SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:17
Entonces Naamán dijo: Te ruego, pues, ¿no se dará a tu siervo la carga de un par de mulas de esta tierra? Porque de aquí adelante tu siervo no sacrificará holocausto ni sacrificio a otros dioses, sino al SEÑOR.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 5:17
Verse 17. Shall there not then, I pray thee] This verse is understood two different ways. I will give them both in a paraphrase:- 1. Shall there not then be given unto thy servant [viz., Naaman] two mules' burden of this Israelitish earth, that I may build an altar with it, on which I may offer sacrifices to the God of Israel? For thy servant, &c. 2. Shall there not be given to thy [Elisha's] servant [Gehazi] two mules' burden of this earth? i.e., the gold and silver which he brought with him; and which he esteemed as earth, or dust, in comparison of the cure he received. For thy servant [Naaman] will henceforth, &c.
Each of these interpretations has its difficulties. Why Naaman should ask for two mules' burden of earth, which he might have taken up any where on the confines of the land, without any such liberty, is not easy to see.
As to the prophet's permission, though the boon was ever so small, it was not his to give; only the king of Israel could give such a permission: and what sort of an altar could he build with two mules' burden of earth, carried from Samaria to Damascus? If this be really the meaning of the place, the request was exceedingly foolish, and never could have come from a person enjoying the right use of his reason. The second opinion, not without its difficulties, seems less embarrassed than the former. It was natural for Naaman to wish to give something to the prophet's servant, as the master had refused his present. Again, impressed with the vast importance of the cure he had received, to take away all feeling of obligation, he might call two or ten talents of silver by the name of earth, as well as Habakkuk, Hab. ii. 6, calls silver and gold thick clay; and by terms of this kind it has been frequently denominated, both by prophets and heathen writers: "Tyrus heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets;" Zech. ix. 3. And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as stones; 2 Chron. i. 15. Which is agreeable to the sentiments of the heathen: crusov tiv koniv esti, kai argurov, Gold and silver are only a certain kind of earth. - ARIST. Eth. Nicomach.
Should it be said, The gold and silver could not be two mules' burden; I answer, Let the quantity that Naaman brought with him be only considered, and it will be found to be as much, when put into two bags, as could be well lifted upon the backs of two mules, or as those beasts could conveniently carry. The silver itself would weigh 233lbs. 9oz. 15 1/2dwts., and the gold 1, 140lbs. 7oz. 10dwts.; in the whole 1, 3741bs. 50Z. 5 1/2dwts. Troy weight. Should it be objected that, taken in this sense, there is no visible connection between the former and latter clauses of the verse, I answer that there is as much connection between the words taken in this sense as in the other, for something must be brought in to supply both; besides, this makes a more complete sense than the other: "Shall there not, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of this silver and gold, [to apply it as he may think proper; I regard it not,] for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt-offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, [for the cure he has now received; or by way of worship at any time;] but unto Jehovah." The reader may choose which of these interpretations he pleases.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. And Naaman said, shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth . etc.] Not that he desired of Elisha that he would suffer his servant Gehazi to receive a present as much as two mules could carry; but inasmuch as the prophet refused a present from him, his servant, he asks a favour of him, that he would permit him to take with him, out of the land of Israel, as much earth two mules could carry, that is, to make an altar of earth, as the next words indicate: but as he might have this any where without the prophet’s leave, some Jewish writers think he requested it from his own house, and from the place his feet trod on, as conceiving in a superstitious way that there was a sort of holiness in it; or however, that wheresoever he had it, if with the prophet’s leave, a blessing would go with it, or that would be a sort of a consecration of it; and having an altar made of the earth of this land, would show that he was in the faith of the same God, and performed the same worship to him Israel did: for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord : hence the Jews say, he became a proselyte of righteousness f65 , embraced the true religion, and the worship of the true God, according to the laws given to Israel; and the following words, rightly understood, confirm the same.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-19 - The mercy of the cure affected Naaman more than the miracle. Those ar best able to speak of the power of Divine grace, who themselve experience it. He also shows himself grateful to Elisha the prophet Elijah refused any recompence, not because he thought it unlawful, for he received presents from others, but to show this new convert that the servants of the God of Israel looked upon worldly wealth with a holy contempt. The whole work was from God, in such a manner, that the prophet would not give counsel when he had no directions from the Lord It is not well violently to oppose the lesser mistakes which unite with men's first convictions; we cannot bring men forward any faster tha the Lord prepares them to receive instruction. Yet as to us, if, in covenanting with God, we desire to reserve any known sin, to continu to indulge ourselves in it, that is a breach of his covenant. Those wh truly hate evil, will make conscience of abstaining from all appearances of evil.
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 נעמן 5283 ולא 3808 יתן 5414 נא 4994 לעבדך 5650 משׂא 4853 צמד 6776 פרדים 6505 אדמה 127 כי 3588 לוא 3808 יעשׂה 6213 עוד 5750 עבדך 5650 עלה 5930 וזבח 2077 לאלהים 430 אחרים 312 כי 3588 אם 518 ליהוה׃ 3068
