Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria; he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 1. King, Benadad, who had defeated Achab, and was slain by Hazael; (Calmet. 8. Tirinus.) or, according to Salien, Hazael was already king. Menochius.—Josephus passes over this history. It is not known for what reason, ( Calmet.) unless he was staggered at the petition of Naaman, verse 18. 19. Bible.—Syria. The Rabbins say, by killing Achab. 3 Kennicott. 22:34. But their authority is very small; ( Bible.) and he might signalize himself on many other occasions.—Leper. This malady did not exclude him from court. The Hebrews allowed such to appear in public, till the priests had declared them unclean; and other nations viewed the leprosy with less horror.