Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Kings 5

By him the Lord had given deliverance to Syria—An Assyrian monarch had pushed his conquests as far as Syria at this exact time, bringing all the kings of these regions into subjection. But Syria revolted after a few years and once more made itself independent. It was probably in this war of independence that Naaman had distinguished himself.

But he was a leper—leprosy came in various kinds and degrees (see Leviticus 13; Leviticus 14). Some of the lighter forms would not incapacitate a man from discharging the duties of a courtier and warrior.

No peace had been made following the failure of Ahab’s expedition (1 Kings 22:1–36). The relationship between the two countries therefore remained hostile, and plundering raids naturally took place from both sides.

One went in - Rather, “he went in,” that is, Naaman went and told his lord, the king of Syria.

Six thousand pieces of gold - Rather, “six thousand shekels of gold.” Coined money did not yet exist and was not introduced into Judea until the time of Cyrus. Gold was carried in bars, from which portions were cut when needed, and its value was ascertained by weighing. If the gold shekel of the Jews corresponded, as some think, to the daric of the Persians, the value of the 6,000 shekels would be about 6,837 British pounds. If the weight was the same as that of the silver shekel (see the note on Exodus 38:24), the value would exceed 12,000 British pounds.

The ancient Eastern practice of including clothes among gifts of honor (Genesis 41:42; Esther 6:8; Daniel 5:7) continues to the present day.

That you may recover him - literally, “And you shall recover him.” The Syrian king presumes that, if there is a cure for leprosy to be found in Israel, the way to obtain it will be well known to his royal brother.