19 So he said to him, “Go in peace.”(A)

Gehazi’s Greed Punished

After Naaman had traveled a short distance from Elisha, 20 Gehazi,(B) the attendant of Elisha the man of God, thought, “My master has let this Aramean Naaman off lightly by not accepting from him what he brought. As the Lord lives,(C) I will run after him and get something from him.”

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

22 Gehazi said, “It’s all right.(D) My master has sent me to say, ‘I have just now discovered that two young men from the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them seventy-five pounds[a] of silver and two sets of clothing.’”(E)

23 But Naaman insisted, “Please, accept one hundred fifty pounds.”[b] He urged Gehazi and then packed one hundred fifty pounds of silver in two bags with two sets of clothing. Naaman gave them to two of his attendants who carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24 When Gehazi came to the hill,[c](F) he took the gifts from them and deposited them in the house. Then he dismissed the men, and they left.

25 Gehazi came and stood by his master. “Where did you go, Gehazi?” Elisha asked him.

He replied, “Your servant didn’t go anywhere.”

26 “And my heart didn’t go[d](G) when the man got down from his chariot to meet you,” Elisha said. “Is this a time to accept silver and clothing, olive orchards and vineyards, flocks and herds, and male and female slaves? 27 Therefore, Naaman’s skin disease will cling to you and your descendants forever.” So Gehazi went out from his presence diseased, resembling snow.[e](H)

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Footnotes

  1. 5:22 Lit a talent
  2. 5:23 Lit two talents
  3. 5:24 Or citadel
  4. 5:26 Or “Did not my heart go
  5. 5:27 A reference to whiteness or flakiness of the skin

19 He said to him, “Go in peace,” so he went from him a short distance.[a]

20 But Gehazi the servant of Elisha, the man of God, thought, “Look, my master has refrained from taking what this Aramean Naaman brought from his hand. As Yahweh lives,[b] I will certainly run after him, and I will accept something from him.” 21 So Gehazi pursued after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he jumped off his chariot to meet him and asked him, “Is it peace?” 22 He said, “Peace. My master has sent me saying, ‘Look, just now[c] two servants from the hill country of Ephraim came to me, from the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’” 23 Then Naaman said, “Be prepared to accept two talents.” So he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing and gave it to two of his servants and they carried it before him. 24 When he came to the citadel, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, then sent away the men so that they went. 25 When he went and stood by his master, Elisha asked him, “From where have you come, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant has not gone anywhere.”[d]

26 Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you as the man turned from on his chariot to meet you? Is it time to take silver, clothes, olive orchards, vineyards, sheep, oxen, male slaves, and female slaves? 27 The skin disease of Naaman shall cling to you and to your offspring forever.” Then he went out from before him having a skin disease like the snow.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 5:19 Literally “a stretch of land”
  2. 2 Kings 5:20 Literally “The life of Yahweh”
  3. 2 Kings 5:22 Literally “now this”
  4. 2 Kings 5:25 Literally “where to where”