Study notes

2 Kings 5

Introducing 2 KingsWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

1:1–8:15 Section

The story of Israel recorded in 1 Kings is continued in 2 Kings.

The nation of Israel had divided into the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom. The northern kingdom was called Israel and the southern kingdom was called Judah.

In the northern kingdom, Elijah spoke messages from God against King Ahaziah. Both Ahaziah and Joram worshipped false gods like Jeroboam and Ahab had done.

Before God took Elijah to heaven, Elisha asked for a double share of Elijah’s spirit. Elisha wasn’t talking about the spiritual part of Elijah. He was talking about the power of the Holy Spirit in Elijah’s life and work. This was how Elisha showed that he wanted to serve God as a faithful prophet.

Like Elijah, Elisha served families in Israel and served the groups of prophets. He also served the leaders of Israel and of other nations. Elisha helped a woman from Shunem with her son and with her land. He helped the prophets with problems like debt, lost items and having enough food. He helped soldiers and officials from Aram. God did many miracles through Elisha. One of these was to heal Naaman of his skin disease. This showed Naaman that Israel’s God is the true God.

God protected Elisha from Aram’s soldiers by making them blind. Then Elisha protected Aram’s soldiers. Elisha had Israel’s king feed the soldiers instead of killing them. Elisha was very sad when he gave a message to an Aramean officer named Hazael. Later Hazael would do many evil things against the Israelites. Elisha served Israel’s king by warning him of where Aram’s army was going to attack. He also served the king by prophesying about how God would take care of the Israelites.

Elisha prophesied about this when Joram, Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom attacked Moab. God rescued the armies by sending water in the desert. Elisha also prophesied when the Israelites in Samaria were about to die of hunger. He made it clear that God would rescue the city by the next morning. God did this by making Aram’s army hear the noise of chariots and horses. The noise scared them and they ran away.

God used chariots and horses made of fire to protect Elisha. These were spiritual beings and people could only see them if God allowed them to. They were one way that God took care of his people (God’s people).

5:1

The king of Aram was likely Ben-hadad II who ruled from 860 to 843 BC.
the LORD had given victory to Aram: The Lord rules over all nations (Psalms 47:8; 99:1–2; Romans 13:1).
a leper: Naaman’s ability to be part of society and Gehazi’s later social freedom (2 Kings 8:4–5) suggest the issue was not Hansen’s disease but another serious skin condition (see Leviticus 13:10–11, 45–46).

5:2–3

During Joram's rule, tensions between Israel and the Arameans caused Aramean raiders to attack the northern kingdom (see 2 Kings 6:8, 24).

5:5–6

The expensive gifts and royal letter highlighted Naaman's wealth, his importance to the Aramean king, and Elisha's reputation. Unlike Ahaziah, who sent messengers straight to the temple of Baal-zebub in Philistia (2 Kings 1:2), the Aramean king used diplomacy by sending Naaman to King Joram first.

5:7

tore his clothes: Tearing one's clothes was often a sign of strong emotion. For example:

Due to ongoing distrust and hostility between the Arameans and Israelites, Joram thought the Aramean king wanted to start a fight, as had happened during his father Ahab's time (1 Kings 20:1–12).

5:8

Elisha did not respect King Joram (2 Kings 3:14), but he sent the message to show the Lord's power.

5:9–12

Instead of welcoming Naaman, who came to pay for his healing, Elisha left him at the door and sent a messenger to speak with him. Naaman expected special treatment because of his status and felt let down by Elisha's refusal to meet him and by the instructions to wash seven times in the Jordan River. He thought the Jordan was inferior to the rivers of Aram. Washing in the Jordan would visibly show that only Yahweh, the God of Israel, could heal Naaman.

5:13–14

Naaman put aside his pride. He followed the instructions from the man of God and felt God's healing power. Following God's guidance leads to blessings and purity (Psalm 119:9–11).

5:15–16

No God … except in Israel: Naaman's physical healing led to his spiritual conversion. Like the Samaritan leper healed by Jesus, Naaman returned to thank his healer (Luke 17:15–16).
Naaman offered a gift out of gratitude, but Elisha refused. God's grace and blessings cannot be bought with money, gifts, or favors (Isaiah 55:1–5; Romans 2:4; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Ephesians 4:8).

5:17

soil: In ancient Near Eastern customs, people linked a nation's god with its land. Naaman thought he needed Israelite soil to build an altar and worship Israel's God correctly.

5:18

The name Rimmon appears in Tabrimmon (1 Kings 15:18), the father of Ben-hadad I. In Aramean, the god's name is actually Ramman (meaning the thunderer), a storm god mentioned in Assyrian writings. The spelling Rimmon (meaning pomegranate) might be a pun to mock the god.

5:22–23

Naaman believed Gehazi's made-up story and was glad to reward Elisha.

5:24

the hill: The Hebrew word means hill or high point in a city. People often built citadels in these locations (2 Chronicles 27:3).

5:25–27

Gehazi could not hide his actions from Elisha. Gehazi's lies and abuse of his position led to Elisha's disapproval and losing his role as Elisha's servant. It also resulted in Gehazi getting Naaman's leprosy, showing that Gehazi had spiritually switched places with Naaman.

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources