The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

2 Kings 5

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

2 Kings chapter 5 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and held in esteem, because by him HaShem…” — the complete text of all 27 verses is below, free to read online.

1Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and held in esteem, because by him HaShem had given victory unto Aram; he was also a mighty man of valour, but he was a leper.

2And the Arameans had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.

3And she said unto her mistress: 'Would that my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! then would he recover him of his leprosy.'

4And he went in, and told his lord, saying: `Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.'

5And the king of Aram said: 'Go now, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel.' And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

6And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying: 'And now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.'

7And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said: 'Am I G-d, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? but consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh an occasion against me.'

8And it was so, when Elisha the man of G-d heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying: 'Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.'

9So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

10And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying: 'Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come back to thee, and thou shalt be clean.'

11But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said: 'Behold, I thought: He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of HaShem his G-d, and wave his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

12Are not Amanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean?' So he turned, and went away in a rage.

13And his servants came near, and spoke unto him, and said: 'My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee: Wash, and be clean?'

14Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of G-d; and his flesh came back like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

15And he returned to the man of G-d, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said: 'Behold now, I know that there is no G-d in all the earth, but in Israel; now therefore, I pray thee, take a present of thy servant.'

16But he said: 'As HaShem liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none.' And he urged him to take it; but he refused.

17And Naaman said: 'If not, yet I pray thee let there be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth; for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt-offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto HaShem.

18In this thing HaShem pardon thy servant: when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I prostrate myself in the house of Rimmon, when I prostrate myself in the house of Rimmon, HaShem pardon thy servant in this thing.'

19And he said unto him: 'Go in peace.' So he departed from him some way.

20But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of G-d, said: 'Behold, my master hath spared this Naaman the Aramean, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought; as HaShem liveth, I will surely run after him, and take somewhat of him.'

21So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw one running after him, he alighted from the chariot to meet him, and said: 'Is all well?'

22And he said: 'All is well. My master hath sent me, saying: Behold, even now there are come to me from the hill-country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets; give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of raiment.'

23And Naaman said: 'Be content, take two talents.' And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of raiment, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bore them before him.

24And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand, and deposited them in the house; and he let the men go, and they departed.

25But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him: 'Whence comest thou, Gehazi?' And he said: 'Thy servant went no whither.'

26And he said unto him: 'Went not my heart with thee, when the man turned back from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards and vineyards, and sheep and oxen, and men-servants and maid-servants?

27The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever.' And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

27 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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