Dual Panel1NAAMAN, commander of the king of Aram's army, was a great man and highly esteemed by his master, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram; he was a mighty warrior, but he was a leper.
2On one of their raids the Aramaeans brought back as a captive from the land of Israel a young girl, who became a servant to Naaman's wife.
3She said to her mistress, “If only my master could meet the prophet who lives in Samaria, he would cure him of the leprosy.”
4Naaman went and reported to his master what the Israelite girl had said.
5“Certainly you may go,” said the king of Aram, “and I shall send a letter to the king of Israel.” Naaman set off, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.
6He delivered the letter to the king of Israel; it read: “This letter is to inform you that I am sending to you my servant Naaman, and I beg you to cure him of his leprosy.”
7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God to kill and to make alive, that this fellow sends to me to cure a man of his disease? See how he picks a quarrel with me.”
8When Elisha, the man of God, heard how the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent him this message: “Why did you tear your clothes? Let the man come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
9When Naaman came with his horses and chariots and halted at the entrance to Elisha's house,
10Elisha sent out a messenger to say to him, “If you go and wash seven times in the Jordan, your flesh will be restored and you will be clean.”
11At this Naaman was furious and went away, saying, “I thought he would at least have come out and stood and invoked the LORD his God by name, waved his hand over the place, and cured me of the leprosy.
12Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Can I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went off in a rage.
13But his servants came to him and said, “If the prophet had told you to do something difficult, would you not do it? How much more should you, then, if he says to you, ‘Wash and be clean’!”
14So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored so that it was like a little child's, and he was clean.
15Accompanied by his retinue he went back to the man of God and standing before him said, “Now I know that there is no god anywhere in the world except in Israel. Will you accept a token of gratitude from your servant?”
16“As the LORD lives, whom I serve,” said the prophet, “I shall accept nothing.” Though pressed to accept, he refused.
17“Then if you will not,” said Naaman, “let me, sir, have two mules” load of earth, for I shall no longer offer whole-offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD.
18In one matter only may the LORD pardon me: when my master goes to the temple of Rimmon to worship, leaning on my arm, and I worship in the temple of Rimmon when he worships there, for this let the LORD pardon me.'
19Elisha bade him go in peace. Naaman had gone only a short distance on his way,
20when Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “Has my master let this Aramaean, Naaman, go without accepting what he brought? As the LORD lives, I shall run after him and get something from him.”
21So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he alighted from his chariot to meet him saying, “Is anything wrong?”
22“Nothing,” replied Gehazi, “but my master sent me to say that two young men of the company of prophets from the hill-country of Ephraim have just arrived. Could you provide them with a talent of silver and two changes of clothing?”
23Naaman said, “By all means; take two talents.” He pressed him to take them; then he tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, and the two changes of clothing, and gave them to two of his servants, and they walked ahead carrying them.
24When Gehazi came to the citadel he took them from the two servants, deposited them in the house, and dismissed the men; and they went away.
25When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha said, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” “Nowhere,” said Gehazi.
26But he said to him, “Was I not present in spirit when the man turned and got down from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to get money and garments, olive trees and vineyards, sheep and oxen, slaves and slave-girls?
27Naaman's leprosy will fasten on you and on your descendants for ever.” Gehazi left Elisha's presence, his skin diseased, white as snow.