1Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in his master's eyes and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a brave warrior but had a skin disease.
2Raiding parties from Aram had taken a young girl from Israel captive, and she served Naaman's wife.
3The girl said to her mistress, 'If only my master could see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his skin disease.'
4Naaman went and told his master what the girl from Israel had said.
5The king of Aram said, 'Go ahead. I will send a letter to the king of Israel.' Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
6He delivered the letter to the king of Israel, which said: 'When this letter reaches you, know that I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you can cure him of his skin disease.'
7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, 'Am I God? Can I kill and bring people back to life? Why does this man send someone to me to be cured of his skin disease? He must be trying to pick a fight with me!'
8When 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 there is a prophet in Israel.'
9So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house.
10Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this word: 'Go wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River, and your flesh will be restored and you will be clean.'
11Naaman was angry and walked away, saying, 'I expected him to come out himself, stand before me, call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the affected area, and heal my skin disease.'
12Aren't the rivers of Damascus — the Abana and the Pharpar — better than all the rivers of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be clean?' He turned and left in a rage.
13But his servants approached him and said, 'Sir, if the prophet had asked you to do something difficult, wouldn't you have done it? How much more, then, when he simply says to you: Wash and be clean?'
14So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had told him. His flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young child.
15Naaman and his entire group went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, 'Now I know there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant.'
16But Elisha said, 'As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept anything.' And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.
17Naaman said, 'If you won't accept anything, please let me take home as much soil as two mules can carry. Your servant will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god but the LORD.'
18But may the LORD forgive your servant for this: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I bow there also — may the LORD forgive your servant for this.'
19Go in peace,' Elisha said. Naaman had not gone far from him when Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought to himself:
20'My master was too easy on this Aramean, Naaman, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.'
21So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from his chariot to meet him and asked, 'Is everything all right?'
22Gehazi answered, 'Everything is fine. My master sent me to say: Two young men from the group of prophets have just come to me. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.'
23Naaman said, 'Please, take two talents.' He urged Gehazi to take them and tied up the two talents of silver in two bags with two sets of clothing, then gave them to two of his servants to carry for Gehazi.
24When they reached the hill, Gehazi took the things from the servants and stored them in the house. He then sent the men away and they left.
25When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked, 'Where have you been, Gehazi?' He replied, 'Your servant hasn't gone anywhere.'
26But Elisha said to him, 'Was I not there in spirit when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money and clothes, or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds and male and female servants?'
27Naaman's skin disease will cling to you and to your descendants forever.' Gehazi left Elisha's presence with a skin disease as white as snow.