Side by side
2 Kings 5
Our retelling next to the Bible text it comes from. Each row lines up one scene with the verses it retells.
Scene 1: A Great Man With a ProblemVerses 1 to 4
Naaman was the commander of the army of Aram. He was a great man, honored by his king, and a mighty warrior.
"But he was a leper" (5:1).
Soldiers from Aram had captured a young girl from Israel. Now she was a servant for Naaman's wife.
She said to her mistress, "If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy" (5:3).
1Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife. 3She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.” 4And Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said.
Scene 2: A Letter to the KingVerses 5 to 8
The king of Aram sent Naaman to Israel with a letter and a huge gift of silver, gold, and fine clothes.
The letter said, "Cure my servant Naaman of his leprosy."
When Israel's king read it, he tore his clothes in panic. "Am I God, killing and giving life, that this man expects me to cure a leper?" (5:7). He thought Aram was trying to start a fight.
The prophet Elisha heard about it. He sent the king a message: let Naaman come to me, "and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel" (5:8).
5“Go now,” said the king of Aram, “and I will send you with a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman departed, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing. 6And the letter that he took to the king of Israel stated: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman, so that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life, that this man expects me to cure a leper? Surely you can see that he is seeking a quarrel with me!” 8Now when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: “Why have you torn your clothes? Please let the man come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
Scene 3: "Wash Seven Times"Verses 9 to 12
So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at Elisha's door.
Elisha didn't even come out. He sent a messenger.
"Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean" (5:10).
Naaman was furious. He expected the prophet to come out, call on God, and wave his hand over the spot.
And the Jordan? The rivers back home were better than that muddy river!
"So he turned and went away in a rage" (5:12).
9So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. 10Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean.” 11But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the spot to cure my leprosy. 12Are not the Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not have washed in them and been cleansed?” So he turned and went away in a rage.
Scene 4: Like a Little ChildVerses 13 to 14
Naaman's servants came to him.
"My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'?" (5:13).
So Naaman went down to the Jordan. He dipped himself in the water seven times, just as the man of God said.
"And his flesh was restored and became like that of a little child, and he was clean" (5:14).
13Naaman’s servants, however, approached him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’?” 14So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored and became like that of a little child, and he was clean.
Scene 5: "No God Except in Israel"Verses 15 to 19
Naaman went back to Elisha.
"Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel" (5:15).
He offered Elisha a gift. But Elisha refused. God's healing was free.
Naaman promised he would never again worship any god but the LORD.
"Go in peace," said Elisha (5:19).
15Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” 16But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused. 17“If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry. For your servant will never again make a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the LORD. 18Yet may the LORD forgive your servant this one thing: When my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my arm, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant in this matter.” 19“Go in peace,” said Elisha. But after Naaman had traveled a short distance,
Between scenesVerses 20 to 27
This part isn't retold as its own scene.
20Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, while not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” 21So Gehazi pursued Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and asked, “Is everything all right?” 22“Everything is all right,” Gehazi replied. “My master has sent me to say, ‘I have just now discovered that two young men from the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’” 23But Naaman insisted, “Please, take two talents.” And he urged Gehazi to accept them. Then he tied up two talents of silver in two bags along with two sets of clothing and gave them to two of his servants, who carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the gifts from the servants and stored them in the house. Then he dismissed the men, and they departed. 25When Gehazi went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Gehazi, where have you been?” “Your servant did not go anywhere,” he replied. 26But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants? 27Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!” And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow.
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