(a) (i) Discuss the circumstances that led to the healing of Naaman (ii) State Naaman's reaction to his healing (iii) What incident followed this reaction? ...

Answer Details

(a)(i) Circumstances that led to the healing of Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-14)

Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Aram (Syria), a great and honourable man in his master's sight, and a mighty warrior. Yet he was a leper. During a Syrian raid a young Israelite girl had been captured and made a servant to Naaman's wife. She told her mistress that if only Naaman would go to the prophet in Samaria, he would be cured of his leprosy.

When the report reached Naaman, the king of Aram sent him with a letter, ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten changes of clothing to the king of Israel. The king of Israel tore his clothes in distress, thinking the request was a pretext for a quarrel. When Elisha the prophet heard of it, he sent word for Naaman to be sent to him. Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at Elisha's door. Elisha did not come out but sent a messenger to say, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored." Naaman was angry, expecting the prophet to come out, call on God, wave his hand and heal him; he complained that the rivers Abana and Pharpar of Damascus were better than the waters of Israel. But his servants reasoned with him, saying that if the prophet had asked something great he would have done it, so how much more a simple command to wash. He then went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, and his flesh was restored like that of a little child, and he was clean.

(a)(ii) Naaman's reaction to his healing

Naaman returned with his whole company to Elisha, stood before him and confessed, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel." He urged the prophet to accept a gift, but Elisha firmly refused. Naaman then asked for two mule-loads of Israelite earth so that he might build an altar and worship only the Lord, and he begged pardon for the times he would have to bow with his master in the temple of Rimmon.

(a)(iii) The incident that followed

Gehazi, Elisha's servant, was greedy and ran after Naaman. He lied, saying his master needed silver and clothing for two young prophets. Naaman gladly gave him two talents of silver and two changes of clothing. Gehazi hid the goods and returned to stand before Elisha. Elisha, knowing all by revelation, rebuked him and declared that the leprosy of Naaman would cling to him and his descendants for ever. Gehazi went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow.

(b) Two virtues learnt from the episode

• Humility and obedience. Naaman was healed only when he humbled himself and obeyed the simple instruction to wash in the Jordan.
• Honesty and contentment. Elisha's refusal of reward, contrasted with Gehazi's greedy deceit, teaches that a servant of God must be truthful and free from covetousness.