"Go in peace," said Elisha. But after Naaman had traveled a short distance, “Go in peace,” said Elisha.Elisha's words, "Go in peace," signify a blessing and a release from any obligation or guilt. This phrase is often used in the Bible to convey a sense of divine approval and reconciliation. In the context of Naaman, a Syrian commander who was healed of leprosy, it indicates that Elisha acknowledges Naaman's newfound faith in the God of Israel. The peace Elisha refers to is not just physical or political but spiritual, reflecting the Hebrew concept of "shalom," which encompasses wholeness and harmony with God. This blessing is reminiscent of Jesus' words in the New Testament, where He often tells individuals to go in peace after healing them (e.g., Mark 5:34). But after Naaman had traveled a short distance,
Naaman's journey back to Syria after his healing is significant. The "short distance" suggests that he had not gone far when the events that follow begin to unfold. This detail sets the stage for the subsequent actions of Gehazi, Elisha's servant, who pursues Naaman. The geographical context here is important; Naaman is returning from the Jordan River area, where he was instructed to wash and be cleansed. This area is rich in biblical history, being the site of many significant events, including the crossing of the Israelites into the Promised Land (Joshua 3-4). Naaman's journey symbolizes a transition from his old life of idolatry to a new life acknowledging the God of Israel. The short distance also implies that Naaman's heart and mind are still fresh with the experience of his healing and conversion, making the subsequent events more poignant. Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet in Israel, successor to Elijah, known for performing miracles and serving as a spiritual leader. In this passage, he interacts with Naaman, a foreign military commander. 2. NaamanA commander of the army of the king of Aram (Syria), who was healed of leprosy by following Elisha's instructions to wash in the Jordan River. 3. Aram (Syria)A neighboring nation to Israel, often in conflict with Israel. Naaman's healing and subsequent conversion highlight God's reach beyond Israel. 4. Jordan RiverThe river where Naaman was instructed to wash seven times to be cleansed of his leprosy, symbolizing obedience and faith. 5. GehaziElisha's servant, who is not directly mentioned in this verse but plays a significant role in the subsequent account, where his actions contrast with Naaman's obedience. Teaching Points Obedience Leads to PeaceNaaman's healing and Elisha's blessing of peace underscore the importance of obedience to God's instructions. True peace comes from aligning our actions with God's will. God's Grace Extends to AllNaaman, a foreigner, receives God's healing, illustrating that God's grace is available to all, regardless of background or nationality. The Role of Faith in HealingNaaman's journey from skepticism to faith demonstrates the transformative power of trusting in God's word, leading to both physical and spiritual healing. Peace as a Sign of ReconciliationElisha's words, "Go in peace," signify Naaman's reconciliation with God, a peace that believers can experience through faith in Christ. The Danger of Greed and DishonestyThe subsequent actions of Gehazi serve as a warning against greed and deceit, contrasting with the peace and integrity exemplified by Elisha and Naaman. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Naaman's account illustrate the importance of obedience to God's instructions, and how can we apply this in our daily lives? 2. In what ways does Naaman's healing demonstrate God's grace extending beyond the boundaries of Israel, and how does this relate to the Great Commission? 3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's peace in a challenging situation. How did faith play a role in that experience? 4. How can Elisha's blessing of peace be seen as a model for how we should interact with others, especially those who are new to the faith? 5. What lessons can we learn from Gehazi's actions following this verse, and how can we guard against similar temptations in our own lives? Connections to Other Scriptures Luke 4:27Jesus references Naaman's healing to illustrate God's grace extending beyond Israel, emphasizing faith and obedience over nationality. Philippians 4:7The peace of God, which transcends understanding, is akin to the peace Elisha offers Naaman, signifying spiritual well-being and reconciliation with God. Romans 5:1Just as Naaman is told to "Go in peace," believers are justified by faith and have peace with God through Jesus Christ. | Alloy in Grandeur | Matthew Henry. | 2 Kings 5:1-19 | | Greatness Secondary to Goodness | | 2 Kings 5:1-19 | | Naaman | Canon Hutchings. | 2 Kings 5:1-19 | | Naaman the Syrian | F. Whitfield, M. A. | 2 Kings 5:1-19 | | Naaman, the Leper | C. Bullock. | 2 Kings 5:1-19 | | Naaman, the Syrian | M. G. Pearse. | 2 Kings 5:1-19 | | Namman the Syrian | Monday Club Sermons | 2 Kings 5:1-19 | | Some Modern Lessons from an Ancient Story | Homiletic Review | 2 Kings 5:1-19 | | The Buts of Life | J. Greenhough, M. A. | 2 Kings 5:1-19 | | The Conquest of Disadvantages | H. H. Henson, B. D. | 2 Kings 5:1-19 | | The Fruits of Adversity | E. F. Chapman, M. A. | 2 Kings 5:1-19 | | The History of Naaman's Disease and Cure | Homilist | 2 Kings 5:1-19 | | The Method of Grace | W. Mincher. | 2 Kings 5:1-19 | | History of Naaman's Disease and Cure | D. Thomas | 2 Kings 5:1-27 | | Naaman the Syrian | C.H. Irwin | 2 Kings 5:4-19 | | The Story of Naaman: 2. the Suggestive Cure | J. Orr | 2 Kings 5:8-19 | | Bowing in the House of Rimmon | The Dean of Peterborough. | 2 Kings 5:18-19 | | Compromise | E. Monro. | 2 Kings 5:18-19 | | Conscientiousness | Life of Faith | 2 Kings 5:18-19 | | No Compromise | C. S. Horne, M. A. | 2 Kings 5:18-19 | | The House of Rimmon; Or, Questionable Conduct | D. Rowlands, B. A. | 2 Kings 5:18-19 | | The New Convert and Idolatry | | 2 Kings 5:18-19 | | There are no Little Sins | C. Williams. | 2 Kings 5:18-19 | | True to Conscience | | 2 Kings 5:18-19 | | Worldly Conformity | W. H. Lewis, D. D. | 2 Kings 5:18-19 |
People Aram, Elisha, Gehazi, Naaman, SyriansPlaces Abana River, Damascus, Jordan River, Pharpar, Samaria, SyriaTopics Departed, Distance, Elisha, Kibrath, Naaman, Na'aman, Peace, Short, TraveledDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 5:13-19 6703 peace, divine OT 2 Kings 5:19-27 5413 money, attitudes
5524 servants, bad
5910 motives, examples
8715 dishonesty, and God 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 5:19 NIV2 Kings 5:19 NLT2 Kings 5:19 ESV2 Kings 5:19 NASB2 Kings 5:19 KJV
2 Kings 5:19 Commentaries
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