Naaman was the commander of the king of Aram’s army. He was a great and honored man because God had given Aram victory through him. He was a mighty soldier, but he had leprosy.
A young girl from Israel had been taken captive in an Aramean raid and served Naaman’s wife. She told her mistress that the prophet in Samaria could heal Naaman. Naaman reported this to his king, who sent him to Israel’s king with a letter, silver, gold, and clothing.
When the king of Israel read the letter asking him to heal Naaman, he tore his clothes. He said that he was not God, able to kill and make alive, and thought the king of Aram was looking for a quarrel. Elisha heard what had happened and told the king to send Naaman to him so that he would know there was a prophet in Israel.
Naaman came with horses and chariots and stood outside Elisha’s house. Elisha did not come out but sent a messenger telling him to wash seven times in the Jordan. Then his flesh would be restored and he would be clean.
Naaman became angry. He had expected Elisha to come out, call on God, and wave his hand over the diseased place. He complained that the rivers of Damascus were better than Israel’s waters and turned to leave.
His servants approached him and asked whether he would have done something difficult if the prophet had commanded it. Why not obey when he had simply been told to wash and be clean? Naaman went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan as the man of God had said. His flesh was restored like that of a young child, and he was clean.
Naaman returned with his whole company and declared that he now knew there was no God in all the earth except in Israel. He urged Elisha to accept a gift, but Elisha refused. Naaman then asked for enough earth for two mules to carry, saying he would no longer offer sacrifice to another god. He also asked for pardon when duty required him to bow in the house of Rimmon with his master. Elisha told him to go in peace.
After Naaman left, Elisha’s servant Gehazi pursued him. He lied and took silver and clothing, then hid them in his house. When Elisha asked where he had been, Gehazi denied going anywhere. Elisha said that his heart had gone with him and asked whether it was the time to receive silver, clothes, fields, animals, and servants. He declared that Naaman’s leprosy would cling to Gehazi and his descendants. Gehazi left Elisha’s presence leprous, white as snow.