The Beginning:
Naaman, commander of the army of Aram, is highly honored but afflicted with a serious skin disease. A young Israelite girl taken captive tells Naaman’s household that a prophet in Samaria could heal him. The king of Aram sends Naaman to Israel with a letter and valuable gifts, but the king of Israel fears it is a provocation for conflict.
The Middle:
Elisha hears of the situation and asks that Naaman be sent to him so he may know there is a prophet in Israel. When Naaman arrives, Elisha does not come out personally but sends a messenger instructing him to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Offended by the simplicity of the command and the prophet’s lack of ceremony, Naaman initially refuses, preferring the rivers of Damascus. His servants urge him to comply, and he relents and follows Elisha’s word.
The End:
After washing in the Jordan seven times, Naaman is healed, and his flesh is restored. He returns to Elisha, confessing that there is no God in all the earth except the God of Israel, and he asks for earth from Israel as a sign of his devotion. Elisha refuses Naaman’s gift, emphasizing that the healing is not for sale, and Naaman departs in peace.
This account highlights the God of Israel as the true Lord over nations, not limited by borders or status. Healing comes through trusting and obeying God’s word delivered by the prophet, not through political power, wealth, or ritual display. The story also shows God’s mercy reaching beyond Israel to a foreign military leader, while insisting that God’s grace cannot be purchased and should lead to exclusive worship of the Lord.
In the ancient Near East, diplomacy commonly involved letters and costly gifts, and Naaman’s approach reflects how kings and elites sought favors through tribute. The Jordan River, central to Israel’s geography and religious memory, serves here as an ordinary setting for an extraordinary act—underscoring that the power lies in God’s command rather than in a prestigious location or technique.
“Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” — 2 Kings 5:10
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. What did Elisha’s messenger instruct Naaman to do in order to be healed?
2. Why did Elisha refuse Naaman’s gift after the healing?