5:1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a
great man with his master, and honourable, because by him
the LORD had given a deliverance unto Syria: he was also a
mighty man in valour, [but he was] a leper.
(a) Here it appears that among the infidels God has his, and
also that the infidels esteem those who do good to their
country.
5:3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord [were]
with the b prophet that [is] in Samaria! for he would
recover him of his leprosy.
(b) Meaning Elisha.
5:4 And c [one] went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and
thus said the maid that [is] of the land of Israel.
(c) That is, Naaman told it to the king of Syria.
5:5 And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a
letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and d
took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand
[pieces] of gold, and ten changes of raiment.
(d) To give this as a present to the prophets.
5:8 And it was [so], when Elisha the man of God had heard that
the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the
king, saying, e Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let
him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a
prophet in Israel.
(e) The prophet rebukes the king because he did not consider
that God was true in his promise, and therefore would
not leave his Church destitute of a prophet, whose
prayers he would hear, and to whom others could have
recourse for comfort.
5:11 But Naaman was f wroth, and went away, and 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 recover the leper.
(f) Man's reason murmurs when it considers only the signs
and outward things, and has no regard for the word of
God, which is contained there.
5:13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said,
g My father, [if] the prophet had bid thee [do some]
great thing, wouldest thou not have done [it]? how much
rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
(g) This declares that servants should reverence and love
their masters as children their fathers, and likewise
masters toward their servants, must be affectioned as
toward their children.
5:16 But he said, [As] the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I
will receive none. And he urged him to take [it]; h but
he refused.
(h) So the Lord commands that they that receive freely,
should also give freely.
5:18 In this thing the LORD i pardon thy servant, [that] when
my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there,
and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of
Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the
LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.
(i) He feels his conscience is wounded by being present at
idols service, and therefore desires God to forgive
him, lest others by his example might fall to idolatry:
for as for his own part he confesses that he will never
serve any but the true God.
5:19 And he said unto him, k Go in peace. So he departed from
him a little way.
(k) The prophet did not approve his act, but after the
common manner of speech he bids him farewell.
5:21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw [him]
running after him, l he lighted down from the chariot to
meet him, and said, [Is] all well?
(l) Declaring by it, the honour and affection he bore to
the prophet his master.
5:24 And when he came to the tower, he took [them] from their
hand, and bestowed [them] in the house: and he let the men
go, and m they departed.
(m) Naaman's servants.
5:26 And he said unto him, n Went not mine heart [with thee],
when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee?
[Is it] a time to receive money, and to receive garments,
and o oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and
menservants, and maidservants?
(n) Was I not present with you in spirit?
(o) That is, money to buy possessions with: meaning that it
is detestable in the servants of God to have covetous
minds.
5:27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and
unto thy p seed for ever. And he went out from his
presence a leper [as white] as snow.
(p) To be an example to all, by whose covetousness God's
word might be slandered.
