Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 5
Naaman was a great military leader and an impressive man. He brought with him a procession of soldiers and servants, as a king or a prince would do (1 Kings 1:5). However, God had already begun to deal with his proud attitudes. Firstly, Naaman’s illness caused him to realise that he needed help. Secondly, the information about how he could become well, came from a servant girl. Then Naaman realised that he would have to go to a foreign country to get that help.
At last Naaman reached Elisha’s home. We are sure that Elisha did not have a great house. Like Elijah who taught him, Elisha wore the clothes of one of the poorest men (1:8). His home, therefore, was probably also the house of a poor person.
It was a shock for Naaman when Elisha did not even come out to meet his visitor. Instead, Elisha simply sent someone – perhaps his servant, Gehazi – to tell Naaman what God wanted him to do. God did not ask Naaman to do anything great or impressive. Rather, God would cure Naaman if he simply agreed to bathe in the river Jordan. When Naaman lowered himself into the water for the seventh time, he would become well.
It was not the water of the river that would cure Naaman. Elisha used salt to make the water from a spring pure (2:21); he used flour to remove poison from a meal (4:41). In all these situations, God did these wonderful things, and not the substance that Elisha used. So, God was saying that Naaman had to become humble enough to serve him. Naaman would show this when he obeyed Elisha’s instruction – and then, God would cure Naaman.
Next part: Naaman's proud attitudes (2 Kings 5:11)
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