Interestingly, the Septuagint (the classic translation of the Old Testament into Greek) uses the word baptizein (to baptize) for Naamans immersions in the Jordan River. 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. The guy is just looking for trouble. 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. See Albert Blankert, Kunst als regeringszaak in Amsterdam in de 17e eeuw (Exh. Elisha understood Naaman's request and granted it without hesitation. 5; comp. Michael S. Heiser is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (M.A., Ancient History) and the University of Wisconsin- Madison (M.A., Ph.D., Hebrew Bible and Semitic Studies). Tanuma, Tazria' (end), however, says that Naaman was stricken with leprosy for taking an Israelitish maiden and making her his wife's servant (comp. Naaman sends a letter to the king saying that he expected the king to heal him! 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. 2 Kgs 5:14-17) explains Naaman was a Syrian warlord, who suffered from a grave skin condition (most likely, leprosy). As he found himself cured, he praised Elishas god and wanted to thank the prophet by giving him presents. 14:1-12, where God himself tells Moses the ritual for cleansing one with a skin disease). Why would he want to? Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. When he returned home, Elisha found out and punished Gehazi with leprosy for his greed. As a result, Israel was holy ground; the territory of every other nation was not. Gehazi told Naaman that Elisha had changed his mind and now Elisha wanted the gifts. (Matt. 6, Nachtrge, Ortsregister, Ikonographisches Register, Bibliographie, Knstlerverzeichnis (Landau, 1983), no. I think Elisha was rebuking not only the actions of Gehazi, but also the attitude of his heart. When the painting first appeared on the market in 2005, it was given to Pieter de Grebber.8 As Albert Blankert rightly recognized, however, this attribution is not tenable for stylistic reasons, despite the fact that Jacobsz knew De Grebbers work.9 Blankert also pointed out that the way in which the old Elisha and young Naaman face each other is comparable to the confrontation between Elisha and Gehazi in the Hannover painting.10 Other arguments reinforce the attribution of the Leiden Collection painting to Lambert Jacobsz. He declared that the rivers in Damascus were cleaner than any river in Israel. rev2023.3.1.43269. In contrast, the figures in the background on the left side were painted on top of the brown background paint. "And word came to Elisha of how the king was so upset because of this demand. And the guy urged him, but still he refused. 3238 and 3913. A person is not born a Mennonite, but only becomes one when mature enough to decide based on personal belief to follow the Christian faith, much like Naaman, who came to that revelation through the actions and words of Elisha. Vetus Testamentum is a leading journal covering all aspects of Old Testament study. 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. This painting was long believed to have been painted by Lambert Jacobsz, but recently has been attributed to Jacob Backer.6. If Elisha had accepted those gifts, he would be accepting the glory that God should get. Naaman also renounces his former god Rimmon after being cured by Elisha - acknowledges solely the God of Israel. 57b; Deut. 10 Elisha sent out a messenger who told him, "Go and wash seven times in the Jordan; your skin will be restored and you will be healed." 11 Naaman went away angry. And he urged him to take it; but he refused. The artist began the composition on top of the ground by painting in part of the architectural setting, leaving a reserve for figures such as Naaman, Elisha, and Gehazi. He said, "Yea, everything's fine, except that my master had a couple of young prophets come in and they didn't have much. Atelierpraktijk in Leeuwarden omstreeks 1630, De Vrije Fries 89 (2009): 7485; and Peter van den Brink, Jacob Backer (1608/91651) (Exh. He did not want money, wealth, power, or prestige to interfere with the call of God that was on his life. We've got better rivers up in Damascus." What's it going to hurt?" The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Aramean raiders invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naamans wife as a maid. How do I fit an e-hub motor axle that is too big? We would all of us like to do some great wonderful thing for the Lord. Why do we kill some animals but not others? Naamans wife was married to a mighty warrior that suffered from leprosy. Klostermann ("Die Bcher Samuelis und der Knige"), while supplying, with the Alexandrian codex, the word , connects this passage with Naaman's departure with the loads of earth, and renders the passage as "and he carried away from him about a cor of the earth of Israel."[5]. I can think of a few favors I would ask of a prophet in a receptive mood, but dirt certainly isnt one of them. The baths cured Naaman. His painting does not focus on Naamans recovery from leprosy or on Elishas refusal to be rewarded, but rather on Naamans conversion to the true faith.13. "Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, This phrase is used when Moses is in the presence of the Angel of the Lord and the God of Israel at the burning bush (Exod 3:15) and when Joshua meets the Angel of the Lord (Josh 5:15). Leprosy has been a scourge on the human condition for thousands of years. This was Gods land. R. vii. Now you see, he starts to read his mind at this point, or he starts to discern what was on his heart. https://theleidencollection.com/iconclass. Most likely, Naaman would have expected Elisha would come out of his house to perform some ritual, or that he would have led him to some special magic place to heal him. Jacob Backer, The Tribute Money, 1630s (Nationalmuseum, Stockholm); see Grel Cavalli-Bjrkman, Dutch and Flemish Paintings, vol. Scripture says that we can come before the throne of grace to receive mercy and favor in our time of need. 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. But when they got to the gate of the city, Gehazi said, "That's great. Why should Elisha receive a gift for him? Naaman was angry and would have left, but his servant asked him to try it and he was healed. The passage ("because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria," II Kings v. 1) upon which the identification of Naaman with Ahab's slayer is based by the Rabbis is referred by G. Rawlinson, however (in the "Speaker's Commentary"), to the Syrian triumph over Shalmaneser II. Dan saya sudah mendapatkan ijin dari orang tua saya untuk menggunakan website ini. [5], The request of Naaman to be permitted to carry away two mules' burden of Israelitish earth for the purpose of erecting upon it an altar on which to offer sacrifices to Yhwh, reflects the belief of those days that the god of each land could be worshiped only on his own soil. Why should Elisha receive a gift for him? . When Elisha became aware of Gehazi's duplicity, he punished his servant by infecting him with the disease from which Naaman had just been cured. [5], As the object of the narrative of Naaman's sickness and restoration to health is, apparently, to form a link in the long series of miracles performed by Elisha, the redactor of II Kings did not concern himself to indicate the time when this event occurred. And the leprosy from Naaman fell on Gehazi and would remain in his descendants. Naaman was a powerful man and a warrior who was used to giving commands and having those commands obeyed. 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. At times, these slivers of warm gray act as a transitional midtone, as in the lower contour of Elishas sleeve where it overlaps with the white page of his book. 20-7). I can hire me some servants. This biblical passage is full of stark contrasts. Gehazi was Elisha's young messenger and servant. 1800 (Stockholm 2005), 59, no. When he returned home, Elisha found out and punished . In The Leiden Collection Catalogue, 3rd ed. It would be simply wrong for Elisha to accept Naamans gift, given the fact the prophet has not performed the healing himself, but God. 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. An Israelite maid he had captured advised him to see the prophet Elisha. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants?". (2 Ne. The biblical text (Cf. cat. The suggestion that vv. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. 2, Dutch Paintings c. 1600c. But rather than personally receiving Naaman when the latter arrives at Elisha's house, Elisha merely sends a messenger to the door who tells Naaman to cure his affliction by dipping himself seven times in the Jordan River. Truce of the burning tree -- how realistic? But I can't. When the two meet, Elisha tells him rather dismissively that he needs to take a bath in the Jordan River. 34) who mortally wounded Ahab seems to have been adopted by Josephus ("Ant." There are some old damages to the canvas support with associated paint losses, as in the two figures immediately to the left of Naaman. II Kings v. 2). And he took it and put it in his house. You know, I would like to go out and conquer a thousand giants or something. In the same way, each one of us needs to be careful to check our heart and our motives in pursuing wealth, especially when it has to do with the kingdom of God or ministry to others. "I know that," he said. For example, mentioned in Jacobszs stock inventory is a Naomi and Ruth by De Grebber, which would have been sent to the artist in Leeuwarden from Haarlem, or from Amsterdam via Hendrick Uylenburgh. Didn't go anywhere. Superbook is a registered trademark of The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization All Rights Reserved. Iconclass is a classification system pertaining to art and iconography, designed to describe and classify subjects, themes, and motifs represented in images. The rest of the Old Testament is the story of Gods intention to reclaim every nation on earth. God is the one who gives, not Elisha. Why did Elisha refuse naamans gifts? Elisha Refusing Naamans Gifts (2020). 4). Noch een ander landschap met een groote ruine ende een rivire daer op de voorgront staet Naomi [Naaman] sprekende met Gehasij des propheten Elisei knecht die hem naegelopen compt ende carosse int verschiet hem verwachtende. 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