2 kings 5:18 - In this thing may Yahweh pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon. When I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may Yahweh pardon your servant in this thing.”
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What does "2 kings 5:18" mean?
This verse is a complex and often debated passage in 2 Kings 5:18. It represents Naaman's struggle to reconcile his newfound faith in Yahweh with his professional duties as a high-ranking official in the Syrian army. Let's break it down:
Context: Naaman, a Syrian army commander, was miraculously cured of leprosy by the prophet Elisha. As a result, Naaman acknowledged Yahweh as the only true God and vowed to worship Him alone. However, he anticipates a conflict of interest.
"In this thing may Yahweh pardon your servant...": Naaman is asking for forgiveness in advance for a specific potential future action. He is troubled by a situation he foresees.
"...when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there...": Rimmon was a Syrian deity. The "house of Rimmon" was the temple dedicated to this god. Naaman's master, the King of Syria, would regularly go there to worship.
"...and he leans on my hand...": This indicates Naaman's close relationship and high position as the King's trusted advisor. He was responsible for physically supporting the King, perhaps because the King was infirm or elderly. This duty highlights Naaman's loyalty and responsibility within the Syrian court.
"...and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon.": This is the core of the dilemma. Naaman is acknowledging that, in his role as the King's support, he will likely be physically present in the temple of Rimmon and that, when the King bows to Rimmon, Naaman's physical support of the King will cause him to also bow. This would be an act of apparent worship to a false god, which conflicts with his newfound faith in Yahweh.
"When I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may Yahweh pardon your servant in this thing.”: This reiterates Naaman's plea for forgiveness. He understands that his physical bowing might appear as worship, but his heart does not belong to Rimmon anymore. He is asking for Yahweh to understand his situation and forgive him for this seemingly unavoidable compromise.
Interpretation and Debate:
This verse raises several points for interpretation:
Compromise vs. Hypocrisy: Is Naaman seeking a reasonable accommodation of his faith within a difficult situation, or is he trying to justify an act of idolatry? Some see it as a pragmatic approach to his situation, while others view it as a moral failing.
Inner Intention vs. Outer Action: Is God concerned more with the state of Naaman's heart or with the appearance of his actions? Naaman is clearly stating that his heart is with Yahweh, but his actions will be interpreted as bowing to Rimmon.
The Nature of Worship: Does Naaman's physical bowing necessarily constitute worship? Some argue that it could be seen as merely a professional duty, devoid of religious significance.
Elisha's Response: The next verse (2 Kings 5:19) simply states, "Go in peace." Elisha doesn't explicitly grant or deny Naaman's request for forgiveness. This ambiguity has led to further debate about whether Elisha condoned Naaman's compromise or simply left the matter between Naaman and God. Some suggest "Go in peace" meant to go with Yahweh's blessing, trusting that God would understand Naaman's situation.
In Summary:
Naaman's request in 2 Kings 5:18 reveals his internal conflict between his newfound faith in Yahweh and his continued obligations as a high-ranking official in a pagan court. He seeks forgiveness for the act of bowing in the house of Rimmon, acknowledging that his physical presence and actions may be misconstrued as worship. The verse is a complex ethical dilemma that raises questions about the nature of compromise, worship, and the relationship between inner faith and outward actions. The absence of a direct answer from Elisha invites continued reflection and debate.
2 kings 5:18 - In this thing may Yahweh pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon. When I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may Yahweh pardon your servant in this thing.”
What does "2 kings 5:18" mean?
This verse is a complex and often debated passage in 2 Kings 5:18. It represents Naaman's struggle to reconcile his newfound faith in Yahweh with his professional duties as a high-ranking official in the Syrian army. Let's break it down:
Context: Naaman, a Syrian army commander, was miraculously cured of leprosy by the prophet Elisha. As a result, Naaman acknowledged Yahweh as the only true God and vowed to worship Him alone. However, he anticipates a conflict of interest.
"In this thing may Yahweh pardon your servant...": Naaman is asking for forgiveness in advance for a specific potential future action. He is troubled by a situation he foresees.
"...when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there...": Rimmon was a Syrian deity. The "house of Rimmon" was the temple dedicated to this god. Naaman's master, the King of Syria, would regularly go there to worship.
"...and he leans on my hand...": This indicates Naaman's close relationship and high position as the King's trusted advisor. He was responsible for physically supporting the King, perhaps because the King was infirm or elderly. This duty highlights Naaman's loyalty and responsibility within the Syrian court.
"...and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon.": This is the core of the dilemma. Naaman is acknowledging that, in his role as the King's support, he will likely be physically present in the temple of Rimmon and that, when the King bows to Rimmon, Naaman's physical support of the King will cause him to also bow. This would be an act of apparent worship to a false god, which conflicts with his newfound faith in Yahweh.
"When I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may Yahweh pardon your servant in this thing.”: This reiterates Naaman's plea for forgiveness. He understands that his physical bowing might appear as worship, but his heart does not belong to Rimmon anymore. He is asking for Yahweh to understand his situation and forgive him for this seemingly unavoidable compromise.
Interpretation and Debate:
This verse raises several points for interpretation:
Compromise vs. Hypocrisy: Is Naaman seeking a reasonable accommodation of his faith within a difficult situation, or is he trying to justify an act of idolatry? Some see it as a pragmatic approach to his situation, while others view it as a moral failing.
Inner Intention vs. Outer Action: Is God concerned more with the state of Naaman's heart or with the appearance of his actions? Naaman is clearly stating that his heart is with Yahweh, but his actions will be interpreted as bowing to Rimmon.
The Nature of Worship: Does Naaman's physical bowing necessarily constitute worship? Some argue that it could be seen as merely a professional duty, devoid of religious significance.
Elisha's Response: The next verse (2 Kings 5:19) simply states, "Go in peace." Elisha doesn't explicitly grant or deny Naaman's request for forgiveness. This ambiguity has led to further debate about whether Elisha condoned Naaman's compromise or simply left the matter between Naaman and God. Some suggest "Go in peace" meant to go with Yahweh's blessing, trusting that God would understand Naaman's situation.
In Summary:
Naaman's request in 2 Kings 5:18 reveals his internal conflict between his newfound faith in Yahweh and his continued obligations as a high-ranking official in a pagan court. He seeks forgiveness for the act of bowing in the house of Rimmon, acknowledging that his physical presence and actions may be misconstrued as worship. The verse is a complex ethical dilemma that raises questions about the nature of compromise, worship, and the relationship between inner faith and outward actions. The absence of a direct answer from Elisha invites continued reflection and debate.