Contexts & Connections #1-9 2 Kings 5:1-15a November 4, Elisha Heals Naaman. Living Faithfully in God s Promise

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1 Elisha Heals Naaman Living Faithfully in God s Promise The Point Trusting in God s power creates opportunities to share God s love and healing with others. Key Verse Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. - 2 Kings 5:15 Summary Naaman, the commander of the army of Aram, had leprosy. He went to the king of Israel to be healed, but he was turned away. Elisha heard of Naaman s ordeal and sent for him. Elisha told Naaman to bathe in the Jordon River. Initially Naaman was skeptical, but after being persuaded, he bathed in the river and was healed. He returned to Elisha rejoicing in God. Accompanying Text And there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean. He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, I do choose. Be made clean! Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. - Matthew 8:2-3 Contexts Linguistics Leprosy is an umbrella term in the Hebrew Bible that can be translated as malignant or infections skin diseases. 1 The Hebrew word wayyāšāḇ translated as restored in 2 Kings 5:14 literally means turned around, which also signifies the turning around of his faith. 2 Geography/Setting Aram, the country for which Naaman was commander of the army, was a powerful neighboring state of Israel. The Bible records several confrontations between Israel and Aram, most notably in 1 Kings 11 when Aram seizes control of Damascus, creating a very hostile situation for King Solomon. Thus it is particularly notable that Naaman would come to Israel for help, and even more notable that Elisha would offer assistance to him. 3 The Jordan River is a river that flows north from the Dead Sea to the Sea of Galilee. The river most famously served as the site of Jesus baptism by John, though in this text is also serves as a central part of the purifying ritual to remove Naaman s leprosy Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 1

2 History 1 and 2 Kings were likely written together during or shortly after the Babylonian exile ( BCE), either by an individual or a group of writers. 5 This story takes place during the time period of the two kingdoms the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. The king mentioned in verses 6-7 is not mentioned by name, but is likely King Jehoram as where this story takes place in the sequence of events in 2 Kings and the way the king reacts to Naaman s request both provide clues to the king s identity. 6 If the king mentioned in verses 6-7 is King Jehoram, this story would take place during the six years of his reign from BCE. 7 Culture/Religion The number seven has great biblical significance, even appearing in the first creation story as God created the world on six days and rested on the seventh (Genesis 1). The significance of the number here fulfills the Leviticus rituals of cleanliness (Leviticus 14:7, 16, 27, 51). 8 Naaman expected a showy public ritual rather than a small, private act. It was also customary during this time for the person being healed to present a large gift to the healer or prophet. This makes Naaman s situation even more awkward when Elisha refuses the gift. This shows that God is more concerned with our internal motivations and faith than great, showy acts. This contradiction Naaman s expectations and God s requirements leads to Naaman s change of heart. 9 Literature/Genre 1 and 2 Kings are part of the Deuteronomistic History. As such, the books in this category tell a theological history of Israel from the time of Joshua and the judges to the beginning of the Babylonian exile. They are connected to Deuteronomy in that a primary theme is covenantal fidelity to God as outlined in Deuteronomy 1-4. A theological history is an account of historical events within a narrative framework that shows God s relationship to the people of Israel. Additionally, 2 Kings is full of folk tales, such as Elisha s miracles in 2 Kings 4 (see below), that help serve the theological-historical narrative. 10 This passage is one of a number of stories meant to establish Elisha as the prophet successor to Elijah. After Elijah ascends to heaven (2 Kings 2), Elisha begins to perform miracles and to communicate God s intentions to King Jehoram. This story takes place after three back-to-back miracles: first, Elisha raises a Shunammite woman s son from the dead (2 Kings 4:1-37), then he purifies a pot of stew during a famine (2 Kings 4:38-41), concluding the string of miracles by feeding one hundred people out of twenty loaves of barley and grain (2 Kings 4:42-44). It is interesting to note that these stories are told in an anti-climactic order: the largest of the miracles, raising a man from the dead, is told first, down to the perhaps the smallest of the three, the feeding of the one hundred people. This helps prepare the reader to understand the reversal of Naaman s expectations of a big, showy sign in our passage for today. 11 Authorial Intention/Occasion The intention of this passage is to remind the reader that God often shows up and answers requests in unexpected ways, especially in small ways that often contradict our grandiose expectations. Furthermore, the passage serves as another citation of Elisha s credentials as a prophet of God. 12 Audience The original audience of the passage is the people of Israel living in exile in Babylon. By showing Jehoram s inability to provide effective leadership, it helps drive home the narrative arc that serves to provide reason as to why the people ended up in exile Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 2

3 Common Misunderstandings This passage is incomplete without the second half of chapter 5, verses 15-27, for it sets up an interesting juxtaposition of Naaman being healed of leprosy and Elisha s servant Gehazi attempting to take advantage of the situation and receiving Naaman s leprosy as a result. This structure sets up reversals of the readers expectations and the roles of servant and master that the various characters play. 14 More Information The podcast Sawbones provides more context around leprosy, including an overview of the history of leprosy and descriptions of what some of the diseases contained within the umbrella term leprosy might have been. Access the podcast at this link: Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 3

4 Connections Narrative Lectionary Connections Last Week (1 Kings 3:4-28) Last week, King Solomon received wisdom from God and used it to judge over a dispute between two women. Between last week and this week, a lot has happened, including the division of Israel into two kingdoms. Next Week (Micah [1:3-5]; 5:2-5a; 6:6-8) Next week, the theme of subverting expectations is continued as the prophet Micah communicates that God does not desire thousands of rams or rivers of oil, but rather simply requires us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Other Year 1 Connections Redemption through water appears throughout this year s lectionary, beginning with the story of Noah and the Ark in Genesis 6 (9/9/18), continuing with Moses parting the Red Sea to deliver Israel from Egypt in Exodus 14 (9/30/18), and Jesus baptism by John in the Jordan River in Matthew 3 (1/13/19). Other Bible Connections The healing of people with leprosy is a common theme in the Bible. In Numbers 12:10-12, Aaron turned Miriam leprous and back again as a display of God s power. In Matthew 8, Jesus heals a man with leprosy and in Luke 17:11-19, Jesus heals ten men with leprosy. Thematic Connections Guided by God s Promises While Naaman does not know the God of Israel, he nevertheless is guided by the promise that he, too, can be healed. Elisha bestows God s promise of healing and wholeness on Naaman, even though Naaman is an enemy of Israel. This reminds us that God s promises of grace, healing, and wholeness are for all people, even those we may be tempted to exclude and even us when we feel unworthy. Living Faithfully in the Promise This story has four main characters who each encounter approach living faithfully in the promise differently. First, Elisha, as a prophet of God, heals an enemy of Israel, proving that God s promises are greater than the boundaries we create. Both King Jehoram and Gehazi do not understand that God s love extends beyond Israel. Naaman initially believes living faithfully involves large, grandiose actions, only to learn that God is much more concerned with the true intentions of one s heart. Liturgical/Seasonal Connections We are currently in the Season after Pentecost, often referred to as Ordinary Time. As we move closer to Advent and eventually Christmas, the promise of redemption through unexpected means continues as a reoccurring theme. Thanksgiving (U.S.) is also fast approaching. Naaman s thanksgiving to God at the end of this passage is a good reminder for us to thank God for all the gifts we have. Hymns/ Music Hymns about healing include Healing River of the Spirit, There Is a Balm in Gilead, and For All the Saints. There are many praise songs about healing, including Ben Glover and David Crowder s Come as You Are, Sufjan Stevens arrangement of There Is a Balm in Gilead, and Michael W. Smith s Healing Rain Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 4

5 Media Connections The African-American spiritual Elijah Rock follows loosely the story of Elisha s predecessor and mentor, Elijah. The song ties in perfectly to relying on God s promises of salvation, even in the midst of unexpected turmoil. Recordings of this song can readily be found by searching for Elijah Rock on YouTube or similar video or audio website. The cartoonist Rene Pfitzner has created a short cartoon showing the relationship between Elijah and Elisha, focusing on Elijah s ascension into heaven and Elisha s origin story as a prophet. This video can be accessed on Pfitzner s Vimeo site: Visit the webpage textweek.com for links to a large collection of artwork showing the healing of Naaman by Elisha: 1 Donald J. Wiseman, 1 and 2 Kings, (Westmont, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008). 2 Ibid. 3 Paul J. Achtemeier, et. al., editor, Aram in The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, Revised Edition, (New York: HarperCollins, 1996), Ibid., Jordan River, Gina Hens-Piaza, 1-2 Kings, (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006), 4. 6 Ibid., Edwin R. Thiel, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, 3 rd Edition, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, Publishing House, 1983), Hens-Piaza, Wiseman. 10 Hens-Piaza., Kings Wiseman. 13 Hens-Piaza, Wiseman Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 5