
Text -- 2 Kings 5:26-27 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley: 2Ki 5:26 - -- _Which Gehazi intended to purchase with this money: and therefore the prophet names them, to inform him, that he exactly knew, not only his outward ac...
_Which Gehazi intended to purchase with this money: and therefore the prophet names them, to inform him, that he exactly knew, not only his outward actions, but even his most secret intentions. What a folly is it, to presume upon sin in hopes of secrecy? When thou goest aside into any bye - path, doth not thy own conscience go with thee? Nay, doth not the eye of God go with thee? What then avails the absence of human witnesses?

Wesley: 2Ki 5:27 - -- That is, for some generations; as that word is often used and as may be thought by comparing this with Exo 20:55.
That is, for some generations; as that word is often used and as may be thought by comparing this with Exo 20:55.

Wesley: 2Ki 5:27 - -- Which is the worst kind of leprosy, and noted by physicians to be incurable. Those who get money by any way displeasing to God, make a dear purchase. ...
Which is the worst kind of leprosy, and noted by physicians to be incurable. Those who get money by any way displeasing to God, make a dear purchase. What was Gehazi profited by his two talents, when he lost his health, if not his soul, forever?
JFB -> 2Ki 5:27
JFB: 2Ki 5:27 - -- (See on Lev 13:3). This heavy infliction was not too severe for the crime of Gehazi. For it was not the covetousness alone that was punished; but, at ...
(See on Lev 13:3). This heavy infliction was not too severe for the crime of Gehazi. For it was not the covetousness alone that was punished; but, at the same time, it was the ill use made of the prophet's name to gain an object prompted by a mean covetousness, and the attempt to conceal it by lying [KEIL].
Clarke: 2Ki 5:26 - -- Went not mine heart with thee - The Chaldee gives this a good turn: By the prophetic spirit it was shown unto me, when the man returned from his cha...
Went not mine heart with thee - The Chaldee gives this a good turn: By the prophetic spirit it was shown unto me, when the man returned from his chariot to meet thee

Clarke: 2Ki 5:26 - -- Is it a time to receive money - He gave him farther proof of this all-discerning prophetic spirit in telling him what he designed to do with the mon...
Is it a time to receive money - He gave him farther proof of this all-discerning prophetic spirit in telling him what he designed to do with the money; he intended to set up a splendid establishment, to have men-servants and maid-servants, to have oliveyards and vineyards, and sheep and oxen, This, as the Chaldee says, he had thought in his heart to do.

Clarke: 2Ki 5:27 - -- The leprosy of Naaman - shall cleave unto thee - Thou hast got much money, and thou shalt have much to do with it. Thou hast got Naaman’ s silv...
The leprosy of Naaman - shall cleave unto thee - Thou hast got much money, and thou shalt have much to do with it. Thou hast got Naaman’ s silver, and thou shalt have Naaman’ s leprosy. Gehazi is not the last who has got money in an unlawful way, and has got God’ s curse with it

Clarke: 2Ki 5:27 - -- A leper as white as snow - The moment the curse was pronounced, that moment the signs of the leprosy began to appear. The white shining spot was the...
A leper as white as snow - The moment the curse was pronounced, that moment the signs of the leprosy began to appear. The white shining spot was the sign that the infection had taken place. See on Lev 13:2 (note), and the notes at Lev 13:58 (note)
1. Some have thought, because of the prophet’ s curse, The leprosy of Naaman shall cleave unto thee and thy seed for ever, that there are persons still alive who are this man’ s real descendants, and afflicted with this horrible disease. Mr. Maundrell when he was in Judea made diligent inquiry concerning this, but could not ascertain the truth of the supposition. To me it appears absurd; the denunciation took place in the posterity of Gehazi till it should become extinct, and under the influence of this disorder this must soon have taken place. The for ever implies as long as any of his posterity should remain. This is the import of the word
2. The god Rimmon, mentioned 2Ki 5:18, we meet with nowhere else in the Scriptures, unless it be the same which Stephen calls Remphan. See Act 7:43 (note), and the note there. Selden thinks that Rimmon is the same with Elion, a god of the Phoenicians, borrowed undoubtedly from the
3. Let us not suppose that the offense of Gehazi was too severely punished
1. Look at the principle, covetousness
2. Pride and vanity; he wished to become a great man
3, His lying, in order to impose on Naaman: Behold even now there be come to me, etc
4. He in effect sells the cure of Naaman for so much money; for if Naaman had not been cured, could he have pretended to ask the silver and raiment
5. It was an act of theft; he applied that to his own use which Naaman gave him for his master
6. He dishonored his master by getting the money and raiment in his name, who had before so solemnly refused it
7. He closed the whole by lying to his master, denying that he had gone after Naaman, or that he had received any thing from him. But was it not severe to extend the punishment of his crime to his innocent posterity? I answer, it does not appear that any of Gehazi’ s children, if he had any prior to this, were smitten with the leprosy; and as to those whom he might beget after this time, their leprosy must be the necessary consequence of their being engendered by a leprous father
Reader, see the end of avarice and ambition; and see the truth of those words, "He that Will be rich, shall fall into temptation, and a snare, and into divers hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition."- St. Paul
4. We have already remarked the apparently severe and manifestly kind providence of God in this business
1. A marauding party was permitted to spoil the confines of the land of Israel
2. They brought away, to reduce to captivity, a little maid, probably the hope of her father’ s house
3. She became Naaman’ s property, and waited on his wife
4. She announced God and his prophet
5. Naaman, on the faith of her account, took a journey to Samaria
6. Gets healed of his leprosy
7. Is converted to the Lord; and, doubtless, brought at least his whole family to believe to the saving of their souls. What was severe to the parents of the little maid was most kind to Naaman and his family; and the parents lost their child only a little time, that they might again receive her with honor and glory for ever. How true are the words of the poet
"Behind a frowning providence he hides a smiling face.
And see the benefits of a religious education! Had not this little maid been brought up in the knowledge of the true God, she had not been the instrument of so great a salvation. See my sermon on this subject 2Ki 5:12 (note).
TSK: 2Ki 5:26 - -- he said : Psa 63:11; Pro 12:19, Pro 12:22; Act 5:9
Went : 2Ki 6:12; 1Co 5:3; Col 2:5
Is it a time : 2Ki 5:16; Gen 14:23; Ecc 3:1-8; Mat 10:8; Act 20:3...

TSK: 2Ki 5:27 - -- leprosy : 2Ki 5:1; Jos 7:25; Isa 59:2, Isa 59:3; Hos 10:13; Mal 2:3, Mal 2:4, Mal 2:8, Mal 2:9; Mat 27:3-5; Act 5:5, Act 5:10, Act 8:20; 1Ti 6:10; 2Pe...

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> 2Ki 5:26
Barnes: 2Ki 5:26 - -- Went not mine heart with thee? - i. e. "Was I not with thee in spirit - did I not see the whole transaction, as if I had been present at it?"He...
Went not mine heart with thee? - i. e. "Was I not with thee in spirit - did I not see the whole transaction, as if I had been present at it?"He uses the verb "went,"because Gehazi has just denied his "going."
Is it a time ... - i. e. "Was this a proper occasion to indulge greed, when a Gentile was to be favorably impressed, and made to feel that the faith of the Israelites was the only true religion? Was it not, on the contrary, an occasion for the exhibition of the greatest unselfishness, that so a pagan might be won to the truth?"
And oliveyards and vineyards ... - Gehazi’ s thoughts had probably run on to the disposition which he would make of his wealth, and the prophet here follows them, enumerating his servant’ s intended purchases.
Poole: 2Ki 5:26 - -- Went not mine heart with thee? did not my mind. being enlightened by God’ s Spirit, discern what thou saidst and didst?
Is it a time? was this...
Went not mine heart with thee? did not my mind. being enlightened by God’ s Spirit, discern what thou saidst and didst?
Is it a time? was this a fit season for this action? I had but newly and obstinately refused his gifts, for great reasons; of which See Poole "2Ki 5:16" ; and now thou hast given him cause to think that I was a cursed and wicked impostor, who vain-gloriously refused in public what I inwardly and greedily desired, and sought only a fitter place and opportunity to take; and that all our religion is but an imposture; and that the God who owns such a vile wretch for his prophet, as thou hast represented me to him, is not so holy and righteous as we pretend.
Garments, and oliveyards & c.; which Gehazi intended to purchase with this money; and therefore the prophet names them, to inform him that he exactly knew by Divine inspiration, not only Gehazi’ s outward actions, but even his most secret intentions.

Poole: 2Ki 5:27 - -- And unto thy seed for ever i.e. for some generations; or for a long time, as that word is oft used, and as may be thought by comparing this with Exo ...
And unto thy seed for ever i.e. for some generations; or for a long time, as that word is oft used, and as may be thought by comparing this with Exo 20:5 24:7 .
He went out from his presence being confounded with the sense of his guilt, and shame, and misery, and banished from the company of others by God’ s law, Le 13 Le 14 .
A leper as white as snow which is the worst kind of leprosy, and noted by physicians to be incurable. See Exo 4:6 Num 12:10 2Ch 26:19,20 . Nor was this punishment too severe for Gehazi’ s wickedness, which was great and various; horrid covetousness, which is idolatry; the profanation of God’ s name by a wicked oath; downright theft; deliberate and impudent lying, and that to a prophet, which was in a manner a lying to the Holy Ghost, like theirs, Act 5:3 ; a desperate contempt of God’ s omniscience, justice, and holiness; a horrible reproach fastened upon the prophet, and his religion; and a mischievous scandal given to Naaman and all other Syrians that might hear of it.
Haydock: 2Ki 5:26 - -- Present is not expressed in Hebrew but must be understood. Protestants, "Went not mine heart with thee. " (Haydock) ---
God has revealed the whol...
Present is not expressed in Hebrew but must be understood. Protestants, "Went not mine heart with thee. " (Haydock) ---
God has revealed the whole transaction to me. (Menochius) ---
Heart in Scripture, often denotes the spirit or soul. (Haydock)

Haydock: 2Ki 5:27 - -- For ever. Not perhaps to those who might be already born, unless they were accomplices in the crime. The leprosy is hereditary. Giezi was punished...
For ever. Not perhaps to those who might be already born, unless they were accomplices in the crime. The leprosy is hereditary. Giezi was punished for simony, in selling the miracle, as well as for lying and disobedience. (Calmet) ---
He might also have given occasion to Naaman to judge ill of his master; as the false prophets were noted for such avarice, Micheas iii. 11. But Eliseus would probably take care to give him better information. (Tirinus) ---
He did not require his servant to give up what he had unjustly received, as the general had made over the property to him; and he thought proper to leave it in the hands of Giezi, to indemnity him for past services, and that he might have wherewith to support himself, as he now dismissed him from his company. (Salien, the year before Christ 903.) ---
Snow, and therefore more incurable. (Tirinus) ---
See Leviticus xiii. (Calmet) ---
"All the covetous and misers, together with their riches, possess the leprosy of Giezi:" thesaurum criminum congregarunt. (St. Ambrose) Giezi prefigured Judas, the false apostles of Christ, and all those who buy or sell spiritual things. By their avarice, they procure infamy in this world, and damnation in the next. (St. Augustine, ep. 208, de Temp.) (Worthington)
Gill: 2Ki 5:26 - -- And he said unto him, went not mine heart with thee?.... Did my heart or knowledge go from me, that what thou hast done should be hid from me? so Ben ...
And he said unto him, went not mine heart with thee?.... Did my heart or knowledge go from me, that what thou hast done should be hid from me? so Ben Gersom and others; or my heart did not go with thee, it was contrary to my mind and will what thou didst; so Abendana; or rather, as the Targum, by a spirit of prophecy it was shown unto me, &c. I knew full well what thou wentest for, and hast done; and so Maimonides y; was not I employed in my thoughts? or, did I not think that so it was as thou hast done? I did:
when the man turned again from chariot to meet thee? meaning Naaman the Syrian:
is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments: as Gehazi had now done:
and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? that is, to purchase those with the two talents of silver he had received, as he thought in his heart, or intended to do, as the Targum; or had given orders to purchase such for him to the persons to whom he had committed the care of them in the tower; this was not a proper time, when the honour of the prophet, and the credit of religion, and the good of this man, as a new proselyte, were in danger thereby.

Gill: 2Ki 5:27 - -- The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever,.... As long as any of his race remained; as through his covetousne...
The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever,.... As long as any of his race remained; as through his covetousness he had his money, so for his punishment he should have his disease:
and he went out from his presence; as one ashamed and confounded, and discharged from his master's service:
a leper as white as snow; a leprosy of which colour is the worst, and is incurable.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: 2Ki 5:26 In the MT the statement is phrased as a rhetorical question, “Is this the time…?” It expects an emphatic negative response.

NET Notes: 2Ki 5:27 Traditionally, “he went from before him, leprous like snow.” But see the note at 5:1, as well as M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 66...
Geneva Bible: 2Ki 5:26 And he said unto him, ( n ) Went not mine heart [with thee], when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? [Is it] a time to receive money,...

Geneva Bible: 2Ki 5:27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy ( p ) seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper [as white] as snow...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> 2Ki 5:1-27
TSK Synopsis: 2Ki 5:1-27 - --1 Naaman, by the report of a captive maid, is sent to Samaria to be cured of his leprosy.8 Elisha, sending him to Jordan cures him.15 He refusing Naam...
MHCC -> 2Ki 5:20-27
MHCC: 2Ki 5:20-27 - --Naaman, a Syrian, a courtier, a soldier, had many servants, and we read how wise and good they were. Elisha, a holy prophet, a man of God, has but one...
Matthew Henry -> 2Ki 5:20-27
Matthew Henry: 2Ki 5:20-27 - -- Naaman, a Syrian, a courtier, a soldier, had many servants, and we read how wise and good they were, 2Ki 5:13. Elisha, a holy prophet, a man of God,...
Keil-Delitzsch -> 2Ki 5:25-26; 2Ki 5:27
Keil-Delitzsch: 2Ki 5:25-26 - --
But when he entered his master's presence again, he asked him, "Whence (comest thou), Gehazi?"and on his returning the lying answer that he had not ...

Keil-Delitzsch: 2Ki 5:27 - --
"And let the leprosy of Naaman cleave to thee and to thy seed for ever." This punishment took effect immediately. Gehazi went out from Elisha covere...
Constable -> 2Ki 2:1--8:16; 2Ki 5:1-27
Constable: 2Ki 2:1--8:16 - --4. Jehoram's evil reign in Israel 2:1-8:15
Jehoram reigned 12 years in Israel (852-841 B.C.). Hi...
