2 Kings 5

2 Kings 5:1

A great man] See Chap. 4. 8.

with] Or, before.

honourable] Or, gracious. Heb. lifted up, or, accepted, in countenance.

by him] By his valour and prudence.

deliverance] Or, victory.

2 Kings 5:2

gone out] Into the land of Israel for spoil, Chap. 13. 21.

waited n] Heb. was before.

2 Kings 5:3

with] Heb. before.

that is in Samaria] The kingdom of Israel. See 1 Kings 16:24.

recover] Heb. gather in.

2 Kings 5:4

one] That heard the maid speak it: Or, he, that is, Naaman, went in.

2 Kings 5:5

said] To Naaman, who told the king what the maid had said.

took] For a present to give the prophet. See 1 Kings 14:3.

with him] Heb. in his hand.

ten talents of silver] Three thousand seven hundred and fifty pound steling. See 1 Kings 16:24. and 1 Chronicles 22:14.

six thousand of gold] When the distinct sum is not expressed, a shekel is ordinarily understood. Six thousand shekels of gold, is an hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling. See 1 Kings 10:16. If the word pieces be understood, the sum will arise according to the quantity of the piece.

ten changes] Of upper garments, such as our gowns or cloaks, which Jews used oft to shift; and therefore changes or shifts of sundry new ones were wont to be given or sent for presents. See Gen, 45. 22. Judges 14:12.

2 Kings 5:6

Now when] The main sum of the letter, not the whole form thereof, is here set down. See the like, Chap. 10. 2.

recover] Procure that he be recovered. The king of Syria took for granted, that the king of Israel well knew that the prophet in his kingdom could do it.

2 Kings 5:7

rent, &c.] A signe of much passion, Genesis 37. 29. See the Notes on Chap. 18. v. 33.

I God] He supposeth that the king of Syria required him to do it with his own hands.

to kill, &c.] This is Gods prerogative, Deuteronomy 32:39. 1 Samuel 2:6.

a quarrell] An occasion to wage war.

2 Kings 5:8

Wherefore hast thou rent, &c.] An implicite reproof, for not sending to the prophet of the LORD in such a case.

2 Kings 5:9

stood at the door] Expecting that Elisha would come out to him.

2 Kings 5:10

sent a messenger, &c.] Not in scorn, but for triall of Naamans subjection to that course which was prescribed.

thy flesh] Which is dried up by the leprosie.

2 Kings 5:11

was wroth] Taking all to be done in neglect, scorn, or contempt.

I thought] Heb. I said. Or, I said with my self. He restrains Gods power and wisedom to his own conceit.

strike] Heb. move up and down.

2 Kings 5:12

Abana] Or, Amana: This river is said to run thorow many parts of Damascus, and the other to flow along by it.

better] Have more vertue in them. He supposed that he was sent to Jordan, for the vertue of the water.

2 Kings 5:13

My father] A title given to all sorts of superiours, Exod, 20. 12. it is a note of reverence, mixed with love. See Chap. 2 12.

great] Hard to be done.

he saith] He requireth a matter so easie to be done.

2 Kings 5:14

dipped] Went up deep into the river.

he was clean] Luke 4:27.

2 Kings 5:15

he said] To Elisha, being come out to him.

a blessing] A gift, in testimony of gratitude. So Genesis 33:11.

2 Kings 5:16

As the Lord, &c.] See 1 Kings 17:1.

2 Kings 5:17

Shall there not then] A form of an earnest desire, 2 Samuel 13:26.

of earth?] Out of the land of Israel, to make an altar thereof. He esteemed the earth in Israel more holy then the earth in Syria.

2 Kings 5:18

Rimmon] The idoll of the Syrians.

leaneth, &c.] It was Naaman’s place and office to be next the king of Syria, so as the king used to lean on him on all occasions, as Chap. 7. 2. Whither the king went, even to the idollemple, or any where else, Naaman must go with him: thus was he brought to do outward reverence as before the idoll, for which he craveth pardon. This is commonly taken of the future, as if before-hand he craved pardon for that which he should afterwards do. The words may also be taken of the time past, thus, When my master went into the house of Rimmon, and leaned on my hand, and I bowed my self; in this my bowing, the Lord pardon, &c. The word translated went, is so used in the titles of the 51, 52, 54 Psalms; and, leaned, 2 Samuel 1:6. and, bowed, Exodus 33:10.

2 Kings 5:19

Go in peace] An usuall fare-well-phrase, as Exodus 4:18. It doth not imply an approbation of any sinfull intention, but onely a friendly dismission.

a little way] Heb. a little piece of ground. Genesis 35:16.

2 Kings 5:20

said] To himself, as Matth. 9. 3, 4.

2 Kings 5:21

lighted] The Hebrew importeth a quicknesse or speed in his action: so Genesis 24:64. Joshua 15:18.

Is all well?] Heb. Is there peace?

2 Kings 5:22

my master, &c.] He feigneth all of his own head.

a talent, &c.] See v. 5.

2 Kings 5:23

Be content] Be willing, and refuse not to take my offer.

he urged him] It seems that Gehazi refused to take more then one talent, which, he said, his master desired.

2 Kings 5:24

the tower] Or, secret place. The Hebrew word signifieth an high place made for safety: it is oft translated as a proper name Ophel, 2 Chron. 27. 3. and 33. 14. Nehemiah 3:26. and Nehemiah 11:21.

in the house] Where his master dwelt.

2 Kings 5:25

Whence] For he had been some while absent.

no whither] Heb. not hither or thither; Out of the house.

2 Kings 5:26

Went not mine heart, &c.] In spirit, by a divine vision, I saw thee run after the man, and the man meet thee: I saw all, though thou seek to conceal it from me.

is it a time] Now that prophets are to honour their calling, and grace their carriage before idolaters, it must needs be most unseasonable for us to receive bribes.

and olive-yards, &c.] These particulars are added, because Elisha might perceive that Gehazi had it in his thought to buy such things with the money he had of Naaman.

2 Kings 5:27

The leprosie] Such a leprosie as Naaman had.

shall cleave] Shall so seise on thee and thy posterity, as it shall never be taken away, 2 Samuel 3:29. Yet, as promises, so threatnings had their limitations, upon repentance, 2 Kings 20:5. Jonah 3:10. See on Chap. 8. 2.

as snow] The leprosie brings a white scurf upon the parts infected therewith, Numbers 12:10. Exodus 4:6.