2 Kings 5:23, commentary and pictures

The verse belongs to the history of Naaman, captain of the host of Benhadad king of Syria, in days of constant Syrian-Israelite border warfare after the battle in which Ahab died. At that time a Syrian raid carried away a little Israelite maid to wait on Naaman's wife. Though a slave far from home, that maid was one of God's witnesses fulfilling the purpose for which Israel had been chosen. Ministering in that heathen home she sympathized with her leprous master and, remembering the healings wrought through Elisha and knowing the power of Heaven was with the prophet in Samaria, declared that he would recover Naaman of his leprosy.

Naaman urged Gehazi to accept and gave him two talents of silver in two bags, twice the amount Gehazi had asked for, with two changes of garments. He bound the silver for carrying and laid it upon two of his servants, with the garments, and they bore them before him.

Gehazi obtained the silver and garments through covetous deception, falsely requesting a reward and taking what Elisha had refused. The secret transaction was not hidden from God, for every detail of the meeting was revealed to Elisha. His conduct placed a stumbling block before Naaman, who had received new light and was favorably disposed toward serving the living God.

Falsehood and deception of every kind is sin against the God of truth, for God is a God of sincerity and truth. His word is truth and all His precepts are true and righteous altogether, so prevarication and any exaggeration or deception is offensive in His sight. For the falsehood he uttered from covetousness, the leprosy that had afflicted Naaman came upon Gehazi from the Lord as punishment and remained until death, showing that lying brings divine condemnation and that even life itself should not be purchased with falsehood. The account warns that greed and mixing sacred service with selfish conduct bring disgrace and judgment upon God's work.