II Kings 5

מלכים ב׳ פרק ה׳

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: II Kings | Chapter: 5 of 25 | Day: 127 of 742

Date: June 18, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

The story of Naaman the Aramean is one of the most theologically charged narratives in the Elisha cycle, and one of the most carefully constructed. It is a chapter about reversals: a Gentile general is healed where the king of Israel cannot help; a great man is restored by a captured Israelite slave-girl; an enemy of Israel comes to monotheism while a prophet’s own attendant slides into greed and is struck with the very disease his master cured. The chapter sits at the heart of the second half of Elisha’s career, in which the prophet’s reach extends across borders and his miracles increasingly address questions of faith and integrity that transcend the immediate political crises of the northern kingdom.

The narrative architecture is remarkable. It opens with Naaman in the highest possible position — שר צבא מלך ארם, an איש גדול, a גבור חיל — and then pivots on the single, devastating word that closes verse 1: מצורע. The whole tension of the chapter unfolds from that one-word puncture. The healing comes through chains of unlikely intermediaries: a young Israelite captive girl speaks to her mistress; the mistress tells Naaman; Naaman tells the king of Aram; the king writes a letter to the king of Israel — and only then, almost incidentally, does Elisha enter the picture. The Torah’s narrative method here is to show how divine providence works through margins and hierarchies, with the smallest voice (the נערה קטנה) carrying the most consequential speech.

The central episode at the Jordan turns on Naaman’s pride. He arrives expecting the dramatic theater of a foreign cure — the prophet emerging in person, invoking the divine name, waving his hand over the affected place. Instead Elisha sends a messenger with a humble instruction to immerse seven times in the Jordan, a river Naaman dismisses as inferior to the Amanah and Pharpar of Damascus. His servants press him with a beautiful piece of common-sense theology: would you not have done a great thing if asked? How much more so a small one? The healing finally happens not because of Naaman’s status but because, in the end, he submits to the smallness of the task. His flesh returns ״כבשר נער קטן״ — like the flesh of a small child — a pointed verbal echo of the נערה קטנה who set the entire chain in motion.

The chapter’s second movement is its theological climax: Naaman returns and declares ״הנה נא ידעתי כי אין אלהים בכל הארץ כי אם בישראל״ — there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. This is the most explicit confession of faith by a Gentile in all the Prophets, and the rabbis in Gittin 57b read Naaman as a גר תושב, a righteous resident-alien who took on the seven Noahide commandments without converting. His request for two mule-loads of Israelite earth so that he might build an altar to Hashem in Aram, and his careful petition for forgiveness when he must accompany his king into the temple of Rimmon, reveal a religious sensibility of striking subtlety. Elisha’s response — לך לשלום — is one of the warmest send-offs in Tanakh.

The Gehazi epilogue (verses 19-27) is the chapter’s dark mirror. Where Naaman moves from leprosy to faith, Gehazi moves from prophetic service to leprosy. He chases after Naaman, fabricates a story about two visiting prophet-disciples, and pockets two talents of silver and two changes of clothes. Elisha’s confrontation is unsparing: ״לא לבי הלך כאשר הפך איש מעל מרכבתו לקראתך?״ — did not my heart go with you when the man turned from his chariot to greet you? The prophet’s spiritual vision had already followed Gehazi; the deception was futile. The closing verse — ״וצרעת נעמן תדבק בך ובזרעך לעולם״ — transfers Naaman’s tzara’at onto Gehazi and his descendants, sealing the chapter’s reversal. Chazal famously list Gehazi among the four commoners with no share in the world to come (Sanhedrin 90a), reading his sin as the corruption of one entrusted with prophetic proximity. Together Naaman and Gehazi form a single moral diptych: a Gentile drawn to Israel’s God by humility, and a servant of Israel’s prophet expelled by greed.

פרק ה׳ · Chapter 5

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וְ֠נַעֲמָ֠ן שַׂר־צְבָ֨א מֶלֶךְ־אֲרָ֜ם הָיָ֣ה אִישׁ֩ גָּד֨וֹל לִפְנֵ֤י אֲדֹנָיו֙ וּנְשֻׂ֣א פָנִ֔ים כִּי־ב֛וֹ נָתַן־יְהֹוָ֥ה תְּשׁוּעָ֖ה לַאֲרָ֑ם וְהָאִ֗ישׁ הָיָ֛ה גִּבּ֥וֹר חַ֖יִל מְצֹרָֽע׃

English:

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was an important man to his lord and high in his favor, for through him GOD had granted victory to Aram. But the man, though a great warrior, was a leper.aleper Cf. note at Lev. 13.3.

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַֽאֲרָם֙ יָצְא֣וּ גְדוּדִ֔ים וַיִּשְׁבּ֛וּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵ��ל נַעֲרָ֣ה קְטַנָּ֑ה וַתְּהִ֕י לִפְנֵ֖י אֵ֥שֶׁת נַעֲמָֽן׃

English:

Once, when the Arameans were out raiding, they carried off a young girl from the land of Israel, and she became an attendant to Naaman’s wife.

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־גְּבִרְתָּ֔הּ אַחֲלֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י לִפְנֵ֥י הַנָּבִ֖יא אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּשֹׁמְר֑וֹן אָ֛ז יֶאֱסֹ֥ף אֹת֖וֹ מִצָּרַעְתּֽוֹ׃

English:

She said to her mistress, “I wish Master could come before the prophet in Samaria; he would cure him of his leprosy.”

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֕א וַיַּגֵּ֥ד לַאדֹנָ֖יו לֵאמֹ֑ר כָּזֹ֤את וְכָזֹאת֙ דִּבְּרָ֣ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר מֵאֶ֥רֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

[Naaman] went and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲרָם֙ לֶךְ־בֹּ֔א וְאֶשְׁלְחָ֥ה סֵ֖פֶר אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּ֩לֶךְ֩ וַיִּקַּ֨ח בְּיָד֜וֹ עֶ֣שֶׂר כִּכְּרֵי־כֶ֗סֶף וְשֵׁ֤שֶׁת אֲלָפִים֙ זָהָ֔ב וְעֶ֖שֶׂר חֲלִיפ֥וֹת בְּגָדִֽים׃

English:

And the king of Aram said, “Go to the king of Israel, and I will send along a letter.”He set out, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֵ֣א הַסֵּ֔פֶר אֶל־מֶ֥לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר וְעַתָּ֗ה כְּב֨וֹא הַסֵּ֤פֶר הַזֶּה֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ הִנֵּ֨ה שָׁלַ֤חְתִּי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶת־נַעֲמָ֣ן עַבְדִּ֔י וַאֲסַפְתּ֖וֹ מִצָּרַעְתּֽוֹ׃

English:

He brought the letter to the king of Israel. It read: “Now, when this letter reaches you, know that I have sent my courtier Naaman to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֡י כִּקְרֹא֩ מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל אֶת־הַסֵּ֜פֶר וַיִּקְרַ֣ע בְּגָדָ֗יו וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַאֱלֹהִ֥ים אָ֙נִי֙ לְהָמִ֣ית וּֽלְהַחֲי֔וֹת כִּי־זֶה֙ שֹׁלֵ֣חַ אֵלַ֔י לֶאֱסֹ֥ף אִ֖ישׁ מִצָּרַעְתּ֑וֹ כִּ֤י אַךְ־דְּעוּ־נָא֙ וּרְא֔וּ כִּֽי־מִתְאַנֶּ֥ה ה֖וּא לִֽי׃

English:

When the king of Israel read the letter, he rent his clothes and cried, “Am I God, to deal death or give life, that this fellow writes to me to cure a man of leprosy? Just see for yourselves that he is seeking a pretext against me!”

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֞י כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ ׀ אֱלִישָׁ֣ע אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים כִּֽי־קָרַ֤ע מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֔יו וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֔ר לָ֥מָּה קָרַ֖עְתָּ בְּגָדֶ֑יךָ יָבֹא־נָ֣א אֵלַ֔י וְיֵדַ֕ע כִּ֛י יֵ֥שׁ נָבִ֖יא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

English:

When Elisha, the agent of God, heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, he sent a message to the king: “Why have you rent your clothes? Let him come to me, and he will learn that there is a prophet in Israel.”

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֥א נַעֲמָ֖ן בְּסוּסָ֣ו וּבְרִכְבּ֑וֹ וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד פֶּֽתַח־הַבַּ֖יִת לֶאֱלִישָֽׁע׃

English:

So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and halted at the door of Elisha’s house.

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח אֵלָ֛יו אֱלִישָׁ֖ע מַלְאָ֣ךְ לֵאמֹ֑ר הָל֗וֹךְ וְרָחַצְתָּ֤ שֶֽׁבַע־פְּעָמִים֙ בַּיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וְיָשֹׁ֧ב בְּשָׂרְךָ֛ לְךָ֖ וּטְהָֽר׃

English:

Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go and bathe seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be pure.”

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

��ַיִּקְצֹ֥ף נַעֲמָ֖ן וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ הִנֵּ֨ה אָמַ֜רְתִּי אֵלַ֣י ׀ יֵצֵ֣א יָצ֗וֹא וְעָמַד֙ וְקָרָא֙ בְּשֵׁם־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔יו וְהֵנִ֥יף יָד֛וֹ אֶל־הַמָּק֖וֹם וְאָסַ֥ף הַמְּצֹרָֽע׃

English:

But Naaman was angered and walked away. “I thought,” he said, “he would surely come out to me, and would stand and invoke the ETERNAL his God by name, and would wave his hand toward the spot, and cure the affected part.

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

הֲלֹ֡א טוֹב֩ (אבנה) [אֲמָנָ֨ה] וּפַרְפַּ֜ר נַהֲר֣וֹת דַּמֶּ֗שֶׂק מִכֹּל֙ מֵימֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֲלֹֽא־אֶרְחַ֥ץ בָּהֶ֖ם וְטָהָ֑רְתִּי וַיִּ֖פֶן וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בְּחֵמָֽה׃

English:

Are not the Amanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? I could bathe in them and be pure!” And he stalked off in a rage.

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַיִּגְּשׁ֣וּ עֲבָדָיו֮ וַיְדַבְּר֣וּ אֵלָיו֒ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ אָבִי֙ דָּבָ֣ר גָּד֗וֹל הַנָּבִ֛יא דִּבֶּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ הֲל֣וֹא תַעֲשֶׂ֑ה וְאַ֛ף כִּי־אָמַ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ רְחַ֥ץ וּטְהָֽר׃

English:

But his servants came forward and spoke to him. “Sir,“bSir Lit. “[My] father.” they said, “if the prophet told you to do something difficult, would you not do it? How much more when he has only said to you, ‘Bathe and be pure.’”

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַיֵּ֗רֶד וַיִּטְבֹּ֤ל בַּיַּרְדֵּן֙ שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֔ים כִּדְבַ֖ר אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיָּ֣שׇׁב בְּשָׂר֗וֹ כִּבְשַׂ֛ר נַ֥עַר קָטֹ֖ן וַיּ��טְהָֽר׃

English:

So he went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, as the agent of God had bidden; and his flesh became like a little child’s, and he was pure.

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֩שׇׁב֩ אֶל־אִ֨ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֜ים ה֣וּא וְכׇֽל־מַחֲנֵ֗הוּ וַיָּבֹא֮ וַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד לְפָנָיו֒ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּה־נָ֤א יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ כִּ֣י אֵ֤ין אֱלֹהִים֙ בְּכׇל־הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֖י אִם־בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעַתָּ֛ה קַח־נָ֥א בְרָכָ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ת עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

English:

Returning with his entire retinue to the agent of God, he stood before him and exclaimed, “Now I know that there is no God in the whole world except in Israel! So please accept a gift from your servant.”

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר חַי־יְהֹוָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־עָמַ֥דְתִּי לְפָנָ֖יו אִם־אֶקָּ֑ח וַיִּפְצַר־בּ֥וֹ לָקַ֖חַת וַיְמָאֵֽן׃

English:

But he replied, “As GOD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept anything.” He pressed him to accept, but he refused.

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֘אמֶר֮ נַעֲמָן֒ וָלֹ֕א יֻתַּן־נָ֣א לְעַבְדְּךָ֔ מַשָּׂ֥א צֶמֶד־פְּרָדִ֖ים אֲדָמָ֑ה כִּ֡י לֽוֹא־יַעֲשֶׂה֩ ע֨וֹד עַבְדְּךָ֜ עֹלָ֤ה וָזֶ֙בַח֙ לֵאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים כִּ֖י אִם־לַיהֹוָֽה׃

English:

And Naaman said, “Then at least let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will never again offer up burnt offering or sacrifice to any god, except GOD.

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

לַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה יִסְלַ֥ח יְהֹוָ֖ה לְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ בְּב֣וֹא אֲדֹנִ֣י בֵית־רִמּוֹן֩ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֨ת שָׁ֜מָּה וְה֣וּא ׀ נִשְׁעָ֣ן עַל־יָדִ֗י וְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֵ֙יתִי֙ בֵּ֣ית רִ��ֹּ֔ן בְּהִשְׁתַּחֲוָיָ֙תִי֙ בֵּ֣ית רִמֹּ֔ן יִסְלַח־(נא)־יְהֹוָ֥ה לְעַבְדְּךָ֖ בַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃

English:

But may GOD pardon your servant for this: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow low in worship there, and he is leaning on my arm so that I must bow low in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow low in the temple of Rimmon, may GOD pardon your servant in this.”

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ לֵ֣ךְ לְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ מֵאִתּ֖וֹ כִּבְרַת־אָֽרֶץ׃ {ס}        

English:

And he said to him, “Go in peace.”When he had gone some distance from him,

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר גֵּיחֲזִ֗י נַ֘עַר֮ אֱלִישָׁ֣ע אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִים֒ הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ חָשַׂ֣ךְ אֲדֹנִ֗י אֶֽת־נַעֲמָ֤ן הָאֲרַמִּי֙ הַזֶּ֔ה מִקַּ֥חַת מִיָּד֖וֹ אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־הֵבִ֑יא חַי־יְהֹוָה֙ כִּֽי־אִם־רַ֣צְתִּי אַחֲרָ֔יו וְלָקַחְתִּ֥י מֵאִתּ֖וֹ מְאֽוּמָה׃

English:

Gehazi, the attendant of Elisha the agent of God, thought: “My master has let that Aramean Naaman off without accepting what he brought!chas let that Aramean Naaman off without accepting what he brought Lit. “has prevented that Aramean Naaman from having what he brought accepted.” As GOD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וַיִּרְדֹּ֥ף גֵּיחֲזִ֖י אַחֲרֵ֣י נַעֲמָ֑ן וַיִּרְאֶ֤ה נַֽעֲמָן֙ רָ֣ץ אַחֲרָ֔יו וַיִּפֹּ֞ל מֵעַ֧ל הַמֶּרְכָּבָ֛ה לִקְרָאת֖וֹ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הֲשָׁלֽוֹם׃

English:

So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he alighted from his chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?”

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ שָׁל֗וֹם אֲדֹנִי֮ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי לֵאמֹר֒ הִנֵּ֣ה עַתָּ֡ה זֶ֠ה בָּ֣אוּ אֵלַ֧י שְׁנֵֽי־נְעָרִ֛ים מֵהַ֥ר אֶפְרַ֖יִם מִבְּנֵ֣י הַנְּבִיאִ֑ים תְּנָה־נָּ֤א לָהֶם֙ כִּכַּר־כֶּ֔סֶף וּשְׁתֵּ֖י חֲלִפ֥וֹת בְּגָדִֽים׃

English:

“All is well,” he replied. “My master has sent me to say: Two youths, disciples of the prophets, have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.”

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר נַעֲמָ֔ן הוֹאֵ֖ל קַ֣ח כִּכָּרָ֑יִם וַיִּפְרׇץ־בּ֗וֹ וַיָּ֩צַר֩ כִּכְּרַ֨יִם כֶּ֜סֶף בִּשְׁנֵ֣י חֲרִטִ֗ים וּשְׁתֵּי֙ חֲלִפ֣וֹת בְּגָדִ֔ים וַיִּתֵּן֙ אֶל־שְׁנֵ֣י נְעָרָ֔יו וַיִּשְׂא֖וּ לְפָנָֽיו׃

English:

Naaman said, “Please take two talents.” He urged him, and he wrapped the two talents of silver in two bags and gave them, along with two changes of clothes, to two of his servants, who carried them ahead of him.

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל־הָעֹ֔פֶל וַיִּקַּ֥ח מִיָּדָ֖ם וַיִּפְקֹ֣ד בַּבָּ֑יִת וַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים וַיֵּלֵֽכוּ׃

English:

When [Gehazi] arrived at the citadel, he took [the things] from them and deposited them in the house. Then he dismissed the men and they went their way.

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

וְהוּא־בָא֙ וַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד אֶל־אֲדֹנָ֔יו וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אֱלִישָׁ֔ע (מאן) [מֵאַ֖יִן] גֵּחֲזִ֑י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לֹא־הָלַ֥ךְ עַבְדְּךָ֖ אָ֥נֶה וָאָֽנָה׃

English:

He entered and stood before his master; and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” He replied, “Your servant has not gone anywhere.”

פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ לֹֽא־לִבִּ֣י הָלַ֔ךְ כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר הָפַךְ־אִ֛י��ׁ מֵעַ֥ל מֶרְכַּבְתּ֖וֹ לִקְרָאתֶ֑ךָ הַעֵ֞ת לָקַ֤חַת אֶת־הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ וְלָקַ֣חַת בְּגָדִ֔ים וְזֵיתִ֤ים וּכְרָמִים֙ וְצֹ֣אן וּבָקָ֔ר וַעֲבָדִ֖ים וּשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃

English:

Then [Elisha] said to him, “Did not my spiritdspirit Lit. “heart.” go along when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this a time to take money in order to buy clothing and olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves?

פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

וְצָרַ֤עַת נַֽעֲמָן֙ תִּֽדְבַּק־בְּךָ֔ וּֽבְזַרְעֲךָ֖ לְעוֹלָ֑ם וַיֵּצֵ֥א מִלְּפָנָ֖יו מְצֹרָ֥ע כַּשָּֽׁלֶג׃

English:

Surely, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” And as [Gehazi] left his presence, he was snow-white with leprosy.

Navigation

← II Kings 4 | II Kings 6 →

Back to II Kings | Back to Nach Yomi