Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 5
It was, of course, the duty of Naaman as Aram’s military leader to support his king. Sometimes, on great occasions, he actually had to support the king physically. At those great ceremonies, he acted as the king’s personal guard. He stood next to the king and the king leaned against him. That may have been because of the king’s physical weakness, or an ancient ceremony. However, the same thing happened in Israel, too (7:2).
So, Naaman sometimes had to guard the king when the king went to pray to his false god, called Rimmon. When the king bent his body down to pray, Naaman would have to bend down, too. If Naaman did not do that, he would be unable to support the king physically. However, Naaman had promised not to serve or to pray to any false god (5:17). So, Naaman would not be praying to that false god when he bent down in front of the image of Rimmon.
Naaman did not want to offend the real God when he carried out that duty for his king. So, he asked God to forgive him for that act, because in Naaman’s opinion it seemed to be a wrong act. In his heart, he would still serve the true God only – it was only his physical action that seemed wrong.
Elisha approved of the fact that Naaman cared about such matters. Naaman’s work would give him many difficult problems where Naaman must learn how to please God. So, Elisha blessed Naaman. He knew that God would continue to work powerfully in Naaman’s life. Then Naaman began his journey back to his home in Aram.
Next part: Gehazi promises to obtain a gift from Naaman (2 Kings 5:20)
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