以利沙医治乃缦

乃缦是亚兰王的元帅,甚得亚兰王器重,因为耶和华借他使亚兰人打了许多胜仗。他是英勇的战士,只是患了麻风病。 亚兰人袭击以色列时,曾掳回一个以色列少女,这少女做了乃缦妻子的婢女。 有一天,她对主母说:“要是我主人去见撒玛利亚的那位先知就好了!他一定能治好我主人的麻风病。” 乃缦把这以色列少女的话告诉亚兰王。 亚兰王说:“你去吧。我会写信给以色列王的。”于是,乃缦带了三百四十公斤银子、七十公斤金子和十套衣服,启程前往以色列。 他带给以色列王的信上写着:“谨以此信介绍我的臣仆乃缦到你那里,你要医好他的麻风病。” 以色列王读完信后,就撕裂衣服说:“难道我是上帝吗?我能操纵人的生死吗?这人竟叫我医好一个人的麻风病!他只是想找借口攻打我。”

上帝的仆人以利沙听说以色列王撕裂了衣服,便派人去对王说:“你为什么撕裂衣服呢?让那人到我这里来,我要让他知道以色列有先知。” 乃缦带领车辆和马匹到了以利沙的家,站在门口。 10 以利沙派使者出去对乃缦说:“你到约旦河里洗七次,你的皮肤就会复原,并得到洁净。” 11 乃缦却怒冲冲地走了。他说:“我以为他一定会出来见我,为我站着求告他的上帝耶和华,用手在我的患处晃一晃,医好我的麻风病。 12 大马士革的亚波纳河和法尔法河不比以色列所有的河都好吗?难道我在那里洗就不能得到洁净吗?”于是,他怒冲冲地转身走了。 13 他的仆人上前对他说:“我父啊,先知若吩咐你做一件大事,难道你会不去做吗?何况他只是说你去洗洗就可以洁净!” 14 乃缦就去约旦河,照上帝仆人的话在河里洗了七次,便洁净了,皮肤变得像小孩子的一样。

15 乃缦率领全体随从回到上帝的仆人那里,站在他面前说:“如今我才知道,除了以色列,普天下没有上帝。请你收下仆人的礼物。” 16 以利沙说:“我凭我事奉的永活上帝起誓,我决不接受。”乃缦再三请求,他仍不肯接受。 17 乃缦说:“如果你不肯接受礼物,请你容许仆人用两头骡子驮些泥土回去。从此以后,我不再献燔祭或平安祭给其他神明,只献给耶和华。 18 但有一件事,愿耶和华饶恕仆人。我主人进入临门庙祭拜时,他会扶着我的手,这样我也得随着他弯腰。若我在临门庙里弯腰,愿耶和华饶恕我。” 19 以利沙对他说:“你安心地走吧。”

20 乃缦刚走不远,上帝仆人以利沙的仆人基哈西心想:“我主人没有收亚兰人乃缦带来的礼物就让他走了。我凭永活的耶和华起誓,我一定要追上去,向他要点东西。” 21 他便去追赶乃缦。乃缦见后面有人赶来,就下车迎接他,问他:“一切都好吗?” 22 基哈西答道:“一切都好。我主人派我来告诉你,刚才有两位年轻的先知从以法莲山区来见他,请你赐给他们三十四公斤银子和两套衣服。” 23 乃缦说:“请你拿走六十八公斤银子吧!”并再三请他接受,然后把六十八公斤银子装进两个袋子,连同两套衣服,交给他的两个仆人抬走,基哈西跟在他们后面。 24 到了山冈,基哈西接过银子和衣服,放进屋里,便让他们回去了。 25 基哈西进去侍立在以利沙面前,以利沙问他:“基哈西,你刚才去哪里了?”基哈西答道:“仆人哪里也没有去。” 26 以利沙对他说:“那人下车回头迎接你的时候,我的心不也在那里吗?现在岂是接受人家银子、衣服、橄榄园、葡萄园、牛羊和仆婢的时候? 27 因此,你和你的后代会永远沾染乃缦的麻风病。”基哈西离开以利沙时,患了麻风病,皮肤像雪一样白。

'列 王 紀 下 5 ' not found for the version: Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version.

乃缦患大痲风

亚兰王的军长乃缦在他的主人面前是一个大人物,很得王的赏识,因为耶和华曾藉他把胜利赐给亚兰。这个人是个勇猛的战士,可惜他是个痲风病人。 亚兰人曾经出去结队抢掠,从以色列地掳了一个小女孩,她就侍候乃缦的妻子。 她对她的女主人说:“如果我的主人去见撒玛利亚的先知就好了,他必定能治好他的痲风。” 于是乃缦去告诉他的主人说:“从以色列地掳回来的女孩子这样这样说。” 亚兰王说:“你去吧!我会送一封书信给以色列王的。”于是乃缦去了,手里带着三百公斤银子,约七十公斤金子和十套衣裳。 他把信带到以色列王那里,信上说:“这信既已达到你那里,你看见我差去见你的臣仆乃缦,你就要医好他的痲风。” 以色列王读了这信后,就撕裂自己的衣服,说:“我是 神,能使人死使人活吗?这人竟派人到我这里来,要我治好他的痲风。请你们想想看,他是要找机会攻击我。”

 神藉以利沙治好乃缦

神人以利沙听见以色列王撕裂自己的衣服,就打发人去见王说:“你为甚么撕裂自己的衣服呢?请你把他送到我这里来吧!他就知道在以色列中有先知了。” 于是乃缦带着他的车马来到,停在以利沙的门前。 10 以利沙差派一个使者去见他说:“你去在约旦河中沐浴七次,你的身体就会复原,得着洁净。” 11 乃缦却发怒走了,他说:“我以为他必会出来,站着求告耶和华他的 神的名,向着患处摇手,洁净这痲风病。 12 大马士革的亚罢拿河和法珥法河,不是比以色列一切河流更好吗?我不是可以在那里沐浴,得着洁净吗?”于是他掉过头来,气忿忿地走了。 13 他的仆人上前,对他说:“我父啊,先知如果吩咐你作一件大事,你不是照着行吗?何况他只是说:‘你去沐浴就得洁净’呢?” 14 于是他下去,在约旦河里浸了七趟,正如神人所吩咐的。他的肌肉就复原,好象小孩子的肌肉,他就得了洁净。

以利沙不接受馈赠

15 乃缦和他的随员又回到神人那里,他进去,站在他面前,说:“看哪!现在我知道除了在以色列以外,全地都没有 神。现在,请你收下你仆人一点礼物吧。” 16 以利沙说:“我指着我所事奉永活的耶和华起誓,我决不收取任何礼物。”乃缦再三促请他接受,都被他拒绝。 17 乃缦说:“你若是不肯收取,就请你赐你仆人两头驴子可以驮的泥土,因为你的仆人不再献燔祭或别的祭给别的神,只献给耶和华。 18 但有一件事,求耶和华赦免你的仆人;我的主人到临门庙那里叩拜的时候,他总是靠在我的手臂上,因此,我也曾在临门庙叩拜。我在临门庙叩拜这事,求耶和华赦免你的仆人。” 19 以利沙说:“你平平安安回去吧。”于是乃缦离开他去了,走了一段路程。

基哈西贪财受罚

20 神人以利沙的仆人基哈西心里说:“看哪,我主人不肯从这亚兰人乃缦手中收取他带来的礼物;我指着永活的耶和华起誓,我要追上他,向他要些东西。” 21 于是基哈西追赶乃缦。乃缦看见有人追上来,就下车迎着他,说:“平安吗?” 22 他说:“平安。我主人派我来说:‘刚才有两位年轻人,都是先知的门徒,从以法莲山地来到我这里,请你给他们三十公斤银子和两套衣服。’” 23 乃缦说:“请你拿六十公斤吧。”他再三促请基哈西,并把六十公斤银子,装在两个袋子里,还有两套衣服,交给两个仆人。他们就在基哈西前面捧着走。 24 到达山冈后,他就从他们手中接过东西,存放在屋子里,然后打发他们离去,他们就走了。 25 他进去,侍立在他主人面前,以利沙对他说:“基哈西,你从哪里来?”他说:“你的仆人没有到过甚么地方。” 26 以利沙对他说:“那人下车转身迎着你的时候,我的心不是和你同去吗?现在不是收受银子、衣服、橄榄园、葡萄园、羊、牛、仆人和婢女的时候。 27 因此,乃缦的痲风要附在你的身上和你后裔的身上,直到永远。”基哈西从以利沙面前离去时,就长了痲风,好象雪那样白。

Naaman Healed of Leprosy

Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram.(A) He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.[a](B)

Now bands of raiders(C) from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet(D) who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents[b] of silver, six thousand shekels[c] of gold and ten sets of clothing.(E) The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

As soon as the king of Israel read the letter,(F) he tore his robes and said, “Am I God?(G) Can I kill and bring back to life?(H) Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel(I) with me!”

When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet(J) in Israel.” So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash(K) yourself seven times(L) in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”

11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand(M) over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters(N) of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.(O)

13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father,(P) if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times,(Q) as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored(R) and became clean like that of a young boy.(S)

15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God(T). He stood before him and said, “Now I know(U) that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift(V) from your servant.”

16 The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.(W)

17 “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth(X) as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord. 18 But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning(Y) on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.”

19 “Go in peace,”(Z) Elisha said.

After Naaman had traveled some distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord(AA) lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

21 So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. “Is everything all right?” he asked.

22 “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent[d] of silver and two sets of clothing.’”(AB)

23 “By all means, take two talents,” said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24 When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left.

25 When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?”

“Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered.

26 But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time(AC) to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves?(AD) 27 Naaman’s leprosy(AE) will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi(AF) went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 5:1 The Hebrew for leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin; also in verses 3, 6, 7, 11 and 27.
  2. 2 Kings 5:5 That is, about 750 pounds or about 340 kilograms
  3. 2 Kings 5:5 That is, about 150 pounds or about 69 kilograms
  4. 2 Kings 5:22 That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.

And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.

And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.

And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.

And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.

So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

16 But he said, As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

17 And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord.

18 In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing.

19 And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.

20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?

22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.

24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.

25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.

26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.