Naaman

Naaman was captain of the host of the king of Syria, "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." A little Israelite maid, taken captive in a raid and serving Naaman's wife, told her mistress of the prophet in Samaria who could recover her master of his leprosy.

The Syrian king sent Naaman with letters, silver, gold, and changes of raiment to the king of Israel, who rent his clothes in dismay. Elisha sent word: "Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel." When Naaman arrived with horses and chariot at Elisha's door, the prophet did not come out, but sent a messenger: "Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean."

Naaman went away in a rage, expecting ceremony and the prophet's own hand. He demanded, "Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?" But his servants gently reasoned, "If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it?" Humbled, he went down and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child.

Returning to Elisha, Naaman confessed, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel." He sought to give a gift but the prophet refused, lest the gospel of grace be confused with merit. Naaman asked for two mules' burden of earth, that he might worship the Lord on Israelite soil in Syria. The Lord Jesus later cited Naaman as proof that God's mercy reaches beyond Israel (Luke 4:27).