2 Raja-raja 5:1

Elisha Heals a Syrian General

5:1 Now Naaman, the commander of the king of Syria’s army, was esteemed and respected by his master, ¹  for through him the Lord had given Syria military victories. But this great warrior had a skin disease. ² 

2 Raja-raja 5:6

5:6 He brought the letter to king of Israel. It read: “This is a letter of introduction for my servant Naaman, ³  whom I have sent to be cured of his skin disease.”

2 Raja-raja 5:11

5:11 Naaman went away angry. He said, “Look, I thought for sure he would come out, stand there, invoke the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the area, and cure the skin disease.

2 Raja-raja 5:17

5:17 Naaman said, “If not, then please give your servant a load of dirt, enough for a pair of mules to carry, ⁴  for your servant will never again offer a burnt offering or sacrifice to a god other than the Lord. ⁵ 

2 Raja-raja 5:20

5:20 Gehazi, the prophet Elisha’s servant, thought, ⁶  “Look, my master did not accept what this Syrian Naaman offered him. ⁷  As certainly as the Lord lives, I will run after him and accept something from him.”

2 Raja-raja 5:23

5:23 Naaman said, “Please accept two talents of silver. ⁸  He insisted, and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, along with two suits of clothes. He gave them to two of his servants and they carried them for Gehazi. ⁹ 

[5:1]  ¹ tn Heb “was a great man before his master and lifted up with respect to the face.”

[5:1]  ² tn For a discussion of מְצֹרָע (mÿtsora’), traditionally translated “leprous,” see M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 63. Naaman probably had a skin disorder of some type, not leprosy/Hansen’s disease.

[5:6]  ³ tn Heb “and now when this letter comes to you, look, I have sent to you Naaman my servant.”

[5:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “and [if] not, may there be given to your servant a load [for] a pair of mules, earth.”

[5:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “for your servant will not again make a burnt offering and sacrifice to other gods, only to the Lord.”

[5:20]  ⁶ tn Heb “said” (i.e., to himself).

[5:20]  ⁷ tn Heb “Look, my master spared this Syrian Naaman by not taking from his hand what he brought.”

[5:23]  ⁸ tn Heb “Be resolved and accept two talents.”

[5:23]  ⁹ tn Heb “before him.”