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乃縵患大痲風

亞蘭王的軍長乃縵在他的主人面前是一個大人物,很得王的賞識,因為耶和華曾藉他把勝利賜給亞蘭。這個人是個勇猛的戰士,可惜他是個痲風病人。 亞蘭人曾經出去結隊搶掠,從以色列地擄了一個小女孩,她就侍候乃縵的妻子。 她對她的女主人說:“如果我的主人去見撒瑪利亞的先知就好了,他必定能治好他的痲風。” 於是乃縵去告訴他的主人說:“從以色列地擄回來的女孩子這樣這樣說。” 亞蘭王說:“你去吧!我會送一封書信給以色列王的。”於是乃縵去了,手裡帶著三百公斤銀子,約七十公斤金子和十套衣裳。 他把信帶到以色列王那裡,信上說:“這信既已達到你那裡,你看見我差去見你的臣僕乃縵,你就要醫好他的痲風。” 以色列王讀了這信後,就撕裂自己的衣服,說:“我是 神,能使人死使人活嗎?這人竟派人到我這裡來,要我治好他的痲風。請你們想想看,他是要找機會攻擊我。”

 神藉以利沙治好乃縵

神人以利沙聽見以色列王撕裂自己的衣服,就打發人去見王說:“你為甚麼撕裂自己的衣服呢?請你把他送到我這裡來吧!他就知道在以色列中有先知了。” 於是乃縵帶著他的車馬來到,停在以利沙的門前。 10 以利沙差派一個使者去見他說:“你去在約旦河中沐浴七次,你的身體就會復原,得著潔淨。” 11 乃縵卻發怒走了,他說:“我以為他必會出來,站著求告耶和華他的 神的名,向著患處搖手,潔淨這痲風病。 12 大馬士革的亞罷拿河和法珥法河,不是比以色列一切河流更好嗎?我不是可以在那裡沐浴,得著潔淨嗎?”於是他掉過頭來,氣忿忿地走了。 13 他的僕人上前,對他說:“我父啊,先知如果吩咐你作一件大事,你不是照著行嗎?何況他只是說:‘你去沐浴就得潔淨’呢?” 14 於是他下去,在約旦河裡浸了七趟,正如神人所吩咐的。他的肌肉就復原,好像小孩子的肌肉,他就得了潔淨。

以利沙不接受餽贈

15 乃縵和他的隨員又回到神人那裡,他進去,站在他面前,說:“看哪!現在我知道除了在以色列以外,全地都沒有 神。現在,請你收下你僕人一點禮物吧。” 16 以利沙說:“我指著我所事奉永活的耶和華起誓,我決不收取任何禮物。”乃縵再三促請他接受,都被他拒絕。 17 乃縵說:“你若是不肯收取,就請你賜你僕人兩頭驢子可以馱的泥土,因為你的僕人不再獻燔祭或別的祭給別的神,只獻給耶和華。 18 但有一件事,求耶和華赦免你的僕人;我的主人到臨門廟那裡叩拜的時候,他總是靠在我的手臂上,因此,我也曾在臨門廟叩拜。我在臨門廟叩拜這事,求耶和華赦免你的僕人。” 19 以利沙說:“你平平安安回去吧。”於是乃縵離開他去了,走了一段路程。

基哈西貪財受罰

20 神人以利沙的僕人基哈西心裡說:“看哪,我主人不肯從這亞蘭人乃縵手中收取他帶來的禮物;我指著永活的耶和華起誓,我要追上他,向他要些東西。” 21 於是基哈西追趕乃縵。乃縵看見有人追上來,就下車迎著他,說:“平安嗎?” 22 他說:“平安。我主人派我來說:‘剛才有兩位年輕人,都是先知的門徒,從以法蓮山地來到我這裡,請你給他們三十公斤銀子和兩套衣服。’” 23 乃縵說:“請你拿六十公斤吧。”他再三促請基哈西,並把六十公斤銀子,裝在兩個袋子裡,還有兩套衣服,交給兩個僕人。他們就在基哈西前面捧著走。 24 到達山岡後,他就從他們手中接過東西,存放在屋子裡,然後打發他們離去,他們就走了。 25 他進去,侍立在他主人面前,以利沙對他說:“基哈西,你從哪裡來?”他說:“你的僕人沒有到過甚麼地方。” 26 以利沙對他說:“那人下車轉身迎著你的時候,我的心不是和你同去嗎?現在不是收受銀子、衣服、橄欖園、葡萄園、羊、牛、僕人和婢女的時候。 27 因此,乃縵的痲風要附在你的身上和你後裔的身上,直到永遠。”基哈西從以利沙面前離去時,就長了痲風,好像雪那樣白。

以利沙醫治乃縵

乃縵是亞蘭王的元帥,甚得亞蘭王器重,因為耶和華藉他使亞蘭人打了許多勝仗。他是英勇的戰士,只是患了痲瘋病。 亞蘭人襲擊以色列時,曾擄回一個以色列少女,這少女做了乃縵妻子的婢女。 有一天,她對主母說:「要是我主人去見撒瑪利亞的那位先知就好了!他一定能治好我主人的痲瘋病。」 乃縵把這以色列少女的話告訴亞蘭王。 亞蘭王說:「你去吧。我會寫信給以色列王的。」於是,乃縵帶了三百四十公斤銀子、七十公斤金子和十套衣服,啟程前往以色列。 他帶給以色列王的信上寫著:「謹以此信介紹我的臣僕乃縵到你那裡,你要醫好他的痲瘋病。」 以色列王讀完信後,就撕裂衣服說:「難道我是上帝嗎?我能操縱人的生死嗎?這人竟叫我醫好一個人的痲瘋病!他只是想找藉口攻打我。」

上帝的僕人以利沙聽說以色列王撕裂了衣服,便派人去對王說:「你為什麼撕裂衣服呢?讓那人到我這裡來,我要讓他知道以色列有先知。」 乃縵帶領車輛和馬匹到了以利沙的家,站在門口。 10 以利沙派使者出去對乃縵說:「你到約旦河裡洗七次,你的皮膚就會復原,並得到潔淨。」 11 乃縵卻怒沖沖地走了。他說:「我以為他一定會出來見我,為我站著求告他的上帝耶和華,用手在我的患處晃一晃,醫好我的痲瘋病。 12 大馬士革的亞波納河和法爾法河不比以色列所有的河都好嗎?難道我在那裡洗就不能得到潔淨嗎?」於是,他怒沖沖地轉身走了。 13 他的僕人上前對他說:「我父啊,先知若吩咐你做一件大事,難道你會不去做嗎?何況他只是說你去洗洗就可以潔淨!」 14 乃縵就去約旦河,照上帝僕人的話在河裡洗了七次,便潔淨了,皮膚變得像小孩子的一樣。

15 乃縵率領全體隨從回到上帝的僕人那裡,站在他面前說:「如今我才知道,除了以色列,普天下沒有上帝。請你收下僕人的禮物。」 16 以利沙說:「我憑我事奉的永活上帝起誓,我決不接受。」乃縵再三請求,他仍不肯接受。 17 乃縵說:「如果你不肯接受禮物,請你容許僕人用兩頭騾子馱些泥土回去。從此以後,我不再獻燔祭或平安祭給其他神明,只獻給耶和華。 18 但有一件事,願耶和華饒恕僕人。我主人進入臨門廟祭拜時,他會扶著我的手,這樣我也得隨著他彎腰。若我在臨門廟裡彎腰,願耶和華饒恕我。」 19 以利沙對他說:「你安心地走吧。」

20 乃縵剛走不遠,上帝僕人以利沙的僕人基哈西心想:「我主人沒有收亞蘭人乃縵帶來的禮物就讓他走了。我憑永活的耶和華起誓,我一定要追上去,向他要點東西。」 21 他便去追趕乃縵。乃縵見後面有人趕來,就下車迎接他,問他:「一切都好嗎?」 22 基哈西答道:「一切都好。我主人派我來告訴你,剛才有兩位年輕的先知從以法蓮山區來見他,請你賜給他們三十四公斤銀子和兩套衣服。」 23 乃縵說:「請你拿走六十八公斤銀子吧!」並再三請他接受,然後把六十八公斤銀子裝進兩個袋子,連同兩套衣服,交給他的兩個僕人抬走,基哈西跟在他們後面。 24 到了山岡,基哈西接過銀子和衣服,放進屋裡,便讓他們回去了。 25 基哈西進去侍立在以利沙面前,以利沙問他:「基哈西,你剛才去哪裡了?」基哈西答道:「僕人哪裡也沒有去。」 26 以利沙對他說:「那人下車回頭迎接你的時候,我的心不也在那裡嗎?現在豈是接受人家銀子、衣服、橄欖園、葡萄園、牛羊和僕婢的時候? 27 因此,你和你的後代會永遠沾染乃縵的痲瘋病。」基哈西離開以利沙時,患了痲瘋病,皮膚像雪一樣白。

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.

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.

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