2 Kings 5:15-27
Gehazi's Greed
15Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”
16But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused.
17“If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry. For your servant will never again make a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the LORD.
18Yet may the LORD forgive your servant this one thing: When my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my arm, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant in this matter.”
19“Go in peace,” said Elisha. But after Naaman had traveled a short distance,
20Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, by not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
21So Gehazi pursued Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and asked, “Is everything all right?”
22“Everything is all right,” Gehazi replied. “My master has sent me to say, ‘Look, two young men from the sons of the prophets have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’”
23But Naaman insisted, “Please, take two talents.” And he urged Gehazi to accept them. Then he tied up two talents of silver in two bags along with two sets of clothing and gave them to two of his servants, who carried them ahead of Gehazi.
24When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the gifts from the servants and stored them in the house. Then he dismissed the men, and they departed.
25When Gehazi went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Gehazi, where have you been?” “Your servant did not go anywhere,” he replied.
26But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants?
27Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!” And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow.
Berean Standard Bible
Naaman returns to Elisha and confesses that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. He asks the prophet to accept a gift, but Elisha refuses. Naaman then asks for two mule-loads of earth and says he will no longer offer sacrifices to any god except the LORD, while acknowledging the difficult setting in which he serves his master.
Naaman departs in peace. Gehazi, however, thinks Elisha has been too easy on the visitor. He runs after Naaman and invents a story about two young prophets who have arrived and need silver and clothing. Naaman gives him two talents of silver and two sets of clothing.
Gehazi hides the gifts and returns to Elisha. When Elisha asks where he has been, Gehazi says he went nowhere. Elisha answers that his heart was present when Naaman turned from his chariot. The servant has treated mercy as an opportunity for private profit.
Elisha announces that Naaman's leprosy will cling to Gehazi and his descendants forever. Gehazi leaves with skin white as snow. The judgment is severe, but the point is not that receiving money is always wrong. It is that Gehazi lied to exploit a healing that Elisha had deliberately left free of payment.
How We Know
This passage belongs to the historical and prophetic record of Israel's divided kingdom. Its named rulers, places, and prophetic actions are presented as part of that covenant history; Chronicles does not repeat every episode from Kings.
Questions
1 What does Naaman confess about the LORD?
AnswerNaaman confesses after his healing that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.
2 Why does Elisha refuse Naaman's gift?
AnswerElisha refuses because the healing should not become a transaction that lets a prophet profit from God's mercy.
3 What does Gehazi tell Naaman?
AnswerGehazi falsely says that two young prophets need silver and clothing after arriving from the hill country.
4 What judgment falls on Gehazi?
AnswerElisha says Naaman's leprosy will cling to Gehazi and his descendants, and Gehazi leaves covered with it.
What This Means for Us
Gehazi sees generosity and immediately calculates what he can take. His lie is especially ugly because it uses spiritual work and vulnerable people as cover for personal gain.
Do not monetize another person's need or use a good reputation to hide selfish motives. Let generosity remain generous, tell the truth about what you are doing, and examine the private stories you tell yourself when someone else receives mercy.
Prayer
Lord, expose greed before it grows into deception. Keep us from profiting through spiritual trust or another person's vulnerability, and make our handling of money, influence, and generosity clean before you. Amen.