Biblical Prophets - Bible Study Online

Here we find ourselves at the Sacred Account that deals with a celebrated Syrian commander, that went by the name "Naaman."

The Sacred Scriptures tells us that Naaman was a great man who was rich and very successful, when it came to his military campaigns.

But we find that amongst all of his achievements and accolades, he was suffering from a great affliction, that dealt with him having the disease that was known as "leprosy."

Later on, we find that Naaman was conducting a military campaign against Israel; and During this campaign, an Israelite girl was taken prisoner and was made to be a servant for the Syrian commander's wife. Although this servant was taken against her will, the Naaman household would benefit greatly from their newly acquired servant. This young Israelite girl would witness first hand, when it came to how Naaman suffered day-to-day from this leprosy affliction.

One day the Israelite servant girl would say to Naaman's wife: "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."

A short while later Naaman's wife would tell him what the young servant girl had told her. Naaman would then go and tell his king, Ben-Hadad, about this prophet that the servant girl had mentioned. After Ben-Hadad had heard this, he responded by saying: "By all means go, I will send a letter to the Israel king on your behalf." After all, Naaman was Ben-Hadad's favorite and most celebrated commander, so it made sense that the king wanted him to be healed.

After getting the king's okay, we find that Naaman would begin his journey without delay, taking with him $20,000 in sliver, $60,000 in gold and ten sets of clothing.

Now maybe the Syrian king felt that since Jehoram was the king over the lands that the prophet resided at, that maybe the Israel king could command Elisha to heal Naaman. It's presumed that this was the case, because of what Ben-Hadad's letter had stated: "With this letter I'm sending my servant Naaman to you, so that you may cure him of his leprosy."

When the Israel king had read Ben-Hadad's letter, he became upset and fearful; and began tearing his royal robe: "Am I god? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!" Jehoram would say in disgust.

A short while later word had gotten back to Elisha on how the Israel king had torn his robes behind the request of Ben-Hadad the Syrian king. So the prophet sent him a message, asking him: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel."

After reading what Elisha had to say, Jehoram would do as the prophet had advised him; and he sent Naaman to the prophet's house. So the great Syrian commander traveling with his chariots and horses in tow, arrived at the front door of Elisha.

Instead of the prophet coming out to meet the great commander in person, the prophet instead, sent his servant to give Naaman a message: "Go, wash yourself seven times in the river Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."

Now Naaman, who was found to be of high reputation and position, felt like he had been disrespected by the prophet; and he walked away very angry. The commander would say:

"I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over my body and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?"

Understand that the two rivers that Naaman spoke of, "Abana" and "Pharpar" flowed into one river that is known as the "The Golden Stream." Naaman thought very highly of these rivers, but he didn't think very highly of the rivers that were found within the land of Israel.

But it would seem that Naaman's servants would show greater wisdom than the commander himself. So they asked their master: "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!'"

So Naaman soften his heart and listen to his servants and went down to the river Jordan, so he could dip in it seven times just like Elisha had instructed him to do. Then all of a sudden while he was dipping himself in the river Jordan, his flesh was restored and became new, like that of a young boy.

Happy and joyful the Syrian commander and all of his servants went back to Elisha's house. When Naaman stood in front of the prophet, he spoke these words: "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant."

After hearing what Naaman had to say, Elisha replied: "As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing." After hearing this Naaman asked the prophet:

"If you will not, please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord. But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant of this."

"Go in peace," Elisha would tell Naaman. In the meantime, Gehazi had witness all of this and he felt like his master had let Naaman off to easy. So Gehazi began to think to himself: "My master was to easy on Naaman the Aramean by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him."

So after Naaman had traveled some distance, Gehazi hurried after him. When Naaman had saw Gehazi running after him, he became concerned and got off his chariot, and he asked Gehazi: "Is everything all right?"

After hearing this, Gehazi responded: "Everything is all right. My master sent me to say, 'Two young men from the Prophet Academy have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of sliver and two sets of clothing.'" Now this was lie, but Naaman would not questioned it, so he gave Gehazi two talents of sliver, which was worth $4000; and two sets of expensive robes. Next, Naaman had two of his servants carry them ahead of Gehazi back towards his house.

Gehazi would then take the gifts from Naaman's servants when they got to the hill by his house; and he would send them away as he placed the gifts inside his house. Then he went and stood before Elisha as if nothing had happen. But Elisha wasn't buying it: "Where have you been, Gehazi?" Gehazi responded by saying: "Your servant didn't go anywhere."

Once again, Elisha wasn't buying it: "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants or maidservants? Because of your actions, Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and your descendants forever." Then Gehazi departed from Elisha and he was leprous, as white as snow.

Elijah the Fire Prophet

Elisha the Prophet Apprentice

**YOUR CURRENT SERIES WOULD BE HERE**

Family Dynasties Unite

13) Elijah and the Chariot of Fire

14) Elisha the Master Prophet

15) Elisha - She Bears Attacking

16) King Mesha's Rebellion

17) The Blood Water

18) The Widow's Oil Treasure

19) Shunammite's Son Raised From The Dead

20) Elisha and the Pot of Death

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22) The Floating Iron Axhead

23) The Fire Horse Army

24) The Siege of the Dark Famine

25) The Four Starving Lepers

26) The Shunammite's Divine Provision

27) Hazael Anointed Syrian King

28) Family Dynasties United

29) Jehu Is Anointed King of Israel

30) The Demise of Jehoram & Ahaziah

31) The Demise of Jezebel