:6 (BSB) — And the letter that he took to the king of Israel stated: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman, so that you may cure him of his leprosy.””
  5. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Elisha — (God his salvation), son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah; the attendant and disciple of Elijan, and subsequently his successor as prophet of the kingdom of Israel. The earliest mention of his name is in the command to Elijah in the cave at Horeb. (1 Kings 19:16,17) (B.C. about 900.) Elijah sets forth to obey the command, and comes upon his successor engaged in ploughing. He crosses to him and throws over his shoulders the rough mantle--a token at once of investiture with the prophet's office and of adoption as a son. Elisha delayed merely to give the farewell kiss”
  6. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Leper, Leprosy — The predominant and characteristic form of leprosy in the Old Testament is a white variety, covering either the entire body or a large tract of its surface, which has obtained the name of Lepra mosaica . Such were the cases of Moses, Miriam, Naaman and Gehazi. (Exodus 4:6; Numbers 12:10; 2 Kings 5:1,27) comp. Levi 13:13 But, remarkably enough, in the Mosaic ritual diagnosis of the disease, (Leviticus 13:1; Leviticus 14:1) ... this kind, when overspreading the whole surface, appears to be regarded as "clean." (Leviticus 13:12,13,16,17) The Egyptian bon”
  7. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Elisha — salvation of God”
  8. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gehazi — Valley of vision, Elisha's trusted servant (2 Kings 4:31; 5:25; 8:4, 5). He appears in connection with the history of the Shunammite (2 Kings 4:14, 31) and of Naaman the Syrian. On this latter occasion he was guilty of duplicity and dishonesty of conduct, causing Elisha to denounce his crime with righteous sternness, and pass on him the terrible doom that the leprosy of Naaman would cleave to him and his for ever (5:20-27). He afterwards appeared before king Joram, to whom he recounted the great deeds of his master (2 Kings 8:1-6).”
  9. 2 Kings (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Kings 5 (introduction): Two more of Elisha's miracles are recorded in this chapter. I. The cleansing of Naaman, a Syrian, a stranger, from his leprosy, and there, 1. The badness of his case (Kg2 5:1). 2. The providence that brought him to Elisha, the intelligence given him by a captive maid (Kg2 5:2-4). A letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel, to introduce him (Kg2 5:5-7). And the invitation Elisha sent him (Kg2 5:8). 3. The method prescribed for his cure, his submission, with much ado, to that method, and his cure thereby (Kg2 5:9-14). 4. The grateful acknowle”
  10. Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on 1 Kings 22:34: A man drew. This was Naaman. 15 Who would later be cured from leprosy by Elisha. See II Melochim 5:1-15.”
  11. 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”
  12. 2 Kings (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Kings 5 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 5 This chapter gives an account of the leprosy of Naaman the Syrian, and of the cure of it by Elisha; how he came to hear of him, and the recommendation he had from the king of Syria to the king of Israel, Kg2 5:1, who, coming to Elisha's house, was ordered to dip himself seven times in Jordan, which made him depart in wrath; but one of his servants persuaded him to do it, and he did, and was cured, Kg2 5:9, upon which he returned to Elisha, and offered him a present, which he refused, Kg2 5:15 but Gehazi, his servant, ran after ”
  13. 2 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Kings 5 (introduction): The history of Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, a leper; who was informed by a little Israelitish captive maid that a prophet of the Lord, in Samaria, could cure him, Kg2 5:1-4. The king of Syria sends him, with a letter and rich presents, to the king of Israel, that he should recover him of his leprosy, Kg2 5:5, Kg2 5:6. On receiving the letter, the king of Israel is greatly distressed, supposing that the Syrian king designed to seek a quarrel with him; in desiring him to cleanse a leper, when it was well known that none could cure tha”
  14. 2 Kings (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 2 Kings 5:27: "And let the leprosy of Naaman cleave to thee and to thy seed for ever." This punishment took effect immediately. Gehazi went out from Elisha covered with leprosy as if with snow (cf. ex. Kg2 4:6; Num 12:10). It was not too harsh a punishment that the leprosy taken from Naaman on account of his faith in the living God, should pass to Gehazi on account of his departure from the true God. For it was not his avarice only that was to be punished, but the abuse of the prophet's name for the purpose of carrying out his selfish purpose, and his misrepresentation of t”
  15. Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 4:27: And many lepers were in Israel,.... The leprosy was a disease very common among the Jews; hence those laws concerning it in Lev 13:1 and it seems by this account, that it was very prevalent, in the time of Eliseus the prophet; that is, the prophet Elisha; who, by the Septuagint, in 1Ki 19:16 and, in other places, is called "Elisaie": and none of them was cleansed; from their leprosy, by any direction of the prophet, saving Naaman, the Syrian: or but Naaman, who was not an Israelite, but a Syrian: he was cleansed and cured of his leprosy, being ordered by Elisha to”
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