Naaman, standing outside of Elisha's house, was furious when he was greeted by a messenger instead of the prophet himself. New York, 2020. Somehow I would like to deserve or earn God's blessings. And in certain dire situations, one is permitted to accept presents openly.) Aramean raiders invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naamans wife as a maid. Dirt? Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. And he said, "Send him down to me, and he will know that there is a God in Israel." The man was also a valiant warrior, but he was a leper. the Lord hath forbidden this thing." . The model for the elderly man was also used for a version of The Tribute Money in Stockholm by Jacob Backer in his Leeuwarden period; see Grel Cavalli-Bjrkman, Dutch and Flemish Paintings, vol. [5], As the object of the narrative of Naaman's sickness and restoration to health is, apparently, to form a link in the long series of miracles performed by Elisha, the redactor of II Kings did not concern himself to indicate the time when this event occurred. And if you read the verses earlier the categories that Elisha mentioned to Gehazi are listed out as belonging to the promised land. Naaman was angry and would have left, but his servant asked him to try it and he was healed. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. He said, "That guy didn't even have the graciousness to come out and meet me himself. Now the servant Gehazi, when he saw Elisha turning down these gifts, he began to think, "Wow, what I could do with just a little bit of that loot. He thought Elisha should have accepted all of the gifts. After Naaman was cured of leprosy, he offered Elisha gifts for his use of priesthood powers. He declared that the rivers in Damascus were cleaner than any river in Israel. Elishas hands are exceptionally beautifully shaped and contrast strongly with the usually somewhat clumsy hands painted on other original work by Lambert Jacobsz. cat. Get a roundup of new Word by Word articles in your inbox each Friday. Nephi taught, " . However, Elisha's servant, thinking the prophet should receive some kind of payment for his services, takes two talents (about $800,000) and returns to Elisha. The practice in Lambert Jacobszs workshop included the frequent variation and copying of originals by some leading painters of the time, such as Rembrandt van Rijn (160669), Jan Lievens (160774), and Gerrit von Honthorst (15921656). He was accustomed to being in charge and to giving the orders. (2 Kings 5:20. And they said, "Hey, it looks like the servant of the prophet's coming." Art and the Bible 2005 - 2023 artbible.info. An Israelite maid he had captured advised him to go see the prophet Elisha. Ltfen Kullanm artlarmz ve Gizlilik Politikamz dikkatlice inceleyiniz. He did make use of translucent glazes in certain areas, however, such as the shadows of the red garments and the figures lips. His painting does not focus on Naamans recovery from leprosy or on Elishas refusal to be rewarded, but rather on Naamans conversion to the true faith.13. I can only receive by grace the goodness of God. Naaman doesnt take this well and prepares to go home. The Mekilta (Yitro, 'Amale, 1), however, places Naaman's conversion above Jethro's. And he said, Did not my spirit go with thee, [when you received] when you went out to their chariot and stopped them and you received the money, and you received the garments, and the oliveyards, and the vineyards, and the sheep, and the oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? This seems to be, to a certain extent, self-evident. And the leprosy from Naaman fell on Gehazi and would remain in his descendants. A life of luxury based on the security of wealth, rather than a life of obedience. Jasper Hillegers, Lambert Jacobsz (15981636) en zijn werkplaats. Deuteronomy 8:11-14 , Elisha hearing from God refused out of obedience to God anything Naaman offered because after all he was entitled to payment as a prophet. 10 Elisha sent out a messenger who told him, "Go and wash seven times in the Jordan; your skin will be restored and you will be healed." 11 Naaman went away angry. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. "Elisha understood this truth perfectly, but Gehazi saw a chance for personal gain slipping away and let his greed overpower his good judgment.". ; Arama, "'Aedat Yia," ch. How does a fan in a turbofan engine suck air in? Naaman is also mentioned in Luke 4:27 of the New Testament, in Greek as " " or "Naaman the Syrian", a leper. Nothing new under the sun there. And he took it and put it in his house. If Elisha had accepted those gifts, he would be accepting the glory that God should get. Naaman proceeds with the letter to King Joram. Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. Elishas healing of Naaman in the Bible (the leper [and] commander of the army of the king of Syria) is a familiar story to many (2 Kgs 5:127). So Elisha catalogs the types of gifts that he refused in order to emphasize his role as a mere channel of the divinity as opposed to miracle-worker. Amsterdam Museum, Amsterdam. Why should Elisha receive a gift for him? 3, B. Keil J. Elisha then told Naaman to go bathe in the Jordan seven times and he would be clean. So when he came before the man of God, he had difficulty humbling himself in obedience to the Lord's instructions. Gehazi was Elisha's helper. A PDF of every version of this entry is available in this Online Catalogue's Archive, and the Archive is managed by a permanent URL. By using the Superbook website, you accept our use of cookies. Perhaps, as he walked back, he was thinking about what he could do with such a large sum: he could buy olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and have servants rather than being a servant. Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? "Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, He was a mighty man and very brave, but he was a leper. So, Naaman gave him what he requested (2 Kings 5:23). The king of Israel didn't know what to do, yet Elisha (Eliseus) sent a message to the King, advising that the King tell Naaman to come to see him. After this, Naaman and his retinue returned to Elisha and offered a giftten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, ten sets of clothingElisha could take whatever he wanted. Backer A. van Dijck (Landau, 1983), 669, no. He was sent to the door by Elisha with a message for Naaman to wash in the Jordan River seven times to be healed of his leprosy. But he said, As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none. The rabbinical tradition that Naaman was the archer (I Kings xxii. The king was distraught because he knew that he couldn't heal him. He chased after Naaman to take the gifts that Elisha refused to accept. I want to do some great thing for God. Arama, l.c.). This phrase is used when Moses is in the presence of the Angel of the Lord and the God of Israel at the burning bush (Exod 3:15) and when Joshua meets the Angel of the Lord (Josh 5:15). This excerpt about Naaman in the Bible is adapted from the original article in Dr. Heisers book I Dare You Not to Bore Me with the Bible. 8), which the Rabbis regard as an allusion to Naaman's bathing in the Jordan; the appellation "Moab" is a play on the word "abi" (= "my father"), by which Naaman was addressed by his servants in II Kings v. 13 (Num. And salvation is such a simple thing. In the same way, each one of us needs to be careful to check our heart and our motives in pursuing wealth, especially when it has to do with the kingdom of God or ministry to others. 32; 206, no. Naaman returned to Elisha and said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant" (verse 15). Naaman also renounces his former god Rimmon after being cured by Elisha - acknowledges solely the God of Israel. Vetus Testamentum )"The temptation to use priesthood power for personal gain has plagued man throughout history," states the Church Educational System's Old Testament Student Manual. Christian theology has always depicted Naaman as the paradigmatic case of Gods will to save people we would normally considered as being unworthy of salvation: Naaman is not even an Israelite, and doesnt share the prophets faith. Why does Jesus turn to the Father to forgive in Luke 23:34? And in fact, they sent a fellow back carrying a bag. But also, Elishas rejection seems to suggest God is more of a giver than of a taker, and his gifts do not aim to setting an economical cycle of gift-giving and exchange with anyone: he freely gives his Grace (in fact, this is what the word Grace strictly means: gratuity, something freely given beyond ones obligation), which always exceeds measure or merit. An Israelite maid he had captured advised him to see the prophet Elisha. A4. When Naaman left Elisha's house to return home to Syria, Gehazi was filled with greed. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. 18 (The rule is that, in general, we are forbidden, but there are certain situations where we can accept gifts, albeit discreetly. It would have been insulting to God for the prophet to receive anything from Naaman when God is the proprietor and the progenitor of wealth especially on His turf and in His land. What capacitance values do you recommend for decoupling capacitors in battery-powered circuits? Among them are paintings by Lambert Jacobszs teacher Jan Pynas (1581/21631), who depicted the subject in a 1627 painting, now in the Old Catholic Church in Leiden, and one by Pieter de Grebber (ca. Even though he would still have to help his aged king bow before Rimmon, Naaman wanted Elisha to know his heart belonged only to the God of Elisha. In 2 Kings 5:17, Naaman follows the request with an explanation: for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord. The dirt and Naamans new allegiance to the God of Israel are related. Why did Elisha rebuke Gehazi for things he did not accept from Naaman? The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Please sign in or register for a free Superbook account to watch full episodes, earn SuperPoints and win great prizes. Entrust your prayer intentions to our network of monasteries. For example, Halbertals book On Sacrifice presents us with the possibility of having ones offering being rejected. In the same way, each one of us needs to be careful to check our heart and our motives in pursuing wealth, especially when it has to do with the kingdom of God or ministry to others. He then praised the lord of Israel as the only true god. viii. And so the king of Syria Benhadad sent a formal letter to the king of Israel [and sent Naaman down] ( 2 Kings 5:1-5 ). Find a vector in the null space of a large dense matrix, where elements in the matrix are not directly accessible. For comparable tronies of old men executed by Jacob Backer in this period, see Jacob Backer, The Head of an Apostle, ca. To his amazement, Elisha's cure worked"His flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy" (verse 14). Amsterdam, Museum Het Rembrandthuis; Aachen, Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum) (Zwolle, 2008), 3034, 20411, nos. I can think of a few favors I would ask of a prophet in a receptive mood, but dirt certainly isnt one of them. And he headed home in a rage. ( 2 Kings 5:25-26 ). Finally, before embarking for Syria, Naaman makes a strange request: to load two mules with dirt to take back with him. The name Elisha in Hebrew is translated, "My God is salvation". ), "It is, after all, by divine power that men are able to perform priesthood miracles," states the manual. Jan Pynas, Elisha Refusing Naamans Gifts (Oud-Katholieke Kerk, Leiden); see the RKD website. We've got better rivers up in Damascus." He came to the door to tell Naaman that he should take a dip in the Jordan River seven times. Copyright 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network. Elisha, instead, just tells him what God had already told Moses. One day, his wife's Israelite servant girl told her about the power of God moving through the prophet Elisha. 552 et seq.) He couldnt stay in Israel, but he could take Israel with him. https://theleidencollection.com/iconclass. Elisha was totally surrendered to God in every area of his life. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Nevertheless, the now-lost painting represents an episode that immediately precedes the one Jacobsz depicted in the Leiden Collection painting. Lambert Jacobsz and his many assistants produced history scenes with small figures throughout his career, but works with large figuressuch as this one in the Leiden Collectionwere made only for a short while and overlapped with Jacob Backers stay in Leeuwarden.3 Like Jacobsz, Jacob Backer (1608/951) was a Mennonite who grew up among fellow believers on Amsterdams Nieuwendijk. He focused particularly on Naamans gaze as he quietly reflects upon the prophets reasons for refusing to accept his gifts of appreciationthe moment of revelation when Naaman came to understand that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.. He then praised the lord of Israel as the only true god. See Albert Blankert, Kunst als regeringszaak in Amsterdam in de 17e eeuw (Exh. Naaman traveled to Samaria, where Elisha told him to take seven dips in the river Jordan. Who Are Gog and Magogand Whats So Evil about the North? Naaman was a great man. The biblical text (Cf. Read more:What is the difference between Elijah and Elisha? R. xiv. 1800 (Stockholm, 2005), 59, no. The Bible doesn't say whether God told him not to receive the gift from Naaman, but we see that Elisha was quick to refuse the offer, desiring only to honor God. "And word came to Elisha of how the king was so upset because of this demand. 5, Nachtrge, Ortsregister, Ikonographisches Register, Bibliographie (Landau, 1994), nos. See Hendrik Luitje Straat, Lambert Jacobsz, schilder, De Vrije Fries 28 (1928): 74. Naaman was the captain of the army of the king of Aram (Syria). During the same period, Jacobsz painted two other large-figure paintings depicting Elisha rebuking Gehazi in the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queens University, Kingston (fig 3) and in the Landesmuseum Hannover (fig 4).7 In both the Kingston and Hannover paintings, the artist focused on the interactions of the two protagonists, with the elderly prophet admonishing his chastened servant by wagging his finger. Truce of the burning tree -- how realistic? I can hire me some servants. The man standing in the door to the right is Elisha's servant Gehazi. Now in coming back, he acknowledged that there was no God in all the earth but in Israel. But Elisha said, "The LORD is the one I serve, and as surely as he lives, I will not accept any gift." Naaman tried hard to make Elisha take the gift, but he refused. The man standing in the door to the right is Elisha's servant Gehazi. Vetus Testamentum is a leading journal covering all aspects of Old Testament study. And she said, It's too bad your husband isn't with the prophet there in Israel, because he could heal him of his leprosy. ( ). So his king, his soldiers, and the people of Syria heaped praise upon him. After Naaman departed, Gehazi ran after him and asked him for gifts. An overall warm gray ground has been applied to the painting. Want to see fewer ads on Aleteia? 1 Kings 18:15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day. The suggestion that vv. The Lord healed Naaman. But rather than personally receiving Naaman when the latter arrives at Elisha's house, Elisha merely sends a messenger to the door who tells Naaman to cure his affliction by dipping himself seven times in the Jordan River. The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10), and so we must not allow the love of money to interfere with the calling of God on our lives. Gehazi asked for (and received) silver and clothing from Naaman, after lying about the arrival of two men of the sons of the prophets. And so, he'd like a couple of changes of apparel for them and a talent of silver. First and foremost, Naaman's healing is not Elisha's gift: it is a gift freely bestowed by the grace of God, and Elisha is well aware of that. Much has been written, in the fields of anthropology, ethnography, ethics, and religious studies about gift-giving, sacrificing, and offering since the last century. Naaman (Hebrew: Namn, "pleasantness") the Aramean was a commander of the armies of Ben-Hadad II, the king of Aram-Damascus, in the time of Joram, king of Israel. He was going to buy some oxen, and then he's going to buy some sheep. Previous commentary: Next commentary: About this commentary: are made available by the generosity of . Sale, Sothebys, London, 7 December 2005, no. ), Elisha starts with what was actually on offer (to him. Gehazi accepted two talents of silver and two changes of clothes. Jack Kilgore & Co., Inc., New York, 2006. His representation of Naaman and Elishas story would have been a very appropriate background for the many baptisms Jacobsz himself performed in this church. Naaman departed for Syria, but Elisha's servant Gehazi ran after him and told a lie in order to get Naaman's gift for himself. He wanted to thank Elisha by giving him presents, but Elisha refused. Cornerstone BiblicalCommentary: 1 & 2Kings(CBC), NIV ApplicationCommentary: 1 & 2Kings(NIVAC). Naaman believed that "There [was] no God in all the earth but in Israel" ( 2 Kgs 5:15) and wanted to return to his homeland with holy ground. Great thing for God & Co., Inc., new York, 2006 a bag and contrast with... Traveled to Samaria, where Elisha told him to see the RKD website he said ``. He declared that the rivers in Damascus. for his use of priesthood powers so upset because of this.... 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Promised land so upset because of this demand his chariot to meet you 28 1928! Beautifully shaped and contrast strongly with the possibility of having ones offering being rejected accept openly. To the right is Elisha 's servant Gehazi them and a talent of silver Kunst als regeringszaak in in! On Gehazi and would remain in his house be accepting the glory that God should get is permitted accept... Kerk, Leiden ) ; see the prophet Elisha only receive by grace the goodness of God opinion ; them! Turn to the right is Elisha & # x27 ; s servant Gehazi website, you our! A turbofan engine suck air in he could take Israel with him but he could Israel... How does a fan in a turbofan engine suck air in directly accessible Testament study your each!

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