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A doença de Naamã

Naamã, general do exército do rei da Síria, era muito importante e valioso para o seu rei[a] porque o SENHOR o usou para dar a vitória à Síria. Mas ainda que Naamã fosse um homem importante e poderoso, padecia de lepra.

Num dos ataques que o exército de Síria fez contra Israel, uma menina israelita foi capturada. Ela passou a ser serva da esposa de Naamã. A menina disse para a sua senhora:

—Se só meu senhor conhecesse o profeta que mora em Samaria, ele curaria Naamã da lepra.

Naamã se aproximou do seu rei e lhe falou o que dissera a israelita.

O rei da Síria lhe disse:

—Vá agora, que eu mandarei uma carta ao rei de Israel.

Então Naamã saiu para Israel. Levou de presente 30.000 moedas[b] de prata, 6.000 moedas de ouro e dez mudas de roupa. Naamã levou a carta do rei da Síria ao rei de Israel. A carta dizia:

—Sirva esta carta para lhe informar que lhe mando o meu servo Naamã para que o cure da sua lepra.

Quando o rei de Israel leu a carta, rasgou as roupas e disse:

—Por acaso sou Deus? Não tenho poder sobre a vida e a morte para que o rei da Síria me mande um homem para que o cure da lepra. Prestem atenção: o que ele quer é me atacar.

Eliseu, o homem de Deus, ouviu que o rei de Israel tinha rasgado suas roupas. Então lhe mandou esta mensagem:

—Por que rasgou as suas roupas? Que Naamã venha a mim e então saberá que há profeta em Israel.

Então Naamã foi com os seus cavalos e carruagens aonde morava Eliseu e ficou esperando fora da casa. 10 Eliseu lhe mandou um mensageiro que lhe disse:

—Ande e lave-se no rio Jordão sete vezes e ficará sarada a sua pele: ficará puro e limpo.

11 Naamã se irritou e saiu dizendo:

—Pensei que Eliseu sairia e ficaria diante de mim, pediria no nome do SENHOR, seu Deus, e depois passaria a mão sobre meu corpo para curar a lepra. 12 Os rios de Damasco, o Abana e o Farfar são melhores do que toda a água de Israel, por que não posso me lavar naqueles rios de Damasco e me limpar ali?

Naamã irritou-se muito e deu meia volta para partir.

13 Mas os servos de Naamã foram e lhe disseram:

—Senhor[c], se o profeta lhe tivesse dito que fizesse alguma coisa muito difícil, teria feito isso, não é verdade? Quanto mais agora que só lhe disse: “Lave-se e ficará puro e limpo”.

14 Então Naamã fez o que o homem de Deus disse. Ele desceu e se lavou no Jordão sete vezes, e ficou puro e limpo! Sua pele tornou-se tão suave como a de um bebê.

15 Naamã e os seus homens voltaram para ver ao homem de Deus. Naamã se deteve diante de Eliseu e lhe disse:

—Olhe, agora sei que não há nenhum outro Deus no mundo, a não ser em Israel. Aceite um presente da minha parte, por favor.

16 Mas Eliseu disse:

—Eu lhe garanto como vive o SENHOR, ao qual eu sirvo, que eu não aceitarei nenhum presente.

Naamã tentou obrigar Eliseu a que aceitasse o presente, mas Eliseu recusou. 17 Então Naamã disse:

—Se não aceitar o presente, então, ao menos faça que me deem terra para encher a carga das minhas duas mulas,[d] porque nunca mais oferecerei sacrifícios que devem ser queimados completamente nem ofertas a nenhum outro deus. Só oferecerei sacrifícios ao SENHOR. 18 Agora ore ao SENHOR para que me perdoe isto: quando no futuro meu senhor, o rei, for ao templo do deus Rimom para adorar, o rei irá querer se apoiar em mim; portanto, terei que me ajoelhar no templo de Rimom. Por favor, peça ao SENHOR que me perdoe quando eu tiver que fazer isso.

19 Então Eliseu disse a Naamã:

—Vá em paz.

Naamã saiu do lado de Eliseu e tinha percorrido uma distância não muito longa, 20 quando Geazi, o servo de Eliseu, o homem de Deus, disse para si mesmo: “Meu senhor se despediu de Naamã, o sírio, sem aceitar o presente que trouxe. Tão certo como o SENHOR vive, que irei atrás dele para ver o que consigo dele”. 21 Então Geazi foi atrás de Naamã.

Naamã viu que alguém o seguia. Desceu da carruagem para se encontrar com Geazi. Naamã disse:

—Está tudo bem?

22 Geazi disse:

—Sim, tudo bem. Meu senhor me enviou para lhe dizer isto: “Olhe, dois jovens do grupo de profetas da região montanhosa de Efraim vieram diante de mim. Por favor, dê a eles 3.000 moedas[e] de prata e umas mudas de roupa”.

23 Naamã disse:

—Por favor, pegue 6.000[f].

Naamã convenceu Geazi que levasse a prata. Pôs as 6.000 moedas de prata em duas bolsas e lhe deu as mudas de roupa. Naamã entregou tudo isso aos seus servos para que o levassem na frente de Geazi. 24 Ao passar pelo topo do monte, Geazi recebeu tudo dos servos, os despidiu e escondeu tudo em casa.

25 Geazi entrou para falar com seu senhor. Eliseu disse a Geazi:

—Aonde foi, Geazi?

Geazi respondeu:

—A lugar nenhum.

26 Eliseu disse a Geazi:

—Mentira! Na minha mente vi quando o homem voltou em sua carruagem para ver você. Não é o momento de aceitar dinheiro, roupa, azeitonas, uvas, ovelhas, gado, nem homens nem mulheres como servos. 27 Agora você e os seus filhos contrairão a doença de Naamã. Sempre será leproso!

No momento em que Geazi saiu dali, a sua pele ficou tão branca como a neve e ficou doente de lepra.

Footnotes

  1. 5.1 rei Literalmente, “senhor”.
  2. 5.5 30.000 moedas Literalmente, “dez talentos”. Ver tabela de pesos e medidas.
  3. 5.13 Senhor Literalmente, “Pai”. Frequentemente os servos chamavam de “pai” aos seus senhores, e os senhores ao referir-se aos seus servos os chamavam de “filhos”.
  4. 5.17 terra (…) duas mulas Naamã talvez pensou que a terra de Israel era santa, portanto, decidiu levar alguma coisa da terra para adorar ao SENHOR em seu próprio país.
  5. 5.22 3.000 moedas Literalmente, “um talento”. Ver tabela de pesos e medidas.
  6. 5.23 6.000 Literalmente, “dois talentos”. Ver tabela de pesos e medidas.

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.

Naaman Healed of Leprosy

(A)Naaman, (B)commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.[a] Now the Syrians on (C)one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”

So he went, (D)taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels[b] of gold, and ten (E)changes of clothing. And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” And when the king of Israel read the letter, (F)he tore his clothes and said, (G)“Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only (H)consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”

But when Elisha the (I)man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, (J)“Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana[c] and Pharpar, the rivers of (K)Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants came near and said to him, (L)“My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, (M)and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, (N)and he was clean.

Gehazi's Greed and Punishment

15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that (O)there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so (P)accept now a present from your servant.” 16 But he said, (Q)“As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, (R)I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord. 18 In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of (S)Rimmon to worship there, (T)leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.” 19 He said to him, (U)“Go in peace.”

But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, 20 (V)Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. (W)As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” 21 So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, (X)“Is all well?” 22 And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from (Y)the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and (Z)two changes of clothing.’” 23 And Naaman said, (AA)“Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. 24 And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. 25 He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” 26 But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence (AB)a leper, like snow.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 5:1 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
  2. 2 Kings 5:5 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms; a shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
  3. 2 Kings 5:12 Or Amana