Gehazi’s Greed and Leprosy

Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared,“Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

16 

But Elisha replied,“As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused.

17 

“If you will not,” said Naaman,“please let me, your servant, be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry. For your servant will never again make a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the LORD. 18 Yet may the LORD forgive your servant this one thing: When my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my arm, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon may the LORD forgive your servant in this matter.”

19 

“Go in peace,” said [Elisha]

But after [Naaman] had traveled a short distance 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said,“ Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, by not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

21 

So Gehazi pursued Naaman. And when Naaman saw [him] running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and asked,“Is everything all right?”

22 

“Everything [is] all right,” Gehazi replied.“My master has sent me to say,‘Look, two young men from the sons of the prophets have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver[fn] and two sets of clothing.’ ”

23 

But Naaman insisted,“Please, take two talents.” And he urged Gehazi {to accept them}. Then he tied up two talents of silver in two bags along with two sets of clothing and gave them to two of his servants, who carried them ahead of Gehazi.

24 

When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the gifts from [the servants] and stored them in the house. Then he dismissed the men, and they departed.

25 

When Gehazi went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him,“Gehazi, where [have you been]?”

“Your servant did not go anywhere,” he replied.

26 

But Elisha questioned him,“Did not my spirit go [with you] when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants? 27 Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!”

And as Gehazi left his presence, [he was] leprous— [as white] as snow. 6