Gehazi’s Greed

20 But (A)Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.” 21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, “Is all well?”

22 And he said, “All is (B)well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Indeed, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments.’ ”

23 So Naaman said, “Please, take two talents.” And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and handed them to two of his servants; and they carried them on ahead of him. 24 When he came to [a]the citadel, he took them from their hand, and stored them away in the house; then he let the men go, and they departed. 25 Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you go, Gehazi?”

And he said, “Your servant did not go anywhere.”

26 Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it (C)time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman (D)shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” And he went out from his presence (E)leprous, as white as snow.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 5:24 Lit. the hill

20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord(A) lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

21 So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. “Is everything all right?” he asked.

22 “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent[a] of silver and two sets of clothing.’”(B)

23 “By all means, take two talents,” said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24 When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left.

25 When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?”

“Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered.

26 But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time(C) to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves?(D) 27 Naaman’s leprosy(E) will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi(F) went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 5:22 That is, about 75 pounds or about 34 kilograms

(A)Their feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed (B)innocent blood;
(C)Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;
Wasting and (D)destruction are in their paths.

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Their feet rush into sin;
    they are swift to shed innocent blood.(A)
They pursue evil schemes;(B)
    acts of violence mark their ways.(C)

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15 “Their(A) feet are swift to shed blood;

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15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

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