2 Kings, Chapter 5:

Verses from 2 Kings, Chapter 5 of the book of 1 Samuel of the Bible.

Naaman is cured of leprosy

• 1. Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a man respected and honored by his master, for through him the Lord had given victory to Syria. However, this great warrior became leprous.
• 2. Now, during an incursion by Syrian troops, they took captive a young Israelite woman who began to serve Naaman's wife.
• 3. One day she said to her mistress, “If my lord would look for the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”
• 4. Naaman went and told his master what the young Israelite woman had said.
• 5. The king of Syria replied, “Go, I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” And Naaman departed, taking with him thirty-four pounds of silver, six pounds of gold, and ten changes of fine clothing.
• 6. The letter he took to the king of Israel said: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman so that you can cure him of his leprosy.”
• 7. As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and exclaimed: “Am I God, that I can give life or death? This man sends me someone so that I can cure him of leprosy! Look how he is looking for an excuse to start a war against me!”
• 8. When the prophet Elisha heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent word to him: “Why did you tear your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
• 9. Then Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house.
• 10. Elisha sent a messenger to him and said, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River, and your flesh will be restored and you will be clean.”
• 11. But Naaman was indignant and left saying, “I thought he would personally come to me, call on the name of the Lord his God, move his hand over the affected place and heal me of my leprosy.
• 12. Are not the rivers Abana and Pharpar in Damascus better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be cleansed?” And he turned to leave, indignant.
• 13. Then his servants came and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had commanded you something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more so when he said to him, 'Wash yourself and you will be clean!' “.
• 14. Then Naaman went down and dipped in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was cleansed.
• 15. Then Naaman and all his retinue returned to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God anywhere but in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant.”
• 16. But Elisha answered, “I swear by the name of the Lord, whom I serve, that I will accept nothing.” And even though Naaman insisted, he refused.
• 17. Naaman said, “If you don’t accept it, let your servant take away as much land as two mules can carry. For from now on your servant will not make burnt offerings or sacrifices to any gods other than the Lord.
• 18. May the Lord forgive his servant for one thing: when my lord goes to the temple of Rimmon to worship, and I lean on him to worship, also may the Lord forgive his servant for this.”
• 19. “Go in peace,” said Elisha. When Naaman had already traveled a short distance,
• 20. Gehazi, a servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself: “My master was too good to this Aramean Naaman, not accepting what he brought him. I swear by the name of the Lord that I will go after him and get something.”
• 21. Then Gehazi ran after Naaman. When Naaman saw that someone was running after him, he got out of his car to meet him and asked: “Is everything okay?”
• 22. Gehazi replied, “Everything is fine. My master sent me word that two young disciples of the prophets from the mountains of Ephraim have just arrived at my house. Please give them thirty-four kilos of silver and two changes of fine clothes.”
• 23. Naaman insisted that he accept and, tying the bags of silver in two packages, together with the two changes of clothes, he handed them to two of his servants, who took them in front of Gehazi.
• 24. When Gehazi arrived at the mountain, he took the packages from their hands and placed them in the house. Then he ordered the men to leave, and they left.
• 25. Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha. And Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” Gehazi replied, “Your servant has not gone anywhere.”
• 26. But Elisha said to him, “Was I not present in spirit when that man came down from his chariot to meet you? This was not the time to accept silver nor to receive clothing, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, oxen, male and female servants.
• 27. Therefore, Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and your descendants forever.” And Gehazi went out from the presence of Elisha white as snow, a leper.

Online Bible