This verse describes a pivotal moment in the story of Naaman's healing in 2 Kings 5. Here's a breakdown of its meaning and context:
Context: Naaman, a Syrian general, was healed of leprosy by the prophet Elisha. He offered Elisha a generous gift in gratitude, but Elisha refused it. Gehazi, Elisha's servant, greedy for the wealth, secretly ran after Naaman and lied, claiming that Elisha had changed his mind and needed some silver and garments for visiting prophets. Naaman, believing him, happily gave him the requested items.
"When he came to the hill...": Gehazi is returning to Elisha's house after successfully deceiving Naaman. The "hill" likely refers to the location of Elisha's dwelling.
"...he took them from their hand...": This refers to the silver and garments that Naaman's servants were carrying for Gehazi.
"...and stored them in the house.": Gehazi hides the goods in his (or Elisha's) house, concealing his deception. This act demonstrates his intent to keep the wealth for himself.
"Then he let the men go, and they departed.": Gehazi dismisses Naaman's servants, who return to Syria unaware of Gehazi's deceit.
In essence, this verse is about:
Gehazi's Deception: It highlights the culmination of Gehazi's greedy scheme and his attempt to cover it up.
Secrecy: The verse emphasizes the secret nature of Gehazi's actions. He doesn't want anyone to know what he has done.
Consequences: The verse sets the stage for the next part of the story, where Gehazi will face the consequences of his greed and dishonesty. Elisha, through his prophetic insight, already knows of Gehazi's betrayal.
It's a pivotal verse that underscores the themes of greed, dishonesty, and the importance of integrity, particularly in the context of divine blessing and service.
This verse describes a pivotal moment in the story of Naaman's healing in 2 Kings 5. Here's a breakdown of its meaning and context:
Context: Naaman, a Syrian general, was healed of leprosy by the prophet Elisha. He offered Elisha a generous gift in gratitude, but Elisha refused it. Gehazi, Elisha's servant, greedy for the wealth, secretly ran after Naaman and lied, claiming that Elisha had changed his mind and needed some silver and garments for visiting prophets. Naaman, believing him, happily gave him the requested items.
"When he came to the hill...": Gehazi is returning to Elisha's house after successfully deceiving Naaman. The "hill" likely refers to the location of Elisha's dwelling.
"...he took them from their hand...": This refers to the silver and garments that Naaman's servants were carrying for Gehazi.
"...and stored them in the house.": Gehazi hides the goods in his (or Elisha's) house, concealing his deception. This act demonstrates his intent to keep the wealth for himself.
"Then he let the men go, and they departed.": Gehazi dismisses Naaman's servants, who return to Syria unaware of Gehazi's deceit.
In essence, this verse is about:
Gehazi's Deception: It highlights the culmination of Gehazi's greedy scheme and his attempt to cover it up.
Secrecy: The verse emphasizes the secret nature of Gehazi's actions. He doesn't want anyone to know what he has done.
Consequences: The verse sets the stage for the next part of the story, where Gehazi will face the consequences of his greed and dishonesty. Elisha, through his prophetic insight, already knows of Gehazi's betrayal.
It's a pivotal verse that underscores the themes of greed, dishonesty, and the importance of integrity, particularly in the context of divine blessing and service.