2nd Kings — 5

The Healing of Naaman

1 The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.

2 At this time Aramaan raiders had invaded the land of Yashar'AL, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid. 

3 One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the Nabym in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”

4 So Naaman told the king what the young girl from Yashar'AL had said. 

5 “Go and visit the Nabym,” the king of Aram told him. “I will send a letter of introduction for you to take to the king of Yashar'AL.” So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing. 

6 The letter to the king of Yashar'AL said: “With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.”

7 When the king of Yashar'AL read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, “This man sends me a leper to heal! Am I 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, that I can give life and take it away? I can see that he’s just trying to pick a fight with me.”

8 But when Alysha, the servant of  𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, heard that the king of Yashar'AL had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him: “Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true Nabym here in Yashar'AL.”

9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Alysha’s house. 

10 But Alysha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Yurdan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”

11 But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH his 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH and heal me! 

12 The rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, are better than any of the rivers of Yashar'AL? Why should I not wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.

13 But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the Nabym had told you to do something very difficult, would you not have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’

14 So Naaman went down to the Yurdan River and dipped himself seven times, as the servant of 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!

15 Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the servant of 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH. They stood before him, and Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH in all the world except in Yashar'AL. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

16 But Alysha replied, “As surely as  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH lives, whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts.” And though Naaman urged him to take the gift, Alysha refused.

17 Then Naaman said, “All right, but please allow me to load two of my mules with earth from this place, and I will take it back home with me. From now on I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to idols, except  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. 

18 However, may 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH pardon me in this one thing: When my master the king goes into the temple of the idol Rimmun to worship there and leans on my arm, may  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH pardon me when I bow, too.”

19 “Go in Shalum,” Alysha said. So Naaman started home again.

The Greed of Gahazi

20 But Gehazi, the servant of Alysha, the servant of 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, said to himself, “My master should not have let this Aramaan get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH lives, I will chase after him and get something from him.” 

21 So Gehazi set off after Naaman. When Naaman saw Gahazi running after him, he climbed down from his chariot and went to meet him. “Is everything all right?” Naaman asked.

22 “Yes,” Gahazi said, “but my master has sent me to tell you that two young Nabym from the hill country of Aphraim have just arrived. He would like 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing to give to them.”

23 “By all means, take twice as much silver,” Naaman insisted. He gave him two sets of clothing, tied up the money in two bags, and sent two of his servants to carry the gifts for Gahazi. 

24 But when they arrived at the citadel, Gahazi took the gifts from the servants and sent the men back. Then he went and hid the gifts inside the house.

25 When he went in to his master, Alysha asked him, “Where have you been, Gahazi? “I have not been anywhere,” he replied.

26 But Alysha asked him, “Do you not realize that I was there in the ruach when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants? 

27 Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever.” When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow.