Page 265 - Bible History

238 GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE UNDER KINGS
costly gifts to the king of Israel. He begged him to heal Naaman, his servant, of the leprosy. The king sent Naaman to Eliseus, the prophet of Israel.
Naaman came with his horses and ariots and stood at the door of the house of Eliseus. The prophet sent a messenger to Naaman, saying, ''Go and bathe seven times in the Jordan, and thy esh shall recover health and thou shalt be clean.''
Naaman was angry because of this message, and he turned to go away. But his servants showed him that obedience to the prophet's command was a small price to pay for his health. "Wash," he had said, "and thou shalt be healed.'' Then Naaman went down and washed seven times in the Jordan. His esh was restored like the esh of a little child, and he was cleansed from his leprosy.
Naaman returned to the man of God with all his retinue to thank him and to o er him gifts as a sign of gratitude. But Eliseus refused the gifts. Naaman promised from that day never to adore any other god but the God of Israel.
Giezi, the servant of Eliseus, went secretly after Naaman to ask a gift of him in his master's name. When he returned, Eliseus asked, ''Where hast thou been, Giezi1'' '' Thy servant hath been nowhere,'' un­
truthfully answered Giezi. But Eliseus saw what had happened, and he said to the servant, ''The leprosy of Naaman shall stick to thee and to thy children for- ever.'' And the servant went from him, a leper white as the snow.
The power to work miracles remained with Eliseus