• List of Kings

 
2 Kings 18-20

• Focuses on the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah, highlighting his faithfulness to God, his reforms, and his interactions with the Assyrian empire and the prophet Isaiah.

1. Hezekiah's Reforms and Faith (Chapter 18): Hezekiah becomes king of Judah and is noted for his devotion to God. He removes high places, idols, and other forms of idolatry, trusting in the Lord like no king before him (2 Kings 18:3-6). During his reign, the Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, and Hezekiah seeks God's help.
2. Assyrian Threat and Deliverance (Chapter 19): Sennacherib's forces threaten Jerusalem, and Hezekiah turns to God in prayer. The prophet Isaiah assures Hezekiah that God will defend the city. In response, God miraculously delivers Jerusalem by sending an angel to strike down the Assyrian army (2 Kings 19:35-36).
3. Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery (Chapter 20): Hezekiah falls ill and is told by Isaiah that he will die. Hezekiah prays, and God grants him an additional fifteen years of life, confirmed by a miraculous sign (2 Kings 20:1-11). However, Hezekiah later shows Babylonian envoys his treasures, prompting Isaiah to prophesy that Babylon will eventually carry off Judah's wealth and people (2 Kings 20:12-19).

These chapters highlight Hezekiah's faith and reliance on God, showcasing God's power to deliver and heal. They also foreshadow future challenges for Judah, emphasizing the importance of continued faithfulness to God.
 
2 Kings 25
 describes the fall of Jerusalem and the end of the kingdom of Judah, marking a significant moment in Israel's history.

1. Siege and Fall of Jerusalem (Verses 1-7): King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem in the ninth year of King Zedekiah's reign. The siege lasts for about two years, leading to severe famine in the city. Eventually, the Babylonians breach the city walls, and Zedekiah attempts to escape but is captured. He is taken to Riblah, where he witnesses the execution of his sons before being blinded and taken to Babylon.
2. Destruction of the City and Temple (Verses 8-17): Nebuzaradan, the captain of the Babylonian guard, arrives in Jerusalem and burns the temple, the king's palace, and all the houses. The walls of Jerusalem are broken down, and the remaining treasures of the temple are taken to Babylon. This destruction fulfills the prophecies of judgment due to the people's persistent unfaithfulness.
3. Exile and Governance (Verses 18-26): The Babylonians take many people into exile, leaving only the poorest in the land to tend the vineyards and fields. Gedaliah is appointed as governor over the remaining people, but he is later assassinated, leading to further instability and fear among the people.
4. Jehoiachin's Release (Verses 27-30): In the thirty-seventh year of his exile, Jehoiachin, the former king of Judah, is released from prison by the new Babylonian king, Evil-Merodach. He is treated kindly and given a place of honor at the king's table for the rest of his life.

2 Kings 25 concludes the narrative of the kingdom of Judah, highlighting the consequences of disobedience and the fulfillment of prophetic warnings. Despite the devastation, the release of Jehoiachin offers a glimmer of hope for the future restoration of God's people.
 
Persian Empire Map
Cyrus the Great – Ezra
Chronological Order of Restoration
King Xerxes (Ahasuerus)( the son of Darius I (521-486 B.C.) - Esther
King Artexerxes - Nehemiah
 
The events of the Book of Esther took place during the Persian period of ancient Near Eastern history (539-331 B.C.) and during the reign of King Ahasuerus in particular (486-465 B.C.)
483 B.C. - Ahasuerus' military planning session in Susa
482 B.C. - The deposition of Vashti
481 B.C. - The beginning of Ahasuerus' unsuccessful expedition against Greece
480 B.C. - Esther's arrival in Susa
479 B.C. - Ahasuerus' return to Susa and Esther's coronation
474 B.C. - The issuing of Ahasuerus' decrees affecting the Jews
473 B.C. - The Jews' defense of themselves and the establishment of the Feast of Purim
 
VASHTI ANGERS THE KING
ESTHER 1
1 These events took place during the days of Ahasuerus, who ruled 127 provinces from India to Cush. 2 In those days King Ahasuerus reigned from his royal throne in the fortress at Susa.

• "Susa" is the Greek name for the Hebrew "Shushan."
• "The French excavations at Susa between 1880-1890 disclosed the great palace of Xerxes (Ahasuerus, 486-465 B.C.), the place where Queen Esther would have lived.
• The building covered two and one-half acres, and included a beautiful throne-room which was decorated with thirty-six fluted columns, each being some sixty-seven feet high and supporting a ceiling of Lebanon cedar.

3 He held a feast in the third year of his reign for all his officials and staff, the army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials from the provinces.

• The third year of Ahasuerus' (Xerxes') reign was evidently 483 or 482 B.C. He would have been in his mid-thirties.

4 He displayed the glorious wealth of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness for a total of 180 days.

• For 6 months he planned his campaign against Greece.

5 At the end of this time, the king held a week-long banquet in the garden courtyard of the royal palace for all the people, from the greatest to the least, who were present in the fortress of Susa. 6 White and blue linen hangings were fastened with fine white and purple linen cords to silver rods on marble columns. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of red feldspar, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones.
7 Drinks were served in an array of gold goblets, each with a different design. Royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty. 8 The drinking was according to royal decree: “There are no restrictions.” The king had ordered every wine steward in his household to serve whatever each person wanted. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women of King Ahasuerus’s palace.
10 On the seventh day, when the king was feeling good from the wine, Ahasuerus commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—the seven eunuchs who personally served him--

• The Persian kings castrated many of the men who served the king and his family so that they could not have sexual relations with the female members of the royal court and start dynasties of their own.

11 to bring Queen Vashti before him with her royal crown. He wanted to show off her beauty to the people and the officials, because she was very beautiful. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command that was delivered by his eunuchs. The king became furious and his anger burned within him.
 
THE KING’S DECREE
13 The king consulted the wise men who understood the times, for it was his normal procedure to confer with experts in law and justice. 14 The most trusted ones were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. They were the seven officials of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and occupied the highest positions in the kingdom. 15 The king asked, “According to the law, what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey King Ahasuerus’s command that was delivered by the eunuchs?”
16 Memucan said in the presence of the king and his officials, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the officials and the peoples who are in every one of King Ahasuerus’s provinces. 17 For the queen’s action will become public knowledge to all the women and cause them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti brought before him, but she did not come.’ 18 Before this day is over, the noble women of Persia and Media who hear about the queen’s act will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in more contempt and fury.

• The king's advisers feared that Vashti's rebellion would lead to a popular women's liberation movement and to a revolution among the aristocratic wives particularly.

19 “If it meets the king’s approval, he should personally issue a royal decree. Let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be revoked: Vashti is not to enter King Ahasuerus’s presence, and her royal position is to be given to another woman who is more worthy than she. 20 The decree the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom, so all women will honor their husbands, from the greatest to the least.”

• This is a royal divorce.

21 The king and his counselors approved the proposal, and he followed Memucan’s advice. 22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language, that every man should be master of his own house and speak in the language of his own people.[1]
 
THE SEARCH FOR A NEW QUEEN
ESTHER 2
1 Some time later, when King Ahasuerus’s rage had cooled down, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what was decided against her.

• Nearly four years have passed since Vashti was deposed.
• During that time, Ahasuerus directed his ill-fated Greek campaign and came home in humiliation instead of honor.

2 The king’s personal attendants suggested, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. 3 Let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom, so that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem at the fortress of Susa. Put them under the supervision of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, keeper of the women, and give them the required beauty treatments. 4 Then the young woman who pleases the king will become queen instead of Vashti.” This suggestion pleased the king, and he did accordingly.
5 In the fortress of Susa, there was a Jewish man named Mordecai son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite. 6 Kish had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the other captives when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jeconiah of Judah into exile. 7 Mordecai was the legal guardian of his cousin Hadassah (that is, Esther), because she had no father or mother.

• By mentioning both her Hebrew and Babylonian name, the author is highlighting Esther as a woman with two identities, an issue that will be brought into sharp conflict later in the story.

The young woman had a beautiful figure and was extremely good-looking. When her father and mother died, Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter.
8 When the king’s command and edict became public knowledge and when many young women were gathered at the fortress of Susa under Hegai’s supervision, Esther was taken to the palace, into the supervision of Hegai, keeper of the women. 9 The young woman pleased him and gained his favor so that he accelerated the process of the beauty treatments and the special diet that she received. He assigned seven hand-picked female servants to her from the palace and transferred her and her servants to the harem’s best quarters.

• As will become clear, Esther cooperated in practices contrary to the Mosaic Law.
• These included marrying a pagan (Deut. 7:1-4; cf. Ezra 9:12; 10:10-15), and eating unclean food (Lev. 11:46-47).

10 Esther did not reveal her ethnicity or her family background, because Mordecai had ordered her not to make them known. 11 Every day Mordecai took a walk in front of the harem’s courtyard to learn how Esther was doing and to see what was happening to her.

• It is impossible to determine if Esther was forced to participate in the king's "beauty contest," or if she did so willingly.
• In view of Ahasuerus' great power, I tend to think she probably had no choice.

12 During the year before each young woman’s turn to go to King Ahasuerus, the harem regulation required her to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months. 13 When the young woman would go to the king, she was given whatever she requested to take with her from the harem to the palace. 14 She would go in the evening, and in the morning she would return to a second harem under the supervision of the king’s eunuch Shaashgaz, keeper of the concubines. She never went to the king again, unless he desired her and summoned her by name.

• He king evidently had sexual relations with a different virgin every night or whenever he pleased.
• The harem officials watched these girls closely to make sure that they did not have some disease that they would pass on to him.
• The women in the harem used their time to become as attractive as possible.

ESTHER BECOMES QUEEN
15 Esther was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai who had adopted her as his own daughter. When her turn came to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the king’s eunuch, keeper of the women, suggested. Esther gained favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her.

• Both Josephus and the Jewish Rabbis exaggerated the beauty of Esther and elaborated on her virtues and piety.
• The Rabbis held that Esther was one of the four most beautiful women in history along with Sarah, Rahab, and Abigail (Megillah 15a).
• Josephus maintained that Esther 'surpassed all women in beauty' in the entire habitable world.

16 She was taken to King Ahasuerus in the palace in the tenth month, the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 17 The king loved Esther more than all the other women. She won more favor and approval from him than did any of the other virgins. He placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. 18 The king held a great banquet for all his officials and staff. It was Esther’s banquet. He freed his provinces from tax payments and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty.[2]

• The Hebrew word translated "banquet" (hanaha) means "a coming to rest."
• This could mean that Ahasuerus released his subjects from some tax burdens, or from military service, or both, temporarily.
• On the other hand, he may have only given them a feast.

He also gave a holiday and "gifts" to the people in his provinces.
​
[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Es.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Es 2:1–18.

Believe
Where are we going?  Two goals:
(1) How we can pull from the Old Testament and how it complements the New.  Understand the mindset of people of that time frame.  For us but not always to us.
(2) The simple lesson of belief 
Focus on belief although it is hard to separate it from faith, trust, repentance and obedience
Read Luke 4:16-30 (Holman translation)
14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity.  15 He was teaching in their synagogues, being praised by everyone.
16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up.  As usual, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read.  17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written:
            18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
20 He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.  And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him.  21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this scripture has been fulfilled.”
22 They were all speaking well of him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from his mouth; yet they said “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
23 Then he said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself.  What we’ve heard that took place in Capernaum, do here in your hometown also.’”
24 He also said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.  25 But I say to you, there were certainly many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months while a great famine came over all the land.  26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them except a widow at Zarephath in Sidon.  27 And in the prophet Elisha’s time, there were many in Israel who had leprosy, and yet not one of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
28 When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was enraged.  29 They got up, drove him out of town, and brought him to the edge of the hill that their town was built on, intending to hurl him over the cliff.  30 But he passed right through the crowd and went his way.
But first, let’s look at a couple of parallel passages to discover an important point.
Matt. 13: 54-58.  
54 He went to his hometown and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?”  55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?  Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 And his sisters, aren’t they all with us? So where did he get all of these things?”  57 And they were offended by him. Jesus said to them “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household.”  58 And he did not many miracles there because of their unbelief.
Note vs. 58
Mark 6: 1-6.  Note vs. 6
1 He left there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said.  “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands?  3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended by him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” 5 He was not able to do a miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 
6 And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Jesus made reference to two people: The widow at Zarephath who lived in Elijah’s time and Naaman who lived in Elisha’s time.  Our focus will be Vs 27. 
A brief history:
After king Soloman, the nation split in two.  Israel to the north and Judah to the south. Elijah and Elisha were prophets during that time with Elisha as a successor to Elijah.
At the time of Elisha, king Jehoram was king of Israel and Jehosephat was king of Judah. 
Syria to the north was conducting a series of raids on Israel and eventually invaded and eventually captured Israel around 720 BC.    
Let’s take a road trip to II Kings.  Specifically, II Kings 5:1-19.   Buckle up!
1 Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a man important to his master and highly regarded because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram.  The man was a valiant warrior, but had a skin disease.
   -Naaman was:
     (1) An army commander, important to the Syrian king of Aram.
     Highly regarded because the Lord used him…for what? 
          …..The Lord gave him victory.  He was a valiant warrior, raiding Israel.
             But had a skin disease – leprosy.
2 Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife.  3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.”
      (2,3) Took captives.
             The slave girl knew of Elisha and was confident that he could help.
             She trusted God and Naaman trusted her.  He was desperate.
4 So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said.  5 Therefore, the king of Aram said “Go, and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.”  So he went and took with him 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
       (4,5) Naaman Had the king’s ear and respect. The Letter: official business.
       Booty: 750 lbs. of silver @ $25/oz = $300K;
                     150 lbs. of gold @ $2000/0z = $4.8M    Plus clothing.
       This was a large caravan.  Several animals, servants, horses and chariots.
6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel and it read:
“When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.”
       (6) A note from the boss
  7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease?  Recognize that he is only picking a fight with me.” 
Vs. 7 – King Jehoram read the letter and tore his clothes.  “Am I God”
          “He is trying to pick a fight.”
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes?  Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.”  9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
Vs. 8,9 – When Elisha heard of this he sent a note to the king.  He was known.
         By both kings 2 Kings 3:12,13.  Send Naaman my way. I’ll show him
          There is a prophet in Israel.  Maybe also show Jehoram?
         Naaman’s caravan arrives at Elisha’s house and stands at the door.  What a    
         Contrast this must have been. 
10 Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your skin will be restored and you will be clean.”
Vs. 10 – Elisha sent a messenger to the door.  “Go wash in the Jordan and your
          Skin will be restored to you.”  Seems simple enough.
11 But Naaman got angry and left, saying “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the skin disease.  12 Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?  Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and left in a rage.
Vs. 11,12 – Naaman got angry enough to leave.  Read Naaman’s thoughts…
          “We have better rivers in Damascus, better than all Israel.”
          He left in a rage.
13 But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much more should you do it when he only tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’?  14 So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God.  Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.
Vs. 13 – He listened to the council of his servants…..and obeyed.
Vs. 14 – He did as Elisha had said and was cleansed.  More than healed…
15 Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there is no God in the whole world except in Israel.  Therefore, please except a gift from your servant.”
 
Vs. 15 – Naaman’s statement of belief.
16 But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, in whose presence I stand, I will not accept it.”  Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.
17 Naaman responded, “If not, please let your servant be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the Lord.”
Vs. 16,17 - An odd request; why dirt?  There is a large, fascinating area of study that has to do with cosmic geography.  We can only speculate about what Naaman intended to do with dirt but I believe it is connected to cosmic geography where Israel is holy land and his intention to worship only Yaweh. 
18 However, in a particular matter may the Lord pardon your servant: When my master, the king of Aram, goes into the temple of Rimmon to bow and worship while he is leaning on my arm, and I have to bow in the temple of Rimmon – when I bow in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.”
19 So he said to him, “Go in peace.”
 
Vs. 18,19 – My job includes supporting the king as he worships the god Rimmon.
           Am I okay?   Yes, God knows your heart.  You’re good. Go in peace. 
I believe there is a takeaway here.  We not only live among many different church traditions, but even in our Leveaner group we have various theology differences.  It’s the heart and only the heart that matters.
Back to Luke
Who was there?  Brothers, Sisters, childhood friends, synagogue family.
Why were thy angry?
Naaman and the widow were gentiles.
            Not the elect of Israel
No Torah - How will how know if he breaks the law?
No scripture - No Psalms, No basis for theology
No temple - No sacrifices
            No offerings
No festivals
No circumcision.
Neither Naaman or the widow brought anything to the table.  Only belief.
This was a point of friction in Jesus’s word at Nazareth
Jesus asks one thing of us: BELIEVE
This is what Jesus taught.
John 3: 14-18 (To Nicodemus)
14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.  16 For God so loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe in him is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.”
2000 years later after Jesus and 3000 years after Naaman and 4000 years after Abraham, what is required?  Belief. 
Micah 6:6-8  6 What should I bring before the Lord when I come to bow before God on high? Should I come before him with burnt offerings, with year old calves?  7 Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousand streams of oil?  Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the child of my body for my own sins?  8 Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord required of you:
To act justly,
To love faithfulness (mercy, compassion, kindness)
To walk humbly with your God
Not about performance before the New and certainly not after.
Paul wrote in Romans 5:8 “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
What can we bring to the table? Nothing but belief.
Every week at Lev we hear of our new heart, our identity, the fruit of the Spirit, of the abundant life…   It all starts with belief.
Remember Thomas, yes, doubting Thomas.  He gets a bad rap.  Recall that he wasn’t around the previous time when Jesus appeared to the disciples.  “I won’t believe”, he said, “until I see the nail prints…”
Jesus told him “Because you have seen me, you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believed.”
That’s you!
   
Some Additional References:
Matt. 8 The centurion’s servant “just say the word” Vs. 10 and 13
John 1: 11,12
John 5: 24
John 6: 28,29; 35; 40; 47
John 7: 37,38
John 20: 29 (to Thomas)
John 11:25
John 12:36
John 14:1
John 20:31
Acts 16:31
Romans 3:22; 4:3; 10:9;
Galatians 2: 15,16
I John 3: 23
 
II Kings 5:1-19
 
1 Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a man important to his master and highly regarded because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram.  The man was a valiant warrior, but had a skin disease.
2 Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife.  3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.”
4 So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said.  5 Therefore, the king of Aram said “Go, and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.”  SoSo, he went and took with him 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel and it read:
When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease?  Recognize that he is only picking a fight with me.”
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes?  Have him come to me, and he will know and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.”  9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
10 Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your skin will be restored and you will be clean.”
11 But Naaman got angry and left, saying “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the skin disease.  12 Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?  Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?”  So he turned and left in a rage.
13 But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much more should you do it when he only tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’?  14 So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God.  Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.
15 Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there is no God in the whole world except in Israel.  Therefore, please except a gift from your servant.”
16 But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, in whose presence I stand, I will not accept it.”  Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused.
17 Naaman responded, “If not, please let your servant be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the Lord.  18 However, in a particular matter may the Lord pardon your servant: When my master, the king of Aram, goes into the temple of Rimmon to bow and worship while he is leaning on my arm, and I have to bow in the temple of Rimmon – when I bow in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.”
19 So he said to him, “Go in peace.”