1Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, was a great and respected man to his master, because through him Yahweh had given victory to Syria. He was also a brave soldier, but he had leprosy.
2The Syrians had gone out in raiding parties and had captured a young girl from the land of Israel. She served Naaman’s wife.
3She said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria! He would heal him of his leprosy.”
4Someone went and told his master, “The girl from the land of Israel said this.”
5The king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing.
6He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, “When this letter reaches you, understand that I have sent my servant Naaman to you, so you can heal him of his leprosy.”
7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, able to kill and bring to life, that this man sends someone to me to heal a man of his leprosy? Please see how he is trying to pick a fight with me.”
8When Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me now, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
9So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
10Elisha sent a messenger to Naaman, telling him, "Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be healthy again, and you will be clean."
11But Naaman became angry and left. He said, "Look, I thought he would surely come out to me, stand, call on the name of Yahweh his God, wave his hand over the area, and heal the leper."
12"Aren't the rivers Abana and Pharpar in Damascus better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and become clean?" So he turned and left in a rage.
13His servants came up to him and said, "Father, if the prophet had asked you to do something difficult, wouldn't you have done it? How much more should you do it when he simply tells you, 'Wash, and be clean'?"
14So Naaman went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan River, just as the man of God had told him. His skin became healthy again, like the skin of a small child, and he was clean.
15Then he and all his companions returned to the man of God. Naaman came and stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant."
16But Elisha said, "As surely as Yahweh lives, whom I serve, I will not accept anything." Naaman urged him to take it, but he refused.
17Naaman said, "If not, then please allow your servant to take two mule-loads of earth from here. From now on, your servant will not offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other gods except to Yahweh.
18May Yahweh forgive your servant for this: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my arm, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may Yahweh please forgive your servant for this."
19Elisha said to him, "Go in peace." So Naaman left him and traveled a short distance.
20But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, "Look, my master has let this Naaman the Syrian get away without taking the gift he brought. As surely as Yahweh lives, I will run after him and get something from him."
21So Gehazi went after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from his chariot to meet him and asked, "Is everything alright?"
22Gehazi replied, "Everything is alright. My master sent me to tell you, 'Just now, two young men from the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.'"
23Naaman said, "Please take two talents!" He urged Gehazi, then tied two talents of silver in two bags along with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants, who carried them ahead of Gehazi.
24When Gehazi reached the hill, he took the items from the servants and stored them in the house. Then he sent the men away, and they left.
25Afterward, Gehazi went in and stood before his master. Elisha asked him, "Where did you come from, Gehazi?" Gehazi replied, "Your servant didn't go anywhere."
26Elisha said to him, "Didn't I know in my spirit when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this a time to accept money, or clothes, or olive groves, or vineyards, or sheep, or cattle, or male and female servants?
27Therefore, Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and your descendants forever." As Gehazi left Elisha's presence, he was a leper, as white as snow.