DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2014 August 25
Image 1: Naaman's Servant Girl
Standard_Publishing Image
Image Source: The Work of God's Children
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Image 2: Constantijn Huygens and his Clerk (1627)
Thomas de Keyser (c. 1596-1667)
Dutch Golden Age Baroque Style
National Gallery, London, England, United Kingdom
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
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Image 3: Healing of Naaman
Volkhard Graf (Contemporary Artist)
Realism Style
Private Collection
Image Source: Eikon Bible Art
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Image 4: Elisha Refusing Gifts from Naaman (c. 1630)
Pieter de Grebber (c. 1600 - c. 1652/1653)
Dutch Golden Age Baroque Style
Private Collection
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
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Image 5: Elisha and Gehazi (c. 1630)
Lambert Jacobsz (1598-1636)
Dutch Golden Age Baroque Style
Private Collection
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
Explanation: 2 Kings 5 contains the account of Naaman the leper. The paintings above are self-explanatory except for the second, which I have chosen to represent Elisha and his servant Gehazi. [Kings of Judah and Israel Chart]. [Chronologically and Thematically Related Scriptures: 2 Kings 4].
Naaman, who was the captain of the Syrian army, had leprosy. And a young serving girl from Israel said that there was a prophet in Israel who could heal Naaman. Someone told this to Naaman (1-4). The King of Syria therefore sent gifts to the King of Israel (probably Jehoram) asking him to cure Naaman. This caused such distress in the king that he tore his clothes and said that the king of Syria was seeking a quarrel against him (5-7). When Elisha heard of the king's distress, he sent word that Naaman should be sent to him. When Naaman arrived, Elisha had a servant (possibly Gehazi) to tell Naaman to wash in the Jordan seven times, and he would be clean. But Naaman was insulted and left in a rage, declaring that the rivers of Damascus were better than all of the waters of Israel, and that he should be allowed to wash in them and be clean. But his servants reasoned with him that if the prophet had asked him to do a great thing, he would have done it, so why not do the small thing. So Naaman washed and became clean (8-14). He then returned to Elisha, declaring his faith that God was the only God in all the earth; and he urged Elisha to take substantial gifts; but Elisha refused. Naaman then loaded two mule's-burden of earth from Israel to serve as holy ground upon which to worship the LORD. And he asked that the LORD would pardon him when he did his duty to his master, the King of Syria, as the king worshiped in the house of Rimmon (15-18). And Elisha sent him away in peace. But Gehazi went after Naaman and told him a lie about a sudden need that had arisen; and he asked Naaman for a gift. Naaman gave more than Gehazi requested and sent the gift back, borne by two of his servants, since Gehazi was on foot. After Naaman's servants departed, Elisha confronted Gehazi about his lies and theft; and he cursed him by placing the leprosy of Naaman upon him and his posterity (19-27).
2 Kings 5
1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.
2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.
3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.
5 And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, 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.
6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.
7 And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.
8 And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had 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.
9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
11 But 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 the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, 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.
13 And his servants came near, and spake 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?
14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
16 But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.
17 And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, 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 the LORD.
18 In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.
19 And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.
20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
25 But 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.
26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again 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 menservants, and maidservants?
27 The 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.
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