Naaman Healed of Leprosy

Naaman, commander of the king of Syria’s army, is a respected hero, but he is a leper. A little Israelite girl, carried off captive and now serving his wife, speaks of the prophet in Samaria who could heal him. Naaman sets out with a letter from his king and rich gifts. The king of Israel panics; Elisha sends for Naaman. The prophet does not even come out: through a messenger, he tells Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan. Offended, Naaman storms off: aren’t the rivers of Damascus better? His servants talk sense into him. He dips himself seven times in the Jordan, and his flesh comes again “like unto the flesh of a little child.” He proclaims, “there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel.” Elisha refuses every gift. But his servant Gehazi runs after Naaman to secretly ask for some, lies to his master, and becomes a leper himself.