So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. So Naaman came with his horses and chariotsNaaman was a commander of the army of the king of Aram, a position of high status and power. His arrival with horses and chariots signifies his wealth, authority, and the seriousness of his condition, as he was seeking healing from leprosy. Horses and chariots were symbols of military might and prestige in ancient Near Eastern cultures, indicating Naaman's importance and the resources at his disposal. This scene contrasts with the humble means of the prophet Elisha, highlighting the difference between worldly power and spiritual authority. and stood at the door of Elisha’s house
Elisha was a prophet in Israel, known for his miracles and as a successor to Elijah. Naaman's standing at the door signifies a moment of humility and expectation, as he seeks help from a foreign prophet despite his high status. This act of standing at the door can be seen as a metaphor for seeking divine intervention and guidance. The location, Elisha's house, suggests simplicity and a departure from the grandeur associated with Naaman's position. This setting emphasizes the theme of God's power working through humble means, a recurring motif in the Bible. Persons / Places / Events 1. NaamanA commander of the army of the king of Aram, Naaman was a man of great importance and valor but suffered from leprosy. His journey to Israel was in search of healing. 2. ElishaA prophet in Israel, Elisha was known for his powerful miracles and his role as a spokesperson for God. He was the successor of Elijah. 3. Horses and ChariotsThese symbolize Naaman's status and wealth, as he arrived with a grand entourage, expecting a reception befitting his position. 4. Elisha’s HouseThe humble dwelling of the prophet, representing the simplicity and humility often associated with God's true servants. 5. Aram (Syria)The nation from which Naaman came, often at odds with Israel, highlighting the cross-cultural and international aspect of God's work. Teaching Points Humility Before GodNaaman's account teaches us the importance of approaching God with humility, setting aside our pride and preconceived notions of how God should act. God's Ways Are Not Our WaysNaaman expected a grand healing ceremony, but God chose a simple act to demonstrate His power. We must be open to God's methods, even when they defy our expectations. Faith and ObedienceNaaman's healing required him to act in faith and obedience to Elisha's instructions. Our faith is often tested through simple acts of obedience. God's Grace Extends to AllNaaman, a foreigner, received God's healing, illustrating that God's grace is available to all, regardless of nationality or status. The Role of God's MessengersElisha's role as a prophet highlights the importance of listening to and respecting those whom God has appointed to guide us. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Naaman's initial reaction to Elisha's instructions reflect our own struggles with pride and expectations in our spiritual lives? 2. In what ways can we practice humility in our daily walk with God, especially when His plans differ from our own? 3. How does Naaman's account encourage us to trust in God's methods, even when they seem simple or unconventional? 4. What can we learn from Naaman's healing about the inclusivity of God's grace and how can we apply this understanding in our interactions with others? 5. How can we better recognize and respond to the guidance of God's messengers in our lives today? Connections to Other Scriptures Luke 4:27Jesus references Naaman's healing to illustrate God's grace extending beyond Israel, emphasizing the universality of God's mercy. James 4:6This verse speaks to the theme of humility, which is central to Naaman's account, as he had to humble himself to receive healing. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29These verses discuss how God uses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, paralleling how Naaman's expectations were subverted by God's simple instructions through Elisha. People Aram, Elisha, Gehazi, Naaman, SyriansPlaces Abana River, Damascus, Jordan River, Pharpar, Samaria, SyriaTopics Carriages, Chariot, Chariots, Door, Doorway, Elisha, Elisha's, Eli'sha's, Halted, Horses, Naaman, Na'aman, Opening, Standeth, Stood, StoppedDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 5:9 4657 horse 2 Kings 5:1-14 1416 miracles, nature of
5298 doctors
8131 guidance, results 2 Kings 5:8-14 4260 rivers and streams 2 Kings 5:9-14 7342 cleanliness
7426 ritual washing Library Naaman's Wrath
'And Elisha sent a messenger unto Naaman, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. 11. But Naaman was wroth, and went away.'--2 KINGS v. 10,11. These two figures are significant of much beyond themselves. Elisha the prophet is the bearer of a divine cure. Naaman, the great Syrian noble, is stricken with the disease that throughout the Old Testament is treated as a parable of sin and death. He was the commander-in-chief of the army …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureNaaman's Imperfect Faith
'And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. 16. But he said, As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused. 17. And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Mr. Evil-Questioning Tried and Executed
Just listen to what Evil Questioning said to Naaman, and what Naaman said as the result of it. If I understand my text aright, it means just this: "What virtue can there be in water? Why should I be told to go and wash at all? I have washed many times and it never cured my leprosy. This dry disease is not so readily got rid of; but supposing there is some medical influence in water, why must I wash in Jordan? It is but a mere ditch, why can I not go and wash in some of my own rivers? We have medicinal …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860 A Little Maid
BY THEODORE T. MUNGER [From "Lamps and Paths," by courtesy of Houghton, Mifflin & Co.] In old days we read of angels who came and took men by the hand, and led them away from the city of Destruction. We see no white-robed angels now; yet men are led away from threatening destruction: a hand is put into theirs, and they are gently guided toward a bright and calm land, so that they look no more backward; and the hand may be that of a little child.--GEORGE ELIOT As aromatic plants bestow No spicy fragrance …
Philip P. Wells—Bible Stories and Religious Classics Gehazi
BY REV. J. MORGAN GIBBON "The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow."--2 KINGS v. 27. Elisha and Gehazi were master and man. They were more. They were almost father and son. Elisha calls him "my heart," just as Paul calls Onesimus his heart. Yet they parted so.--"He went out from his presence a leper." The punishment was terrible. Was it deserved? Had the master a right to pass this sentence? …
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known Whether Christ's Genealogy is Suitably Traced by the Evangelists?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ's genealogy is not suitably traced by the Evangelists. For it is written (Is. 53:8): "Who shall declare His generation?" Therefore Christ's genealogy should not have been set down. Objection 2: Further, one man cannot possibly have two fathers. But Matthew says that "Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary": whereas Luke says that Joseph was the son of Heli. Therefore they contradict one another. Objection 3: Further, there seem to be divergencies between them …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether Christ was Baptized at a Fitting Time?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ was baptized at an unfitting time. For Christ was baptized in order that He might lead others to baptism by His example. But it is commendable that the faithful of Christ should be baptized, not merely before their thirtieth year, but even in infancy. Therefore it seems that Christ should not have been baptized at the age of thirty. Objection 2: Further, we do not read that Christ taught or worked miracles before being baptized. But it would have been more profitable …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica "Let any Man Come. "
[7] "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."--John 7:37-38. THE text which heads this paper contains one of those mighty sayings of Christ which deserve to be printed in letters of gold. All the stars in heaven are bright and beautiful; yet even a child can see that "one star differeth from another in glory" …
John Charles Ryle—The Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Kings 5:9 NIV2 Kings 5:9 NLT2 Kings 5:9 ESV2 Kings 5:9 NASB2 Kings 5:9 KJV
2 Kings 5:9 Commentaries
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