Study Desk

A man from Baal Shalishah came and brought bread from the first harvest to the man of God. This man brought 20 loaves of barley bread and fresh grain in his sack. Then Elisha said, "Give this food to the people, so that they can eat."

Naaman was the captain of the army of the king of Aram. He was very important to his king because the Lord used him to lead Aram to victory. Naaman was a great and powerful man, but he was also sick with leprosy.

She said to his wife, "I wish that my master would meet the prophet who lives in Samaria. He could heal Naaman of his leprosy."

Naaman took the letter from the king of Aram to the king of Israel. The letter said: "Now this letter is to show that I am sending my servant Naaman to you. Cure his leprosy."

When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes to show he was sad and upset. He said, "Am I God? I don't have the power over life and death. So why did the king of Aram send a man sick with leprosy for me to heal? Think about it, and you will see that it is a trick. The king of Aram is trying to start a fight."

Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes. So Elisha sent this message to the king: "Why did you tear your clothes? Let Naaman come to me. Then he will know there is a prophet in Israel."

So Naaman came with his horses and chariots to Elisha's house and stood outside the door.

Naaman became angry and left. He said, "I thought Elisha would at least come out and stand in front of me and call on the name of the Lord his God. I thought he would wave his hand over my body and heal the leprosy.

So Naaman did what the man of God said. He went down and dipped himself in the Jordan River seven times, and he became pure and clean. His skin became soft like the skin of a baby.

Naaman and his whole group came back to the man of God. He stood before Elisha and said, "Look, I now know there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. Now please accept a gift from me."

Naaman said, "Please, take 150 pounds." He persuaded Gehazi to take the silver. Naaman put 150 pounds of silver in two bags and took two changes of clothes. Then he gave these things to two of his servants. The servants carried these things for Gehazi.

Gehazi came in and stood before his master. Elisha said to Gehazi, "Where have you been Gehazi?" Gehazi answered, "I didn't go anywhere."

Elisha said to him, "That is not true! My heart was with you when the man turned from his chariot to meet you. This is not the time to take money, clothes, olives, grapes, sheep, cattle, or men and women servants.

Now you and your children will catch Naaman's disease. You will have leprosy forever!" When Gehazi left Elisha, his skin was as white as snow! He was sick with leprosy.

The king of Aram was making war against Israel. He had a council meeting with his army officers. He said, "Go to such and such a place and prepare to attack the Israelites when they come by."

The king of Israel sent a message to his men at the place that the man of God warned him about. And the king of Israel saved quite a few men.

The king of Aram was very upset about this. He called his army officers and said to them, "Tell me who is spying for the king of Israel."

After this happened, King Ben-Hadad of Aram gathered all his army and went to surround and attack the city of Samaria.

When the king heard the woman's words, he tore his clothes to show he was upset. As he passed by on the wall, the people saw the king was wearing the rough cloth under his clothes to show he was sad and upset.

The king said, "May God punish me if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat is still on his body at the end of this day!"