The nation of Syria, located mostly north of Israel, first came
under the rule of the children of Israel in the days of King David. When his
son King Solomon died and Israel was split into two kingdoms, Syria rebelled,
thus initiating about 100 years of tense political relations. Open warfare
often flared between the Syrian kings (Ben-hadad, Hazael, Ben-hadad II, Rezin)
and the kings of Israel (Ahab, Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II).
Between these two nations, however, there also existed periods of official
peace, interspersed with occasional skirmishes.
Thus, when a letter from the king of Syria (probably Ben-hadad
II) arrived for Jehoram, king of Israel, there was great concern. Accompanying
the letter was a huge amount of silver and gold, and 10 sets of clothing (see 2 Kgs. 5:5–7). Delivering it all was a man named
Naaman, “captain of the host of the king of Syria.” He was a “great man with
his master [the king], and honourable … : he was also a mighty man in valour” (2
Kgs. 5:1). The presence of such a man in Jehoram’s court must have
stirred not only fear but pity, for Naaman was a leper. His face most likely
had reddish lesions, a few knoblike swellings, and open sores. How miserable he
must have looked!
Naaman was also suffering from a form of spiritual leprosy:
ignorance of the true and living God and His commandments, for Syrians were
worshipers of the false god Rimmon (see Bible Dictionary, “Rimmon,” 763) and
had built a temple to his name at Damascus (see 2 Kgs. 5:18).
Naaman
Learns What to Do
In Naaman’s home in Syria was a “little maid” taken captive out
of the land of Israel during one of the military campaigns. She was a servant
to Naaman’s wife, and it was her simple expression of faith to her mistress
that had led Naaman to Israel’s king. She had said, “Would God my lord were
with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy” (2 Kgs. 5:3).
King Jehoram sent Naaman to the prophet Elisha to be cleansed of
his leprosy. To Naaman’s pleading, Elisha said through his servant, Gehazi, “Go
and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and
thou shalt be clean” (2 Kgs. 5:10).
Although it seemed like an unusual command, it was a clear instruction from the
prophet of God. The mighty Naaman was taken aback and confused. He had
anticipated that the Israelite prophet would work a miracle on the spot—calling
on the name of the Lord and, in a sweeping demonstration of great power, “strike
his hand over the place” to cure his leprosy (2 Kgs. 5:11).
He became upset and in a fit of anger stormed away from Elisha’s house.
Naaman
Obeys
Naaman’s servants were the first to exercise faith in the words
of the prophet. To their captain they reasoned: If the Lord’s prophet had told
him to do “some great thing,” wouldn’t he have done it? How much easier,
therefore, to do a small or simple thing, like bathing in the river Jordan?
(see 2 Kgs. 5:13).
The now humbled Naaman accepted his enlightened servants’ advice and, in an act
of great faith, chose to obey. “Then went he down, and dipped himself seven
times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came
again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean” (2 Kgs. 5:14).
Returning to Elisha with his retinue of soldiers and servants, Naaman joined
his testimony with that of the little Israelite maid: “Behold, now I know that
there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel” (2 Kgs. 5:15).
With his physical leprosy gone, Naaman was also healed of his spiritual leprosy
by an awakening of faith in the true God.
Gehazi
the Servant
Gehazi was Elisha’s trusted representative and messenger who had
been with him for several years. Gehazi knew Elisha was a prophet of the one
true God. He had personally witnessed God’s power in the miraculous raising of
the Shunammite woman’s son from the dead (see 2 Kgs. 4:8–37),
the neutralizing of poison in a vegetable soup (see 2 Kgs. 4:38–41),
and the feeding of 100 men with but 20 loaves of bread (see 2 Kgs. 4:42–44).
If anyone should have known and obeyed the commandments of God, it was Gehazi.
When a joyful Naaman stood before Gehazi and Elisha, with skin
clean and pure, Naaman pleaded, “Take a blessing [gift] of thy servant.” But
despite repeated urgings, Elisha replied, “I will receive none,” and Naaman
departed (1 Kgs. 15:15–16).
After he had traveled some distance, Naaman noticed Gehazi
running to catch up with him. Naaman got down from his chariot and went forth
to meet him, saying, “Is all well?” Gehazi then said what he surely knew in his
own heart was a lie: He told Naaman that Elisha had sent him to get some money
and clothing for two destitute young men who had just arrived (see2 Kgs. 5:21–22).
Naaman was pleased with the request; he wanted to do something for the Lord and
Elisha. He gave generously, even more than was asked, sending two servants to
help Gehazi carry the goods back. As they arrived in sight of Elisha’s home,
Gehazi dismissed the servants and hid the goods in his house.
Soon the servant stood before his master, who asked where he had
been. Gehazi replied that he had not gone anywhere, compounding his deception.
Elisha then revealed his divinely given knowledge of Gehazi’s lies. And for
Gehazi’s disobedience, Elisha cursed him: “The leprosy therefore of Naaman
shall cleave unto thee. … And [Gehazi] went out from his presence a leper as
white as snow” (2 Kgs. 5:27).
Elkanah loved Hannah the most. Jewish tradition
has it that he married Hannah first and that Peninnah came along some years
later. At any rate, Peninnah, who was deeply jealous of Hannah, found many ways
to make her rival suffer. Peninnah’s great advantage over Hannah had to do with
fertility. Peninnah produced one offspring after another, and her
self-importance grew with each new child. Instead of feeling sorry for Hannah
and comforting her in her disappointment, Peninnah played on that sensitive
point. The Bible says that Peninnah vexed Hannah sorely “for the sake of making
her feel disconcerted.” (1 Sam. 1:6) Peninnah’s
actions were deliberate. She wanted to hurt Hannah, and she succeeded.
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