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Naaman
A great general who almost walked away from his own healing because it was too simple.
Old and New Testament · 9th century BC · 2 Kings, Luke · Also known as Captain of the Syrian army
About Naaman
Naaman was commander of the army of Syria, "a great man with his master… a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper." A young Israelite girl, captured in a raid and serving his wife, said the prophet in Samaria could heal him. Naaman went with gifts and a letter from his king. Elisha didn’t even come out; he sent word: "Go and wash in Jordan seven times." Naaman stormed off, offended, until his servants persuaded him. He washed, "and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child." He returned to declare, "now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel."
Syria (Aram) was Israel’s rival to the north-east; Naaman was an enemy commander. "Leprosy" in Scripture covers a range of serious skin diseases. Jesus pointed to Naaman, a foreigner healed while many in Israel were not, in his first sermon at Nazareth.
The story
A little maid
Syrian raiders had taken "a little maid" from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. "And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy."
2 Kings 5:1-4
Behold, I thought
Naaman arrived with horses and chariot at Elisha’s door. Elisha sent a messenger: "Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean." Naaman was furious: "Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me… Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?"
2 Kings 5:9-12
Seven times in Jordan
His servants reasoned with him: "if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it?" "Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan… and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean."
2 Kings 5:13-14
No God in all the earth, but in Israel
Naaman returned to Elisha: "Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel." Elisha refused his gifts. Naaman asked for two mules’ load of earth to take home, for he would worship no other god but the LORD.
2 Kings 5:15-19
Key moments
- A captive girl speaks up: "Would God my lord were with the prophet." (2 Kings 5:3)
- Told to wash seven times: By Elisha’s messenger. (2 Kings 5:10)
- Goes away in a rage: "Behold, I thought…" (2 Kings 5:11-12)
- Healed in the Jordan: Like the flesh of a little child. (2 Kings 5:14)
- Confesses Israel’s God: "No God in all the earth." (2 Kings 5:15)
Questions about Naaman
In meetBible these answers are given in Naaman’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Why were you so angry with Elisha?
I had come with horses, a chariot and gifts, and he didn’t even come out. I said, "Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place." And I scorned his river: "Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?" I expected honour and a show. I was told simply to obey.
Who was the little girl?
Scripture doesn’t give her name. She was "a little maid" taken captive from Israel by Syrian raiders, serving my wife. Instead of bitterness, she wished me well: "Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy." Her few words began everything.
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with 2 Kings 5.