2 kings 5 and 6

Read 2 Kings 5 and 6 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

2 Kin 5:1-19 {s} Elisha used by God to heal Naaman the Syrian commander of leprosy
2 Kin 5:20-6:7 {p} Gehazi borrows Naaman’s gift + the prophet borrows the ax head
2 Kin 6:8-23 {p} The Syrians are unable to capture Elisha +he exercises mercy and sends them home
2 Kin 6:24-33 {p} Jehoram the king of Israel sends for Elisha’s head, because of the famine in Samaria

The strong theme:

2 Kin 5:1-6:7 {s+p} Elisha heals Naaman + retrieves the borrowed ax head, averting calamity

The strong theme chiastic structure:

1a) 2 Kin 5:1-5a, Israelite girl: Alas, if only he was with the prophet, this calamity would be averted;

1a) 2 Kin 5:1-2, The commander of the Syrian army was a leper/ a young Israelite girl waited on Naaman’s wife;
central axis) 2 Kin 5:3, She said, “If only my master were with the prophet, for he would heal him of his leprosy;”
2a) 2 Kin 5:4-5a, Naaman told the king, thus said the Israelite girl/ the king wrote a letter to the king of Israel;

1b) 2 Kin 5:5b, Namaan departed for Samaria/ brought silver + gold + changes of raiment;

1c) 2 Kin 5:6-8, Naaman shall know that there is a prophet in Israel, when he is healed from his leprosy;

1a) 2 Kin 5:6, He brought the letter to the king: “I have sent my servant that you may heal him of leprosy;”
1b) 2 Kin 5:7a, When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said;
central axis) 2 Kin 5:7b, “Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me;”
2b) 2 Kin 5:8a, When Elisha heard it, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes?”
2a) 2 Kin 5:8b, “Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

central axis) 2 Kin 5:9-15a, Naaman is healed of his leprosy at the word of Elisha;

1a) 2 Kin 5:9, Naaman went with his horses and chariot + he stood at the door of Elisha’s house;
1b) 2 Kin 5:10, Elisha sent to him: “Go and wash in the Jordan 7 times + your flesh shall be restored + clean;
1c) 2 Kin 5:11a, But Naaman became furious, and went away;
central axis) 2 Kin 5:11b-12a, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?”
2c) 2 Kin 5:12b, So he turned and went away in a rage;
2b) 2 Kin 5:13-14, His servants reasoned with him/ he washed in the Jordan 7 times + his flesh was restored + clean;
2a) 2 Kin 5:15a, He + his aides returned to the man of God + came and stood before him;

2c) 2 Kin 5:15a-19 {s} Naaman learns there is no god but God in Israel, since he was healed of his leprosy;

1a) 2 Kin 5:15a, He + his aides returned to the man of God + came and stood before him;
1b) 2 Kin 5:15b, He said: “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel;
1c) 2 Kin 5:15c, Now therefore, please take a gift from your servant;
1d) 2 Kin 5:16a, Elisha said: As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing;
central axis) 2 Kin 5:16b, And he urged him to take it;
2d) 2 Kin 5:16c, But he refused;
2c) 2 Kin 5:17a, Naaman said: If not, please let your servant be given 2 mule-loads of earth;
2b) 2 Kin 5:17b-18, I will no longer offer burnt offering + sacrifice to other gods, but to the Lord;

1a) 2 Kin 5:18a, Yet in this thing may the Lord pardon your servant;
1b) 2 Kin 5:18b, When my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there;
central axis) 2 Kin 5:18c, And he leans on my hand;
2b) 2 Kin 5:18d, And I bow down in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon;
2a) 2 Kin 5:18e, May the Lord please pardon your servant in this thing;

2a) 2 Kin 5:19 {s} Elisha said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him a short distance.

2b) 2 Kin 5:20-27, Gehazi covets the Syrian’s gift for himself;

1a) 2 Kin 5:20a, But Gehazi the servant of Elisha said: My master has spared the Syrian;
1b) 2 Kin 5:20b, He has not received what he brought; but I will run after him + get something from him;
1c) 2 Kin 5:21, Gehazi pursued Naaman/ when Naaman saw it, he got down to meet him, asking, “Is all well?”
1d) 2 Kin 5:22a, Gehazi: All is well. My master has sent me;
1e) 2 Kin 5:22b, Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments;
1f) 2 Kin 5:23a, So Naaman said, “Please, take two talents;”
central axis) 2 Kin 5:23b, And he urged him;
2f) 2 Kin 5:23c, And bound two talents of silver in two bags;
2e) 2 Kin 5:23d-24, Sent the gifts with Gehazi by his servants, who stored them in his house;
2d) 2 Kin 5:25, Gehazi stood before Elisha, who asked him his errand, but he denied it;
2c) 2 Kin 5:26a, Elisha said: Did not my heart go with you when the man turned from his chariot to meet you?
2b) 2 Kin 5:26b, Is it time to receive money, clothing, olive groves + vineyards, sheep + oxen, servants?
2a) 2 Kin 5:27, Therefore Naaman’s leprosy shall cling to you (Gehazi was not spared).

2a) 2 Kin 6:1-7 {p} Alas, it was borrowed/ but because he was with the prophet, the calamity was averted.

A pagan idolater, Naaman, is healed supernaturally of leprosy by the power of the Spirit, and because of it, comes to know that there is no god but God, the God of Israel. In the future, when he must accompany the king to the house of the king’s idol, he is pardoned for being there, because his heart has been converted. What a lesson on which we Torah observant can meditate, while we are praying for family members and friends, who still stand in the house of the idol, yet with a converted heart!

And and the same time, the Israelite who coveted, and then bore false witness to the prophet, received on himself and his seed forever, the leprosy from which the pagan was healed. May my heart be ever right before you Father, never taking Your great mercy for granted! ♥