Topical Encyclopedia Background and Historical Context: Naaman was a prominent military commander in the army of the king of Aram (modern-day Syria) during the time of the prophet Elisha. His account is primarily found in 2 Kings 5. Naaman was a man of great stature and respect, described as a "valiant warrior," but he suffered from leprosy, a condition that not only affected him physically but also socially and religiously, as leprosy was often seen as a sign of impurity. Biblical Account: The narrative of Naaman begins with a young Israelite girl, taken captive during one of Aram's raids, who served Naaman's wife. She expressed faith in the power of the prophet Elisha to heal Naaman's leprosy. Upon hearing this, Naaman sought permission from the king of Aram to visit Israel. The king sent Naaman with a letter to the king of Israel, along with gifts of silver, gold, and clothing, seeking healing for his commander. When Naaman arrived in Israel, the king of Israel was distressed, fearing that the request was a pretext for conflict, as he exclaimed, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy?" (2 Kings 5:7). Elisha, hearing of the king's distress, invited Naaman to come to him, demonstrating that there was indeed a prophet in Israel. Naaman came to Elisha's house, but instead of meeting him personally, Elisha sent a messenger instructing Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River to be cleansed. Initially, Naaman was angered by this, expecting a more dramatic healing process and questioning why the rivers of Damascus were not sufficient. However, his servants persuaded him to follow the prophet's simple instructions. Naaman obeyed, and upon washing in the Jordan, his flesh was restored, becoming like that of a young boy. Spiritual Significance: Naaman's healing is a profound testament to the power of faith and obedience. Despite his initial pride and skepticism, Naaman's willingness to humble himself and follow the prophet's instructions led to his miraculous healing. This account highlights the theme of God's grace extending beyond the boundaries of Israel, as Naaman, a Gentile, experienced God's power and mercy. After his healing, Naaman returned to Elisha, acknowledging the God of Israel as the only true God, saying, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel" (2 Kings 5:15). He offered gifts to Elisha, which the prophet refused, emphasizing that the healing was an act of God's grace, not a transaction. Naaman's Request and Elisha's Response: Naaman requested to take two mule-loads of earth back to Aram, intending to worship the God of Israel on Israelite soil. He also sought forgiveness for future instances when he would have to accompany his king into the temple of Rimmon, a pagan god, and bow there. Elisha's response, "Go in peace," (2 Kings 5:19) suggests an understanding of Naaman's situation and a recognition of his newfound faith. Legacy and New Testament Reference: Naaman's account is referenced in the New Testament by Jesus in Luke 4:27, where He highlights Naaman's healing as an example of God's grace to the Gentiles, contrasting the unbelief found in Israel. This underscores the universal scope of God's mercy and the importance of faith and humility in receiving His blessings. Naaman's account serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of God, the importance of humility, and the reach of divine grace beyond cultural and national boundaries. Strong's Hebrew 5283. Naaman -- a descendant of Benjamin, also an Aramean (Syrian) ...... Naaman. 5284 . a descendant of Benjamin, also an Aramean (Syrian) general. Transliteration: Naaman Phonetic Spelling: (nah-am-awn') Short Definition: Naaman. ... /hebrew/5283.htm - 6k Library Naaman's Wrath Naaman's Imperfect Faith Gehazi A Little Maid Naaman Cured. Expositions of Holy Scripture Contents Naaman Naaman the Syrian A Little Jewish Maid. Thesaurus Naaman's (1 Occurrence)... Multi-Version Concordance Naaman's (1 Occurrence). 2 Kings 5:2 The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out ... /n/naaman's.htm - 6k Na'aman's (1 Occurrence) Na'aman (15 Occurrences) Elisha (70 Occurrences) Raids (4 Occurrences) Rimmon (22 Occurrences) Aramaeans (49 Occurrences) Leper (34 Occurrences) Waited (72 Occurrences) Companies (38 Occurrences) Resources Who was Naaman in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat can we learn from the story of Elisha and Naaman? | GotQuestions.org Who was Gehazi in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Naaman's (1 Occurrence)2 Kings 5:2 Subtopics Related Terms |
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