Naaman is a great man: great with his master, great in valor, great in military achievement. And he is a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a Syrian raid and serving Naaman's wife, says: if only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman goes with a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel and a massive gift. The king of Israel tears his clothes in despair: am I God to kill and make alive? Elisha hears and sends word: have the man come to me. Naaman arrives with his horses and chariots at Elisha's door. Elisha does not come out. He sends a messenger: go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman is furious. He turned and went away in a rage. His servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing you would have done it; how much more then when he says simply wash and be clean? Naaman goes down. Seven dips. His flesh becomes like the flesh of a little child. He is clean.
And he returns to Elisha and stands before him and says: now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Thread 7 is Naaman himself: the outsider who receives from Israel's God what Israel's God had not withheld from him. Jesus cites this in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. Thread 4 is the seven dips: each one a genuine act of humility by a man who had to overcome his pride to obey a simple instruction.
Naaman the Syrian, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, the confession of a Gentile military commander after seven dips in the Jordan is the most unexpected conversion narrative in the historical books.
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (vayyered vayyitbol ba-Yarden sheva pe'amim): he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan: vayyered (went down, Qal wayyiqtol of yarad; the going-down is the prerequisite for the going-up of healing; Naaman had to descend from his pride before he could rise in his health); sheva pe'amim (seven times, the covenant-complete number; each dip a renewed act of humble obedience; the healing comes on the seventh, after the full completion of what was asked)
threads t1 · t4 · t7 · see Luke 4:27 · Matthew 8:10-11 · Romans 10:12
Naaman is a great man: great with his master, great in valor, great in military achievement. And he is a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a Syrian raid and serving Naaman's wife, says: if only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman goes with a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel and a massive gift. The king of Israel tears his clothes in despair: am I God to kill and make alive? Elisha hears and sends word: have the man come to me. Naaman arrives with his horses and chariots at Elisha's door. Elisha does not come out. He sends a messenger: go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman is furious. He turned and went away in a rage. His servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing you would have done it; how much more then when he says simply wash and be clean? Naaman goes down. Seven dips. His flesh becomes like the flesh of a little child. He is clean.
And he returns to Elisha and stands before him and says: now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Thread 7 is Naaman himself: the outsider who receives from Israel's God what Israel's God had not withheld from him. Jesus cites this in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. Thread 4 is the seven dips: each one a genuine act of humility by a man who had to overcome his pride to obey a simple instruction.
Naaman the Syrian, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, the confession of a Gentile military commander after seven dips in the Jordan is the most unexpected conversion narrative in the historical books.
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (vayyered vayyitbol ba-Yarden sheva pe'amim): he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan: vayyered (went down, Qal wayyiqtol of yarad; the going-down is the prerequisite for the going-up of healing; Naaman had to descend from his pride before he could rise in his health); sheva pe'amim (seven times, the covenant-complete number; each dip a renewed act of humble obedience; the healing comes on the seventh, after the full completion of what was asked)
threads t1 · t4 · t7 · see Luke 4:27 · Matthew 8:10-11 · Romans 10:12
Naaman is a great man: great with his master, great in valor, great in military achievement. And he is a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a Syrian raid and serving Naaman's wife, says: if only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman goes with a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel and a massive gift. The king of Israel tears his clothes in despair: am I God to kill and make alive? Elisha hears and sends word: have the man come to me. Naaman arrives with his horses and chariots at Elisha's door. Elisha does not come out. He sends a messenger: go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman is furious. He turned and went away in a rage. His servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing you would have done it; how much more then when he says simply wash and be clean? Naaman goes down. Seven dips. His flesh becomes like the flesh of a little child. He is clean.
And he returns to Elisha and stands before him and says: now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Thread 7 is Naaman himself: the outsider who receives from Israel's God what Israel's God had not withheld from him. Jesus cites this in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. Thread 4 is the seven dips: each one a genuine act of humility by a man who had to overcome his pride to obey a simple instruction.
Naaman the Syrian, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, the confession of a Gentile military commander after seven dips in the Jordan is the most unexpected conversion narrative in the historical books.
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (vayyered vayyitbol ba-Yarden sheva pe'amim): he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan: vayyered (went down, Qal wayyiqtol of yarad; the going-down is the prerequisite for the going-up of healing; Naaman had to descend from his pride before he could rise in his health); sheva pe'amim (seven times, the covenant-complete number; each dip a renewed act of humble obedience; the healing comes on the seventh, after the full completion of what was asked)
threads t1 · t4 · t7 · see Luke 4:27 · Matthew 8:10-11 · Romans 10:12
Naaman is a great man: great with his master, great in valor, great in military achievement. And he is a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a Syrian raid and serving Naaman's wife, says: if only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman goes with a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel and a massive gift. The king of Israel tears his clothes in despair: am I God to kill and make alive? Elisha hears and sends word: have the man come to me. Naaman arrives with his horses and chariots at Elisha's door. Elisha does not come out. He sends a messenger: go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman is furious. He turned and went away in a rage. His servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing you would have done it; how much more then when he says simply wash and be clean? Naaman goes down. Seven dips. His flesh becomes like the flesh of a little child. He is clean.
And he returns to Elisha and stands before him and says: now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Thread 7 is Naaman himself: the outsider who receives from Israel's God what Israel's God had not withheld from him. Jesus cites this in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. Thread 4 is the seven dips: each one a genuine act of humility by a man who had to overcome his pride to obey a simple instruction.
Naaman the Syrian, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, the confession of a Gentile military commander after seven dips in the Jordan is the most unexpected conversion narrative in the historical books.
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (vayyered vayyitbol ba-Yarden sheva pe'amim): he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan: vayyered (went down, Qal wayyiqtol of yarad; the going-down is the prerequisite for the going-up of healing; Naaman had to descend from his pride before he could rise in his health); sheva pe'amim (seven times, the covenant-complete number; each dip a renewed act of humble obedience; the healing comes on the seventh, after the full completion of what was asked)
threads t1 · t4 · t7 · see Luke 4:27 · Matthew 8:10-11 · Romans 10:12
Naaman is a great man: great with his master, great in valor, great in military achievement. And he is a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a Syrian raid and serving Naaman's wife, says: if only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman goes with a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel and a massive gift. The king of Israel tears his clothes in despair: am I God to kill and make alive? Elisha hears and sends word: have the man come to me. Naaman arrives with his horses and chariots at Elisha's door. Elisha does not come out. He sends a messenger: go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman is furious. He turned and went away in a rage. His servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing you would have done it; how much more then when he says simply wash and be clean? Naaman goes down. Seven dips. His flesh becomes like the flesh of a little child. He is clean.
And he returns to Elisha and stands before him and says: now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Thread 7 is Naaman himself: the outsider who receives from Israel's God what Israel's God had not withheld from him. Jesus cites this in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. Thread 4 is the seven dips: each one a genuine act of humility by a man who had to overcome his pride to obey a simple instruction.
Naaman the Syrian, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, the confession of a Gentile military commander after seven dips in the Jordan is the most unexpected conversion narrative in the historical books.
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (vayyered vayyitbol ba-Yarden sheva pe'amim): he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan: vayyered (went down, Qal wayyiqtol of yarad; the going-down is the prerequisite for the going-up of healing; Naaman had to descend from his pride before he could rise in his health); sheva pe'amim (seven times, the covenant-complete number; each dip a renewed act of humble obedience; the healing comes on the seventh, after the full completion of what was asked)
threads t1 · t4 · t7 · see Luke 4:27 · Matthew 8:10-11 · Romans 10:12
Naaman is a great man: great with his master, great in valor, great in military achievement. And he is a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a Syrian raid and serving Naaman's wife, says: if only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman goes with a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel and a massive gift. The king of Israel tears his clothes in despair: am I God to kill and make alive? Elisha hears and sends word: have the man come to me. Naaman arrives with his horses and chariots at Elisha's door. Elisha does not come out. He sends a messenger: go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman is furious. He turned and went away in a rage. His servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing you would have done it; how much more then when he says simply wash and be clean? Naaman goes down. Seven dips. His flesh becomes like the flesh of a little child. He is clean.
And he returns to Elisha and stands before him and says: now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Thread 7 is Naaman himself: the outsider who receives from Israel's God what Israel's God had not withheld from him. Jesus cites this in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. Thread 4 is the seven dips: each one a genuine act of humility by a man who had to overcome his pride to obey a simple instruction.
Naaman the Syrian, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, the confession of a Gentile military commander after seven dips in the Jordan is the most unexpected conversion narrative in the historical books.
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (vayyered vayyitbol ba-Yarden sheva pe'amim): he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan: vayyered (went down, Qal wayyiqtol of yarad; the going-down is the prerequisite for the going-up of healing; Naaman had to descend from his pride before he could rise in his health); sheva pe'amim (seven times, the covenant-complete number; each dip a renewed act of humble obedience; the healing comes on the seventh, after the full completion of what was asked)
threads t1 · t4 · t7 · see Luke 4:27 · Matthew 8:10-11 · Romans 10:12
Naaman is a great man: great with his master, great in valor, great in military achievement. And he is a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a Syrian raid and serving Naaman's wife, says: if only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman goes with a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel and a massive gift. The king of Israel tears his clothes in despair: am I God to kill and make alive? Elisha hears and sends word: have the man come to me. Naaman arrives with his horses and chariots at Elisha's door. Elisha does not come out. He sends a messenger: go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman is furious. He turned and went away in a rage. His servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing you would have done it; how much more then when he says simply wash and be clean? Naaman goes down. Seven dips. His flesh becomes like the flesh of a little child. He is clean.
And he returns to Elisha and stands before him and says: now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Thread 7 is Naaman himself: the outsider who receives from Israel's God what Israel's God had not withheld from him. Jesus cites this in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. Thread 4 is the seven dips: each one a genuine act of humility by a man who had to overcome his pride to obey a simple instruction.
Naaman the Syrian, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, the confession of a Gentile military commander after seven dips in the Jordan is the most unexpected conversion narrative in the historical books.
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (vayyered vayyitbol ba-Yarden sheva pe'amim): he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan: vayyered (went down, Qal wayyiqtol of yarad; the going-down is the prerequisite for the going-up of healing; Naaman had to descend from his pride before he could rise in his health); sheva pe'amim (seven times, the covenant-complete number; each dip a renewed act of humble obedience; the healing comes on the seventh, after the full completion of what was asked)
threads t1 · t4 · t7 · see Luke 4:27 · Matthew 8:10-11 · Romans 10:12
Naaman is a great man: great with his master, great in valor, great in military achievement. And he is a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a Syrian raid and serving Naaman's wife, says: if only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman goes with a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel and a massive gift. The king of Israel tears his clothes in despair: am I God to kill and make alive? Elisha hears and sends word: have the man come to me. Naaman arrives with his horses and chariots at Elisha's door. Elisha does not come out. He sends a messenger: go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman is furious. He turned and went away in a rage. His servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing you would have done it; how much more then when he says simply wash and be clean? Naaman goes down. Seven dips. His flesh becomes like the flesh of a little child. He is clean.
And he returns to Elisha and stands before him and says: now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Thread 7 is Naaman himself: the outsider who receives from Israel's God what Israel's God had not withheld from him. Jesus cites this in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. Thread 4 is the seven dips: each one a genuine act of humility by a man who had to overcome his pride to obey a simple instruction.
Naaman the Syrian, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, the confession of a Gentile military commander after seven dips in the Jordan is the most unexpected conversion narrative in the historical books.
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (vayyered vayyitbol ba-Yarden sheva pe'amim): he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan: vayyered (went down, Qal wayyiqtol of yarad; the going-down is the prerequisite for the going-up of healing; Naaman had to descend from his pride before he could rise in his health); sheva pe'amim (seven times, the covenant-complete number; each dip a renewed act of humble obedience; the healing comes on the seventh, after the full completion of what was asked)
threads t1 · t4 · t7 · see Luke 4:27 · Matthew 8:10-11 · Romans 10:12
Naaman is a great man: great with his master, great in valor, great in military achievement. And he is a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a Syrian raid and serving Naaman's wife, says: if only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman goes with a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel and a massive gift. The king of Israel tears his clothes in despair: am I God to kill and make alive? Elisha hears and sends word: have the man come to me. Naaman arrives with his horses and chariots at Elisha's door. Elisha does not come out. He sends a messenger: go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman is furious. He turned and went away in a rage. His servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing you would have done it; how much more then when he says simply wash and be clean? Naaman goes down. Seven dips. His flesh becomes like the flesh of a little child. He is clean.
And he returns to Elisha and stands before him and says: now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Thread 7 is Naaman himself: the outsider who receives from Israel's God what Israel's God had not withheld from him. Jesus cites this in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. Thread 4 is the seven dips: each one a genuine act of humility by a man who had to overcome his pride to obey a simple instruction.
Naaman the Syrian, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, the confession of a Gentile military commander after seven dips in the Jordan is the most unexpected conversion narrative in the historical books.
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (vayyered vayyitbol ba-Yarden sheva pe'amim): he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan: vayyered (went down, Qal wayyiqtol of yarad; the going-down is the prerequisite for the going-up of healing; Naaman had to descend from his pride before he could rise in his health); sheva pe'amim (seven times, the covenant-complete number; each dip a renewed act of humble obedience; the healing comes on the seventh, after the full completion of what was asked)
threads t1 · t4 · t7 · see Luke 4:27 · Matthew 8:10-11 · Romans 10:12
Naaman is a great man: great with his master, great in valor, great in military achievement. And he is a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a Syrian raid and serving Naaman's wife, says: if only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman goes with a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel and a massive gift. The king of Israel tears his clothes in despair: am I God to kill and make alive? Elisha hears and sends word: have the man come to me. Naaman arrives with his horses and chariots at Elisha's door. Elisha does not come out. He sends a messenger: go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman is furious. He turned and went away in a rage. His servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing you would have done it; how much more then when he says simply wash and be clean? Naaman goes down. Seven dips. His flesh becomes like the flesh of a little child. He is clean.
And he returns to Elisha and stands before him and says: now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Thread 7 is Naaman himself: the outsider who receives from Israel's God what Israel's God had not withheld from him. Jesus cites this in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. Thread 4 is the seven dips: each one a genuine act of humility by a man who had to overcome his pride to obey a simple instruction.
Naaman the Syrian, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, the confession of a Gentile military commander after seven dips in the Jordan is the most unexpected conversion narrative in the historical books.
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (vayyered vayyitbol ba-Yarden sheva pe'amim): he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan: vayyered (went down, Qal wayyiqtol of yarad; the going-down is the prerequisite for the going-up of healing; Naaman had to descend from his pride before he could rise in his health); sheva pe'amim (seven times, the covenant-complete number; each dip a renewed act of humble obedience; the healing comes on the seventh, after the full completion of what was asked)
threads t1 · t4 · t7 · see Luke 4:27 · Matthew 8:10-11 · Romans 10:12
Naaman is a great man: great with his master, great in valor, great in military achievement. And he is a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a Syrian raid and serving Naaman's wife, says: if only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman goes with a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel and a massive gift. The king of Israel tears his clothes in despair: am I God to kill and make alive? Elisha hears and sends word: have the man come to me. Naaman arrives with his horses and chariots at Elisha's door. Elisha does not come out. He sends a messenger: go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman is furious. He turned and went away in a rage. His servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing you would have done it; how much more then when he says simply wash and be clean? Naaman goes down. Seven dips. His flesh becomes like the flesh of a little child. He is clean.
And he returns to Elisha and stands before him and says: now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Thread 7 is Naaman himself: the outsider who receives from Israel's God what Israel's God had not withheld from him. Jesus cites this in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. Thread 4 is the seven dips: each one a genuine act of humility by a man who had to overcome his pride to obey a simple instruction.
Naaman the Syrian, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, the confession of a Gentile military commander after seven dips in the Jordan is the most unexpected conversion narrative in the historical books.
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (vayyered vayyitbol ba-Yarden sheva pe'amim): he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan: vayyered (went down, Qal wayyiqtol of yarad; the going-down is the prerequisite for the going-up of healing; Naaman had to descend from his pride before he could rise in his health); sheva pe'amim (seven times, the covenant-complete number; each dip a renewed act of humble obedience; the healing comes on the seventh, after the full completion of what was asked)
threads t1 · t4 · t7 · see Luke 4:27 · Matthew 8:10-11 · Romans 10:12
Naaman is a great man: great with his master, great in valor, great in military achievement. And he is a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a Syrian raid and serving Naaman's wife, says: if only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman goes with a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel and a massive gift. The king of Israel tears his clothes in despair: am I God to kill and make alive? Elisha hears and sends word: have the man come to me. Naaman arrives with his horses and chariots at Elisha's door. Elisha does not come out. He sends a messenger: go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman is furious. He turned and went away in a rage. His servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing you would have done it; how much more then when he says simply wash and be clean? Naaman goes down. Seven dips. His flesh becomes like the flesh of a little child. He is clean.
And he returns to Elisha and stands before him and says: now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Thread 7 is Naaman himself: the outsider who receives from Israel's God what Israel's God had not withheld from him. Jesus cites this in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. Thread 4 is the seven dips: each one a genuine act of humility by a man who had to overcome his pride to obey a simple instruction.
Naaman the Syrian, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, the confession of a Gentile military commander after seven dips in the Jordan is the most unexpected conversion narrative in the historical books.
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (vayyered vayyitbol ba-Yarden sheva pe'amim): he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan: vayyered (went down, Qal wayyiqtol of yarad; the going-down is the prerequisite for the going-up of healing; Naaman had to descend from his pride before he could rise in his health); sheva pe'amim (seven times, the covenant-complete number; each dip a renewed act of humble obedience; the healing comes on the seventh, after the full completion of what was asked)
threads t1 · t4 · t7 · see Luke 4:27 · Matthew 8:10-11 · Romans 10:12
Naaman is a great man: great with his master, great in valor, great in military achievement. And he is a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a Syrian raid and serving Naaman's wife, says: if only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman goes with a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel and a massive gift. The king of Israel tears his clothes in despair: am I God to kill and make alive? Elisha hears and sends word: have the man come to me. Naaman arrives with his horses and chariots at Elisha's door. Elisha does not come out. He sends a messenger: go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman is furious. He turned and went away in a rage. His servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing you would have done it; how much more then when he says simply wash and be clean? Naaman goes down. Seven dips. His flesh becomes like the flesh of a little child. He is clean.
And he returns to Elisha and stands before him and says: now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Thread 7 is Naaman himself: the outsider who receives from Israel's God what Israel's God had not withheld from him. Jesus cites this in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. Thread 4 is the seven dips: each one a genuine act of humility by a man who had to overcome his pride to obey a simple instruction.
Naaman the Syrian, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, the confession of a Gentile military commander after seven dips in the Jordan is the most unexpected conversion narrative in the historical books.
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (vayyered vayyitbol ba-Yarden sheva pe'amim): he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan: vayyered (went down, Qal wayyiqtol of yarad; the going-down is the prerequisite for the going-up of healing; Naaman had to descend from his pride before he could rise in his health); sheva pe'amim (seven times, the covenant-complete number; each dip a renewed act of humble obedience; the healing comes on the seventh, after the full completion of what was asked)
threads t1 · t4 · t7 · see Luke 4:27 · Matthew 8:10-11 · Romans 10:12
Naaman is a great man: great with his master, great in valor, great in military achievement. And he is a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a Syrian raid and serving Naaman's wife, says: if only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman goes with a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel and a massive gift. The king of Israel tears his clothes in despair: am I God to kill and make alive? Elisha hears and sends word: have the man come to me. Naaman arrives with his horses and chariots at Elisha's door. Elisha does not come out. He sends a messenger: go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman is furious. He turned and went away in a rage. His servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing you would have done it; how much more then when he says simply wash and be clean? Naaman goes down. Seven dips. His flesh becomes like the flesh of a little child. He is clean.
And he returns to Elisha and stands before him and says: now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Thread 7 is Naaman himself: the outsider who receives from Israel's God what Israel's God had not withheld from him. Jesus cites this in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. Thread 4 is the seven dips: each one a genuine act of humility by a man who had to overcome his pride to obey a simple instruction.
Naaman the Syrian, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, the confession of a Gentile military commander after seven dips in the Jordan is the most unexpected conversion narrative in the historical books.
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (vayyered vayyitbol ba-Yarden sheva pe'amim): he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan: vayyered (went down, Qal wayyiqtol of yarad; the going-down is the prerequisite for the going-up of healing; Naaman had to descend from his pride before he could rise in his health); sheva pe'amim (seven times, the covenant-complete number; each dip a renewed act of humble obedience; the healing comes on the seventh, after the full completion of what was asked)
threads t1 · t4 · t7 · see Luke 4:27 · Matthew 8:10-11 · Romans 10:12
Naaman is a great man: great with his master, great in valor, great in military achievement. And he is a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a Syrian raid and serving Naaman's wife, says: if only my master would go to the prophet in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman goes with a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel and a massive gift. The king of Israel tears his clothes in despair: am I God to kill and make alive? Elisha hears and sends word: have the man come to me. Naaman arrives with his horses and chariots at Elisha's door. Elisha does not come out. He sends a messenger: go dip yourself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman is furious. He turned and went away in a rage. His servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked you to do some great thing you would have done it; how much more then when he says simply wash and be clean? Naaman goes down. Seven dips. His flesh becomes like the flesh of a little child. He is clean.
And he returns to Elisha and stands before him and says: now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Thread 7 is Naaman himself: the outsider who receives from Israel's God what Israel's God had not withheld from him. Jesus cites this in Luke 4:27. There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian. Thread 4 is the seven dips: each one a genuine act of humility by a man who had to overcome his pride to obey a simple instruction.
Naaman the Syrian, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, the confession of a Gentile military commander after seven dips in the Jordan is the most unexpected conversion narrative in the historical books.
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים (vayyered vayyitbol ba-Yarden sheva pe'amim): he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan: vayyered (went down, Qal wayyiqtol of yarad; the going-down is the prerequisite for the going-up of healing; Naaman had to descend from his pride before he could rise in his health); sheva pe'amim (seven times, the covenant-complete number; each dip a renewed act of humble obedience; the healing comes on the seventh, after the full completion of what was asked)
threads t1 · t4 · t7 · see Luke 4:27 · Matthew 8:10-11 · Romans 10:12