2 Kings 5 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

2 Kings 5 Short Summary:

Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, sought out the prophet Elisha to be healed of his leprosy. Elisha told him to wash himself in the Jordan River 7 times and he would be healed. He did as Elisha instructed and was healed. The end of the chapter documents the greed of Elisha’s servant, Gehazi. Gehazi took money from Naaman and lied to Elisha about it. God punished him by giving him the leprosy which once belonged to Naaman.

2 Kings 5 Extended Summary

WHEN:

• According to the timeline we are using for this study, the kingdom of Israel and Judah divided in 975 B.C. The period that followed, sometimes called the period of the “Divided Kingdom,” lasted the next few centuries. Israel remained a cohesive nation until 721 B.C. (Assyrian captivity), while Judah lasted until 607 B.C. (Babylonian exile).

• The events of 2 Kings 5 probably took place between 895-885 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Elisha – The student of Elijah who replaced his master as the prophet of God.

• Naaman – The commander of the Syrian army, he was a “great man” and was in “high favor” with the king of Syria.

• Gehazi – The servant of the prophet Elisha.

WHERE:

• Naaman was from Syria, a country directly north of Israel.

OUTLINE:

• NAAMAN IS HEALED FROM HIS LEPROSY (5:1-14):

  • Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, was a mighty man, but he got sick with leprosy.

  • He had a young servant girl from Israel who told him about a prophet in Israel who could heal him.

  • Naaman asked his king for permission to travel south to Samaria. The king of Syria granted his request, wrote a letter to the king of Israel requesting his help, and sent a gift with Naaman’s party.  

  • When the king of Israel received the letter, he went into a panic. He didn’t know how to heal anyone of leprosy, and he suspected the king of Syria was trying to find a reason to start a war.

  • When Elisha heard about the situation, he told the king to send Naaman to his house.

  • When Naaman arrived with his horses and chariots, Elisha didn’t bother to greet him, instead he sent a servant to Naaman with a message to wash in the Jordan River 7 times.

  • Naaman, who was a great man, was angry with Elisha’s response. He thought the prophet with meet him, wave his hand, call out to God, and heal him on the spot.

  • Naaman didn’t want to go down to the Jordan, but after his servants convinced him to do it, he went to the river, dipped himself 7 times in the water, and his skin was healed.

• GEHAZI IS PUNISHED FOR GREED AND LYING (5:15-27):

  • Naaman returned to Elisha saying that he would worship no God but the Lord from that day forward.

  • He tried to give Elisha a gift of silver, gold, and clothing, but Elisha refused.

  • Naaman and his company set off to return to Syria.

  • After they parted ways, greed started to fill the heart of Elisha’s servant. He wanted some of the money Naaman had offered.

  • Without telling Elisha, he ran down Naaman’s caravan, and told the commander 2 guests had just arrived at Elisha’s house and Elisha wanted a gift for them.

  • Naaman gladly gave Gehazi 2 talents of silver and 2 changes of clothes.

  • Gehazi stealthily returned to Elisha’s house with the money and clothes.

  • When Elisha asked him where he had been, he replied “Your servant went nowhere.”

  • Elisha knew he was lying, and he cursed Gehazi and his descendants with the leprosy of Naaman and sent him out of his presence.

APPLICATION:

• Naaman’s dipping in the water parallels Christian baptism in many ways.

• Naaman had to humble himself and submit to God’s instruction. The same is true for those wanted to be disciples of Jesus, we must submit to God’s instructions.

• Naaman’s immersion in the water didn’t earn him healing, it was a gift of grace from God. Similarly, people who are baptized don’t somehow earn forgiveness from sin by submitting to the process, cleansing from sin is a gift from God.