2 Kings 5:12, commentary and pictures

Naaman was a Syrian captain afflicted with loathsome leprosy who came to Elisha's house for healing at the faith of a captive Israelite maid. Instead of the dramatic cure he expected, with the prophet standing and calling on God over him, he was told to bathe in the Jordan seven times. He judged the pleasant rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel and turned away in mortification and rage, because washing in them would have cost him no humility while obeying the appointed washing in the humble Jordan would humble his proud spirit. When his servants persuaded him his anger gave way to repentance and willing obedience, and by washing as directed he was made whole. As a heathen foreigner open to light he became the only leper cleansed in Elisha's time while unbelieving Israelites were left unhealed, which Jesus later cited to show God's favor given to a believing Gentile over privileged but unbelieving Israel.

Naaman's Angry Objection

The verse belongs to the account of Naaman's leprosy and healing, when Naaman the Syrian captain and nobleman, diseased with loathsome leprosy, came to Elisha's house seeking healing. He had been directed there through a little captive Israelite maid, who believed that God's power working through Elisha could heal him. That sending shows that God brings men and women and youth to the very place toward which their feet have been directed because someone there needs divine help and guidance, and accepting and doing the duty that lies nearest is accepting God's choice of life-work.

Instead of meeting him in person, Elisha marked out the humble, specific course of bathing in the Jordan seven times. Naaman had expected something altogether more dramatic and impressive, that the prophet would come out to him, stand, call on the name of the Lord his God, strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. His anger gave way only later when his servants persuaded him to obey, and then he was cleansed.

He judged the command beneath his dignity and too humble, holding that Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, were better than all the waters of Israel and that he could wash in them and be clean instead. In mortification, disappointment, passion and rage he refused the prophet's instruction and turned and went away. His first indignant refusal shows pride and resistance to receiving the help offered, in contrast with the willingness that afterward brought cleansing.

Abana and Pharpar were pleasant rivers, beautified by surrounding trees and groves where idols were placed and many flocked to worship idol gods. Washing in them would have cost him no humility, while following the specified direction to wash in the humble Jordan would humble his proud and lofty spirit.

Humility and Willing Obedience

Naaman's outburst over the rivers of Damascus exposes pride, unbelief and resistance, a struggle to submit to God's plain appointed way because it did not match the impressive cure he wanted. He expected a dramatic act and judged a simple washing unworthy, preferring what seemed better to his own mind. His refusal was not reasoned judgment but proud unbelief turning from the specified direction.

When his servants persuaded him, his anger and indignant refusal gave way to repentance, and faith overcame pride. Willing obedience to that direction brought the desired result, for he washed and was made whole. By following the instruction he received healing and a blessed life.

His cleansing when he accepted the help God offered shows that faithfulness to the light he had received prepared him to receive God's grace and to know the true God. His need led him to receive help, and his experience brought him to greater understanding of divine truth. The lesson is to cease refusing small, humbling duties from pride and to condescend to be faithful in the littles, for neglecting things of small account makes great deficiency of character, and no one can perfect Christian character or please God without doing just as bid with willingness and pleasure.

Favor Beyond Israel

Naaman was a heathen Syrian foreigner who recognized his need for help and remained open to instruction, living faithfully up to the light he had received. Because he responded to the help offered him, he was counted more righteous and more worthy of God's favor than afflicted Israelites who enjoyed greater spiritual advantages yet failed to live by them. Those with greater light rejected it through unbelief, rebellion and self-exaltation, while the foreigner received cleansing and favor.

He was the only leper cleansed in Elisha's time, while many lepers in Israel remained unhealed and received no such help. Their unbelief, rebellion, hard-heartedness, self-exaltation and misuse of privileges kept God from manifesting His power for them. Jesus cited Naaman's healing to show that God's power, blessing and favor were not limited to Israel but were given to Gentiles as well. A foreigner who had faith and was willing to receive instruction was healed and brought to know the true God and divine truth, while unbelieving Israelites were passed over, and this application provoked national pride among His hearers.

Christ held up this history as a terribly severe rebuke that opened corrupt lives and struck home wicked unbelief. It condemned those who would not believe because He came in meekness and lowliness, in poverty and sorrow, as a common man, and who would have no king unless attended by riches and splendor and a grand and imposing army. This earlier healing also explains why people with leprosy in Jesus' time had no known precedent for expecting such a cure. Yet one leper gained hope from hearing of Jesus' works and sought Him, trusting that He could make him clean if He chose.