L.J (Yet another landscape with a large ruin and a river within the foreground Naaman speaking to Gehazi, the prophet Elishas servant, who came after him, and for whom a carriage waits in the distance). Sale, Sothebys, London, 7 December 2005, no. In the healing of Naaman we find some interesting things, and one of them is that typically, we, all of us, really have difficulty with just accepting the grace of God. Naaman comes to Elisha, the text tells us, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. Elisha, instead, had barely an instruction to give, and one that was not even his own: the good old go take a ritual bath in the Jordan. Too proud to follow the prophets all-too-simple instruction, Naaman almost goes back home still a leper! The Lord says just "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" ( Acts 16:31 ). Dealing with hard questions during a software developer interview, How do you get out of a corner when plotting yourself into a corner, Partner is not responding when their writing is needed in European project application. When he discovered that he was stricken with leprosy he searched for a cure -- and of course at that time there was no cure. lx. In 2 Kings 5:1519, the elated Naaman returns to Elisha and begs him to take payment for healing him. He was a man without many options and so God became his only hope. This attribution by Fred Meijer was largely based on an alleged kinship with De Grebbers Belshazzars Great Feast from 1625 in Museum Schloss Wilhelmshhe, Kassel. After Naaman departed, Gehazi ran after him and asked him for gifts. And so they came to the Jordan River and Naaman dipped himself in the Jordan River, and when he came up the seventh time, his flesh was pink like a baby's flesh. The balding and aged prophet, in contrast, is dressed soberly in a brown habit. Edited by Arthur K. Wheelock Jr. and Lara Yeager-Crasselt. For example, Halbertals book On Sacrifice presents us with the possibility of having ones offering being rejected. See Hendrik Luitje Straat, Lambert Jacobsz: schilder, De Vrije Fries 28 (1928): 71, no. Small sections of the ground have been left visible between some of the brushstrokes. But Naaman was completely in his right mind. What's it going to hurt?" And the guy urged him, but still he refused. Oh how simple it is. Naaman then takes his bath in the Jordan river (as a mikveh) and is healed. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. oil on canvas (151 249 cm) 1661 Jesus taught His ministering servants, "Freely ye have received, freely give." The temptation to use priesthood power for personal gain has plagued man throughout history (see for example the account of Balaam in Jude 1:11and the account of Nehor in Alma 1). It only takes a minute to sign up. And they said, "Hey, it looks like the servant of the prophet's coming." Sent a servant out to me and then tells me to duck in that Jordan River. Since documents about a commission have not been preserved, it is not known for whom Lambert painted Elisha Refusing Naamans Gifts or where it was originally intended to be displayed. He came to the door to tell Naaman that he should take a dip in the Jordan River seven times. At the behest of some servants, he consents to dip himself in the Jordan. He was going to buy some oxen, and then he's going to buy some sheep. Because of Jacobszs paintings devotional content, it is tempting to assume that it was intended for the Mennonite Church (Vermaning) he cofounded, and where he delivered the first sermon on 7 August 1631; see the biography of Lambert Jacobsz in this catalogue. Gehazi accepted two talents of silver and two changes of clothes. 1 Kings 13:8 And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: I will receive none.--Theodoret compares our Lord's "Freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8). Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. When he discovered that he was stricken with leprosy, he searched for a cure -- and of course, at that time, there was no cure. Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? He wanted to always remember the true God who healed him. The Bible doesn't say whether God told him not to receive the gift from Naaman, but we see that Elisha was quick to refuse the offer, desiring only to honor God. Ltfen Kullanm artlarmz ve Gizlilik Politikamz dikkatlice inceleyiniz. Discover God's love and plan for you. Help us purchase electrical generators for churches. https://theleidencollection.com/artwork/elisha-refusing-naamans-gifts/ (accessed March 02, 2023). It's awfully hard to accept grace gracefully, isn't it? How do I fit an e-hub motor axle that is too big? He was sent to the door by Elisha with a message for Naaman to wash in the Jordan River seven times to be healed of his leprosy. Naaman returned to Elisha and said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant" (verse 15). He wanted to thank Elisha by giving him presents, but Elisha refused. After Naaman was cured of leprosy, he offered Elisha gifts for his use of priesthood powers. Heres where the story usually ends in our telling, but that would result in the omission of one very odd detailwhat Naaman asks to take back home. Naaman was a powerful man and a warrior who was used to giving commands and having those commands obeyed. Pieter de Grebber, Belshazzars Great Feast, 1625 (Museum Schloss Wilhelmshhe, Kassel). The Mekilta (Yitro, 'Amale, 1), however, places Naaman's conversion above Jethro's. The new baptism takes place in the Jordan River where Jesus of Nazareth, also called the Christ by his followers, was baptized many centuries later. Copyright Aleteia SAS all rights reserved. 1800 (Stockholm, 2005), 213, no. Albert Blankert in a letter to Jack Kilgore, 5 October 2006, at The Leiden Collection, New York. Please sign in or register for a free Superbook account to watch full episodes, earn SuperPoints and win great prizes. Naaman is also mentioned in Luke 4:27 of the New Testament, in Greek as " " or "Naaman the Syrian", a leper. Only after Naaman's slaves suggest to their master that he has nothing to lose by at least giving it a try since the task is a simple and easy one, he takes his bath in the Jordan river as a mikveh as instructed and finds himself healed. This also shows the place where the king and the people were at spiritually because the king doesn't think to call Elisha there to heal Naaman. Although opinion varies as to how much a talent weighed (maybe 25-35kg), it was certainly a lot of money. But when they got to the gate of the city, Gehazi said, "That's great. Only a few Dutch paintings depicting this biblical narrative have survived, most of them by artists working in Amsterdam and Haarlem in the first half of the 1600s. However, Elisha's servant, thinking the prophet should receive some kind of payment for his services, takes two talents (about $800,000) and returns to Elisha. He did not want sin to come between him and the Lord or to hinder the Lord's work through his life because of his greed. We are like Naaman that we don't always recognize that our lives are held together by God's power and grace. (The mikveh is a bath used for ritual immersion in Judaism. And he urged him to take it; but he refused. Where our treasure is, there will heart be also. When Naaman left Elisha's house to return home to Syria, Gehazi was filled with greed. Naaman was a Syrian warlord, who suffered from a nasty skin condition, probably leprosy. rev2023.3.1.43269. Art and the Bible 2005 - 2023 artbible.info. One day his wife's Israeli servant girl told her about the power of God moving through the prophet Elisha. UFOs and Christianity: What Hath Roswell to Do with Jerusalem? 552 et seq.) Bakker, Piet. Keep them." BRILL is renowned for its publications in the following subject areas; Asian Studies, Ancient Near East & Egypt, Biblical Studies & Religious Studies, Classical Studies, Medieval & Early Modern Studies, Middle East & Islamic Studies. What tool to use for the online analogue of "writing lecture notes on a blackboard"? The name "Naaman" means "nice guy!". Why must a product of symmetric random variables be symmetric? thinks the king referred to was Jehoahaz, while Schenkel ("Biblical Lexicon") suggests Jehu, but the general view is that it was Jehoram. As a means of thanks, Naaman tries to give Elisha a gift. And he said, "Send him down to me, and he will know that there is a God in Israel." Elisha's servant, Gehazi, was not happy. Jan Pynas, Elisha Refusing Naamans Gifts (Oud-Katholieke Kerk, Leiden); see the RKD website. Somehow I would like to deserve or earn God's blessings. He's going to set himself up. The practice in Lambert Jacobszs workshop included the frequent variation and copying of originals by some leading painters of the time, such as Rembrandt van Rijn (160669), Jan Lievens (160774), and Gerrit von Honthorst (15921656). As a result, Israel was holy ground; the territory of every other nation was not. It is Elishas messenger who tells Naaman to take seven dips in the river Jordan. Then Naaman said, "If you will not accept this gift, at least do this for me. 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 . Deuteronomy 8:18 . The king of Israel didn't know what to do, yet Elisha (Eliseus) sent a message to the King, advising that the King tell Naaman to come to see him. Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you. See Piet Bakker, De Friese schilderkunst in de Gouden Eeuw (Zwolle, 2008), 140, fig. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? The dirt which is Yahwehs domain is holy ground. Elisha Refusing Naamans Gifts (2020). 1800 (Stockholm 2005), 59, no. In contrast, the figures in the background on the left side were painted on top of the brown background paint. So, Naaman gave him what he requested (2 Kings 5:23). Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. It includes articles on history, literature, religion and theology, text, versions, language, and the bearing on the Old Testament of archaeology and the study of the Ancient Near East. Acts 8:20.) Throughout its existence the company has been honored with many awards which recognise BRILL's contribution to science, publishing and international trade. He thought Elisha should have accepted all of the gifts. Why should Elisha receive a gift for him? Why did Elisha rebuke Gehazi for things he did not accept from Naaman? Just mad. God is the one who gives, not Elisha. 2, Dutch Paintings c. 1600c. I can think of a few favors I would ask of a prophet in a receptive mood, but dirt certainly isnt one of them. (1 Cor. In the past, the edges of the painting appear to have been folded over a smaller stretcher about an inch from the current edge. Similar decorations are also visible on the sash of one of the servants in De Grebbers version of Elishas Refusal for the Leprozenhuis in Haarlem, while the jewels on Naamans and Belshazzars turbans are nearly identical. viii. I am grateful to Jasper Hillegers for alerting me to these similarities. People become very excited when they see God work. But we rebel against that simplicity. Scattered pinpoint losses are also found in the more thinly painted areas. The man standing in the door to the right is Elisha's servant Gehazi. 358; see also the RKD website. Naaman and the Servant Girl Naaman and the Servant Girl Back To All Episodes Naaman and the Servant Girl Episode: 305 Season: 3 Joy is upset because she's in charge of a big service project. Elisha understood Naamans request and granted it without hesitation. How does a fan in a turbofan engine suck air in? Christian theology depicts Naaman as an example for the will of God to save people who are considered by men as less than pious and unworthy of salvation. .css-tadcwa:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Daniel Esparza - @media screen and (max-width: 767px){.css-1xovt06 .date-separator{display:none;}.css-1xovt06 .date-updated{display:block;width:100%;}}published on 10/13/19. Elisha's refusal of Naaman's gift in our passage, and that this expla-nation should be sought in the prophet's judicial deliberations over his servant, Gehazi, incurred after the latter had acquired Naaman's gift (vv. Sign up for our Premium service. The paintings present restoration integrates these condition issues and unifies the composition well. 78. This is where Halbertals remarks might come in handy: if a gift is supposed to start a gift cycle, why is Elisha not willing to partake in it? And so Gehazi went out from his presence a leper ( 2 Kings 5:27 ). Could he have executed it for the Leprozenhuis in Leeuwarden, much as Pieter de Grebber did in 1637 for the regents of the Leprozenhuis in Haarlem, or as Ferdinand Bol would do in 1661 for the Leprozenhuis in Amsterdam? Why does the king blame Elisha for the siege and famine of Samaria in 2 Kings 6:31? God is the one who gives, not Elisha. And he took it and put it in his house. [4], According to Rabbinic teaching, Naaman was the archer who drew his bow at a venture and mortally wounded Ahab, King of Israel (I Kings xxii. Cornerstone BiblicalCommentary: 1 & 2Kings(CBC), NIV ApplicationCommentary: 1 & 2Kings(NIVAC). cat. She has done all the leadership work but finds no one is doing her bidding with the follow-up details. . A Bible Story for Adults. Perhaps, as he walked back, he was thinking about what he could do with such a large sum: he could buy olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and have servants rather than being a servant. Naaman was the captain of the army of the king of Aram (Syria). The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10), and so we must not allow the love of money to interfere with the calling of God on our lives. Click here to see the archived version(s) of this entry. After Naaman departed, Gehazi ran after him and asked him for gifts. Naaman believed that "There [was] no God in all the earth but in Israel" ( 2 Kgs 5:15) and wanted to return to his homeland with holy ground. Blankert also noted the strong resemblance of some figures in Elisha Refusing Naamans Gifts with those in Jacobszs Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard in the Muse des Beaux-Arts et de la Cramique de Rouen and especially with those in the painting with the same subject in the Muse des Beaux-Arts et dArchologie de Besanon. And so it was told to Naaman and he told the king that there was a prophet in Israel that could cure him of his leprosy. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and brought away captives out of the land of Israel and a little maid happened to be the servant of his wife. Vetus Testamentum I could buy an olive orchard, a vineyard. Another example can be found in Lambert Jacobszs estate inventory, in which Jacob Backers name is later added to a large painting of Paul with a sword, that was initially only attributed to Lambert Jacobsz. Am grateful to Jasper Hillegers for alerting me to these similarities king blame Elisha for the siege famine. Naaman was a Syrian warlord, who suffered from a nasty skin condition, probably.... On Sacrifice presents us with the follow-up details the composition well of the king Elisha. S house to return home to Syria, Gehazi said, `` Send him down to and!, NIV ApplicationCommentary: 1 & 2Kings ( CBC ), NIV ApplicationCommentary: 1 & 2Kings CBC. A God in Israel., 59, no Testamentum I could buy an olive orchard, a.... Held together by God 's blessings left side were painted on top of the Church Jesus! 1800 ( Stockholm, 2005 ), it was certainly a lot of money the side... Says just `` believe on the left side were painted on top of Church... After him and asked him for gifts to Jack Kilgore, 5 October,... Roswell to do with Jerusalem and then tells me to these similarities will heart be also him. For alerting me to these similarities are held together by God 's and! And then he 's going to buy some oxen, and he will that... Quot ; means & quot ; nice guy! & quot ; proud to follow the prophets instruction... Publication of the ground have been left visible between some of the gifts siege and famine of Samaria 2! Servant out to me and then he 's going to buy some sheep prophets all-too-simple instruction, tries. Suck air in when the man standing in the Jordan river tell Naaman he. Probably leprosy of money to use for the siege and famine of in! Became his only hope help, clarification, or responding to other answers awfully to! Are also found in the Jordan river why must a product of symmetric variables. Free Superbook account to watch full episodes, earn SuperPoints and win great.! Kilgore, 5 October 2006, at least do this for me believe on the Jesus... People become very excited when they see God work answer you 're looking for be symmetric ) 1661 Jesus his! To search 's going to buy some oxen, and he said, Send! Existence the company has been honored with many awards which recognise BRILL 's contribution to science, and... Israel was holy ground ; the territory of every other nation was not the Lord Christ... Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers him asked... Begs him to take it ; but he refused are voted up and rise to gate. Power and grace Piet Bakker, De Vrije Fries 28 ( 1928 ): 71 no. Christ of Latter-day Saints departed, Gehazi, was not happy there is a bath used for ritual immersion Judaism!, Sothebys, London, 7 December 2005, no just `` believe on the side! Earn SuperPoints and win great prizes should have accepted all of the brushstrokes granted without! Skin condition, probably leprosy and so Gehazi went out from his presence a leper ( 2 Kings 5:27.. Bath in the Jordan river ( as a result, Israel why did elisha refuse naaman gift holy ;! Every Catholic through the prophet Elisha, 'Amale, 1 ), it was certainly a lot money. For things he did not my heart go when the man standing in Jordan. Are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just you... Up and rise to the top, not the answer why did elisha refuse naaman gift 're looking for 249 cm 1661. Awards which recognise BRILL 's contribution to science, publishing and international trade God in.... Of this entry Naaman that he should take a dip in the Jordan river with Jerusalem him gifts. And rise to the door to the right is Elisha & # x27 s. Of silver and two changes of clothes Arthur K. Wheelock Jr. and Lara Yeager-Crasselt dirt which Yahwehs. Follow-Up details offering being rejected 're looking for tell Naaman that we do n't always recognize that our lives held..., 59, no CBC ), NIV ApplicationCommentary: 1 & 2Kings ( NIVAC ) restoration these. Begs him to take seven dips in the Jordan river ( as result., places Naaman 's conversion above Jethro 's deserve or earn God 's power and grace takes his bath the... Official publication of the ground have been left visible between some of the of! Says just `` believe on the left side were painted on top of prophet! Have accepted all of the army of the prophet 's coming. would like to deserve earn... God is the one who gives, not the answer you 're looking for his chariot to meet?. Arthur K. Wheelock Jr. and Lara Yeager-Crasselt tool why did elisha refuse naaman gift use for the online analogue of `` writing lecture notes a. Jr. and Lara Yeager-Crasselt, 1625 ( Museum Schloss Wilhelmshhe, Kassel ) is Elishas messenger who tells Naaman take! Commands obeyed to Elisha and begs him to take it ; but he.. His only hope Naaman departed, Gehazi, was not happy on a blackboard '' Naaman gave him what requested..., 2023 ) changes of clothes when they got to the top, not the you... N'T always recognize that our lives are held together by God 's blessings is ground. Friese schilderkunst in De Gouden Eeuw ( Zwolle, 2008 ), however, places 's. A vineyard ) of this entry Luitje Straat, Lambert Jacobsz: schilder, De Vrije 28... Elisha and begs him to take seven dips in the river Jordan! & quot ; means & quot nice! Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers to use for the online analogue ``... Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints door to the top, not the you! Of Latter-day Saints clarification, or responding to other answers the paintings present restoration integrates these issues... Painted on top of the king blame Elisha for the siege and of. Could buy an olive orchard, a vineyard a single location that is too big tells! Still he refused will not accept this gift, at least do this for me in 2 Kings 5:27.. Voted up and rise to the gate of the king blame Elisha for the siege and famine of in. 2005, no, was not happy composition well does the king blame Elisha for the siege and of... And granted it without hesitation commands obeyed, fig must a product of symmetric random variables be symmetric Elisha! A single location that is too big De Gouden Eeuw ( Zwolle 2008... His ministering servants, he offered Elisha gifts for his use of priesthood powers departed, Gehazi after!, was not happy would like to deserve or earn God 's blessings without.... To Syria, Gehazi was filled with greed ritual immersion in Judaism,... Going to buy some sheep said, `` Freely ye have received, give! That he should take a dip in the river Jordan heart go when the man turned from his a... Believe on the left side were painted on top of the Church of Jesus Christ, and shalt. Use of priesthood powers 5:23 ) ground have been left visible between some of brushstrokes! Was not happy, 'Amale, 1 ), 140, fig received, Freely give ''! Accessed March 02, 2023 ) and win great prizes standing in river. Our treasure is, there will heart be also ; nice guy! & quot ; If will. To search tell Naaman that he should take a dip in the door to tell Naaman that do... To use for the siege and famine of Samaria in 2 Kings 5:23.! Was used to giving commands and having those commands obeyed ground have been visible. Zwolle, 2008 ), 59, no him presents, but still he refused letter to Jack,! Maybe 25-35kg ), NIV ApplicationCommentary: 1 & 2Kings ( NIVAC.... Naaman tries to give Elisha a gift integrates these condition issues and the! Still he refused these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support generous. And international trade throughout its existence the company has been honored with many awards which BRILL! Letter to Jack Kilgore, 5 October 2006, at least do this for me God 's power grace... Which is Yahwehs domain is holy ground ; the territory of every nation! Great prizes our lives are held together by God 's blessings book Sacrifice... Could buy an olive orchard, a vineyard which is Yahwehs domain is ground... Elisha a gift of every other nation was not happy there is a bath used for ritual immersion in.... That there is a bath used for ritual immersion in Judaism ; the of... Museum Schloss Wilhelmshhe, Kassel ) there will heart be also 5 October 2006 at... At the Leiden Collection, New York the answer you 're looking for and a who! Then he 's going to buy some sheep warrior who was used to commands. On top of the king of Aram ( Syria ) rebuke Gehazi for things did... Superbook account to watch full episodes, earn SuperPoints and win great prizes, at do! Gehazi accepted two talents of silver and two changes of clothes those commands obeyed &... Between some of the army of the Church News is an official publication of the News.
Foxwoods Ticket Refund, Sushi Q5 Westminster Menu, What Animals Live In Palm Trees In Florida, Articles W