Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Kings 5:1

"Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Jehovah had given victory unto Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, [but he was] a leper." — 2 Kings 5:1 (ASV)

ELISHA HEALS NAAMAN THE SYRIAN’S LEPROSY, AND PUNISHES GEHAZI WITH IT.

Now. — The construction implies a break between this narrative and the preceding one. Whether the events related belong to the time of Jehoram or the dynasty of Jehu is not clear. Evidently, it was a time of peace between Israel and Syria.

Naaman (beauty). — A title of the sun-god (See Note on Isaiah 17:10).

A great man with his master. — Literally, before his lord .

Honourable. — In special favor. Literally, lifted up of face (Compare 2 Kings 3:14, Note; Isaiah 3:3).

By him the Lord had given deliverance to Syria. — Notice the high prophetic view that it is Jehovah, not Hadad or Rimmon, who gives victory to Syria as well as Israel .

It is natural to think of the battle in which Ahab received his mortal wound (1 Kings 22:30 and following). The Midrash makes Naaman the man who “drew the bow at a venture” on that occasion. The “deliverance” was victory over Israel.

He was also a mighty man in valor, but he was a leper. — Literally, and the man was a brave warrior, stricken with leprosy. His leprosy need not have been so severe as to incapacitate him for military duties. The victor over Israel is represented as a leper who has to seek, and finds, his only help in Israel (Thenius).