John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes , etc.] And upon what account: that he sent to the king, saying, wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes ? and thereby expressed so much concern and distress: let him come now to me : meaning Naaman the Syrian leper: and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel ; able in the name of the Lord to work miracles, which he should be sensible of and acknowledge, to the glory of the God of Israel, by the cure that should be wrought upon him; and hereby he taxed the king of Israel with ignorance or neglect of him as a prophet.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Though the Syrians were idolaters, and oppressed God's people, yet the deliverance of which Naaman had been the means, is here ascribed to the Lord. Such is the correct language of Scripture, while those who writ common history, plainly show that God is not in all their thoughts. N man's greatness, or honour, can place him our of the reach of the sorest calamities of human life: there is many a sickly, crazy bod under rich and gay clothing. Every man has some but or other, somethin that blemishes and diminishes him, some allay to his grandeur, some damp to his joy. This little maid, though only a girl, could give a account of the famous prophet the Israelites had among them. Children should be early told of the wondrous works of God, that, wherever the go, they may talk of them. As became a good servant, she desired the health and welfare of her master, though she was a captive, a servan by force; much more should servants by choice, seek their masters good. Servants may be blessings to the families where they are, by telling what they know of the glory of God, and the honour of his prophets. Naaman did not despise what she told, because of he meanness. It would be well if men were as sensible of the burden of sin as they are of bodily disease. And when they seek the blessings whic the Lord sends in answer to the prayers of his faithful people, the will find nothing can be had, except they come as beggars for a fre gift, not as lords to demand or purchase.
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 כשׁמע8085 אלישׁע477 אישׁ376 האלהים430 כי3588 קרע7167 מלך4428 ישׂראל3478 את853 בגדיו899 וישׁלח7971 אל413 המלך4428 לאמר559 למה4100 קרעת7167 בגדיך899 יבא935 נא4994 אלי413 וידע3045 כי3588 ישׁ3426 נביא5030 בישׂראל׃3478
