| Easton's Bible Dictionary Pleasantness, a Syrian, the commander of the armies of Benhadad II. in the time of Joram, king of Israel. He was afflicted with leprosy; and when the little Hebrew slave-girl that waited on his wife told her of a prophet in Samaria who could cure her master, he obtained a letter from Benhadad and proceeded with it to Joram. The king of Israel suspected in this some evil design against him, and rent his clothes. Elisha the prophet hearing of this, sent for Naaman, and the strange interview which took place is recorded in 2 Kings 5. The narrative contains all that is known of the Syrian commander. He was cured of his leprosy by dipping himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of Elisha. His cure is alluded to by our Lord (Luke 4:27). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia NAAMAN na'-a-man (na`aman, "pleasantness"; Septuagint; Codices Vaticanus and Alexandrinus Naiman; so Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek in the New Testament; Textus Receptus of the New Testament, Neeman):
(1) A successful Syrian general, high in the confidence and esteem of the king of Syria, and honored by his fellow-countrymen as their deliverer (2 Kings 5:1-27). Afflicted with leprosy, he heard from a Hebrew slave-maid in his household of the wonder-working powers of an Israelite prophet. Sent by his master with a letter couched in somewhat peremptory terms to the king of Israel, he came to Samaria for healing. The king of Israel was filled with suspicion and alarm by the demands of the letter, and rent his clothes; but Elisha the prophet intervened, and sent word to Naaman that he must bathe himself seven times in the Jordan. He at first haughtily resented the humiliation and declined the cure; but on the remonstrance of his attendants he yielded and obtained cleansing. At once he returned to Samaria, testified his gratitude by the offer of large gifts to the prophet, confessed his faith in Elisha's God, and sought leave to take home with him enough of the soil of Canaan for the erection of an altar to Yahweh.
The narrative is throughout consistent and natural, admirably and accurately depicting the condition of the two kingdoms at the time. The character of Naaman is at once attractive and manly. His impulsive patriotic preference for the streams of his own land does not lessen the reader's esteem for him, and the favorable impression is deepened by his hearty gratitude and kindness.
The Israelite king is most probably Jehoram, son of Ahab, and the Syrian monarch Ben-hadad II. Josephus (Ant., VIII, xv, 5) identifies Naaman with the man who drew his bow at a venture, and gave Ahab his death wound (1 Kings 22:34). There is one reference to Naaman in the New Testament. In Luke 4:27, Jesus, rebuking Jewish exclusiveness, mentions "Naaman the Syrian."
(2) A son of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21, 6). Fuller and more precise is the description of Numbers 26:38, 40, where he is said to be a son of Bela and grandson of Benjamin (see also 1 Chronicles 8:3).
John A. Lees |  | Multi-Version Concordance Naaman (19 Occurrences) Luke 4:27 There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian." (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Genesis 46:21 The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Numbers 26:40 The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Kings 5:1 Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Yahweh had given victory to Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Kings 5:2 The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman's wife. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Kings 5:4 Someone went in, and told his lord, saying, "The maiden who is from the land of Israel said this." (See NAS NIV) 2 Kings 5:5 The king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." He departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing. (See NIV) 2 Kings 5:6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, "Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Kings 5:9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Kings 5:11 But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said, "Behold, I thought,'He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.' (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Kings 5:16 But he said, "As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none." He urged him to take it; but he refused. (See NIV) 2 Kings 5:17 Naaman said, "If not, then, please let there be given to your servant two mules' burden of earth; for your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to Yahweh. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Kings 5:19 He said to him, "Go in peace." So he departed from him a little way. (See NIV) 2 Kings 5:20 But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought. As Yahweh lives, I will run after him, and take something from him." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Kings 5:21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him, and said, "Is all well?" (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Kings 5:23 Naaman said, "Be pleased to take two talents." He urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants; and they carried them before him. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 2 Kings 5:27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and to your seed forever." He went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Chronicles 8:4 and Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) 1 Chronicles 8:7 and Naaman, and Ahijah, and Gera, he carried them captive: and he became the father of Uzza and Ahihud. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) |
