Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 5
God cares about the people in every nation (Genesis 12:1-3; Jonah 4:11). However, at this time in history, Aram (also called Syria) had a special place in God’s plan for Israel. This was because the people in northern and central Israel had turned away from God. So, God allowed Aram, on the north-east side of Israel, to become a strong enemy against them. He did this so that, in their difficult situation, Israel’s people would have another opportunity to turn back to him. People often become proud and selfish when they have few troubles. When their troubles increase, sometimes they will turn back to God.
So, the Bible declares that Aram’s successes in war were the work of God. These successes were not the result of Aram’s military strength or Naaman’s skill as its army commander. Rather, God made Naaman into a great army commander so that Naaman would do his (God’s) work. After those successes, the king of Aram respected Naaman greatly. However, Naaman did not yet know the true God. He served the false gods of Aram.
It was a great trouble in Naaman’s personal life that caused him to want to know the true God. Naaman was suffering from an illness that affected his skin (5:14). We usually call that illness ‘leprosy’, although it seems different from modern leprosy.
In Israel, people with that illness had to separate themselves from other people (7:3); they remained outside the cities. In other countries, people would not usually respect someone who suffered from such an illness. Naaman however had advantages as the commander of Aram’s army. Because of the successes that the true God (Israel’s God) had given to Naaman, the king of Aram still respected him.
Next part: The maid of Naaman's wife (2 Kings 5:2-3)
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