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. Maybe something's gone wrong." The idea of holy ground is an important element of Israelite theology. We would all of us like to do some great wonderful thing for the Lord. How do I fit an e-hub motor axle that is too big? 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]. Jasper Hillegers, Lambert Jacobsz (15981636) en zijn werkplaats. . 212. Vetus Testamentum is a leading journal covering all aspects of Old Testament study. When Naaman offered Elisha money and clothes, why did Elisha refuse? Naaman's wife had a servant girl from Israel who said that a prophet there would be able to heal him. Why did Elisha refuse Naaman's gifts? He knew the request came from a sincere theological change of heart. Naaman departed for Syria, but Elisha's servant Gehazi ran after him and told a lie in order to get Naaman's gift for himself. Acts 8:20.) 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. iii. 1800 (Stockholm 2005), 59, no. Originating around the same time are versions of the subject by Jacob I de Wet (161075) and Simon Kick (160352). When Naaman left Elisha's house to return home to Syria, Gehazi was filled with greed. 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. Amsterdam, Royal Palace) (Lochem, 1975), 4146. Click here to see the archived version(s) of this entry. 32; 206, no. And so Gehazi went out from his presence a leper ( 2 Kings 5:27 ). 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. 5 Insights for Interpreting the Deaths of Ananias and Sapphira. 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. 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. Elisha refused the gifts Naaman offered for his use of God's power, but Gehazi did not. It has been lightly edited. Want to see fewer ads on Aleteia? To demonstrate his gratitude, Naaman, wearing a richly decorated turban and pale turquoise kaftan, came before the prophet to offer Elisha precious gifts, including the purple cloak on which he rests his left hand. And he said, "Send him down to me, and he will know that there is a God in Israel." And in certain dire situations, one is permitted to accept presents openly.) Around 1627, after finishing his training, Backer moved to Leeuwarden to assist his former neighbor with the production of paintings, especially large-figure history pieces.4 The collaboration between Jacobsz and Backer, his main assistant, must have been harmonious. During the same period, Jacobsz painted two other large-figure paintings depicting Elisha rebuking Gehazi in the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queens University, Kingston (fig 3) and in the Landesmuseum Hannover (fig 4).7 In both the Kingston and Hannover paintings, the artist focused on the interactions of the two protagonists, with the elderly prophet admonishing his chastened servant by wagging his finger. He is unfamiliar with the Jewish tradition of the ritual bath (mikveh) as it appears in several sections of the book of Leviticus (for example, in Lev. You can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. 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. 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. 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. Naaman was a man with significant duties in his home country. I can think of a few favors I would ask of a prophet in a receptive mood, but dirt certainly isnt one of them. But his slaves suggest to him that he really has nothing to lose by giving it a try: Elishas instructions are actually quite easy to follow. It would have been insulting to God for the prophet to receive anything from Naaman when God is the proprietor and the progenitor of wealth especially on His turf and in His land. Naaman then traveled to Samaria to see Elisha, but the prophet never received him: he just sent a messenger to meet Naaman and his entourage by the door. 1800 (Stockholm, 2005), 59, no. [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. I speculate that God seeing a true turning of Naaman to Himself did not want Naaman to say that he contributed toward his conversion, especially not with material and perishable things Share Improve this answer When the prophet Elisha hears about this, he sends for general Naaman. And when Gehazi came up, he said, "Is everything fine?" Gehazi's acceptance was unacceptable in the frame of Elisha's refusal. And this is what God said about His land, You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Iconclass is a classification system pertaining to art and iconography, designed to describe and classify subjects, themes, and motifs represented in images. In the Bible leprosy is often a picture of sin. 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. Jacob de Wet, Elisha Refusing Naamans Gifts (present whereabouts unknown); Werner Sumowski, Gemlde der Rembrandt-Schler, vol. See Albert Blankert, Kunst als regeringszaak in Amsterdam in de 17e eeuw (Exh. 57b; Deut. men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion." He then praised the lord of Israel as the only true god. Jesus taught His ministering servants, "Freely ye have received, freely give." In 2 Kings 2:9 what does it mean for Elisha to want "a double portion" from Elijah? 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). Elisha understood Naaman's request and granted it without hesitation. He was a great warrior and highly respected because he had given victories to Aram. 358; see also the RKD website. A4. 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. Explain that Naaman was healed by Heavenly Father through the power of the priesthood and that priesthood holders cannot use the priesthood to gain recognition or wealth. Man, I could be set up if I just had a little bit of that loot." We would all of us like to do some great wonderful thing for the Lord. The word is transliterated in the Septuagint (Vatican) and (Lucian) , while the Alexandrian codex has ' , apparently reading . Gehazi's Greed and Leprosy 15 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. And he headed home in a rage. When he discovered that he was stricken with leprosy, he searched for a cure -- and of course, at that time, there was no cure. In contrast, the figures in the background on the left side were painted on top of the brown background paint. Elisha then told Naaman to go bathe in the Jordan seven times and he would be clean. Nothing new under the sun there. If Elisha had accepted those gifts, he would be accepting the glory that God should get. Finally, before embarking for Syria, Naaman makes a strange request: to load two mules with dirt to take back with him. Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting and transformative Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more. Then Naaman said, "If you will not accept this gift, at least do this for me. Saya mengerti ini adalah website yang berdasarkan ajaran Alkitab. Since Jacobsz did not execute large figure pieces after Backers departure, Elisha Refusing Naamans Gifts must have been painted between 1628, shortly after Backer arrived in Leeuwarden, and 1633, when he returned to Amsterdam. 15:15-16 ). He has a dozen years of classroom teaching experience on the college level and another ten in distance education. Private Collection (sale, Sothebys, London, 7 December 2005, no. Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you. He was even used by God to accomplish His will (2 Kings 5:1). Lambert Jacobsz, Elisha and Gehazi (Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queens University, Kingston). He focused particularly on Naamans gaze as he quietly reflects upon the prophets reasons for refusing to accept his gifts of appreciationthe moment of revelation when Naaman came to understand that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.. When he returned home, Elisha found out and punished . 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). And so, he'd like a couple of changes of apparel for them and a talent of silver. Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants?". 20-7 act epexegetically to Elisha's refusal to accept Naaman's gifts is plausible for three reasons. The two works of this subject by Abraham van Dijck (1635/680) and Ferdinand Bol (161680) date from much later. It only takes a minute to sign up. Request Permissions. thinks the king referred to was Jehoahaz, while Schenkel ("Biblical Lexicon") suggests Jehu, but the general view is that it was Jehoram. Amsterdam, Museum Het Rembrandthuis; Aachen, Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum) (Zwolle, 2008), 44, fig. The artist carefully modelled the faces of these two protagonists, paying great attention to their facial expressions. Where Are Giants in the Bible Other Than Goliath? As a result, the earlier work lacks the spiritual and reflective character that is so poignant in the masters later rendering of this biblical narrative. Naaman was angry and would have left, but his servant asked him to try it and he was healed. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. He was a mighty man and very brave, but he was a leper. Dirt? Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. R. vii. Now the Arameans went out in bands and captured from the land of Israel a young girl, who ministered to Naaman's wife. "And Naaman said, "Here, take a couple of talents of silver," and he was happy to give it to him. And he started thinking of what he could do with some of that reward that Naaman was offering.And so he went chasing after Naaman. And he took it and put it in his house. Send him to me so he may know there is a prophet in Israel." 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood in the doorway of Elisha's house. When he heard of the ministry of Elisha, Naaman was willing to humble his pride, leave his homeland, and travel to Israel in order to see the prophet of God. He declared that the rivers in Damascus were cleaner than any river in Israel. See Hendrik Luitje Straat, Lambert Jacobsz, schilder, De Vrije Fries 28 (1928): 74. Previous commentary: Next commentary: About this commentary: are made available by the generosity of . This event is alluded to in the words "because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria" (II Kings v. 1), and therefore the Syrian king, Naaman's master, was Benhadad (Midrash Shoer ob to. She has done all the leadership work but finds no one is doing her bidding with the follow-up details. Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? This is the second contrast we find in this story: that of the pomp of Naaman and Elishas humbleness. Describing Diatheke: Covenant Centrality in the Bible, Pets in the Bible and Their Exegetical Significance, See to This: The Meaning of Jehovah Jireh in Genesis 22. Gehazi's heart should have been uplifted with praise for . Naaman is represented as vain and haughty, on account of which he was stricken with leprosy (Num. The painting is on a fine plain-weave canvas support. Elisha did not accept Naaman's gifts because he wanted Naaman to know that his healing had nothing to do with Elisha but everything to do with the God of Israel. 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. Why did Elisha refuse naamans gifts? Naaman's wife had a servant girl from Israel who said that a prophet there would be able to heal him. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. A servant of Elisha, Gehazi, seeing Naaman being turned away from offering God offerings, ran after him and falsely asked for clothing and silver for visitors. (2 Ne. 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. This excerpt about Naaman in the Bible is adapted from the original article in Dr. Heisers book I Dare You Not to Bore Me with the Bible. Who Are Gog and Magogand Whats So Evil about the North? 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. He did make use of translucent glazes in certain areas, however, such as the shadows of the red garments and the figures lips. From whom acquired by the present owner in 2006. Now in coming back, he acknowledged that there was no God in all the earth but in Israel. Israel was therefore Yahwehs portion (Deut 32:9), whereas all the other nations belong to the sons of God whom Israel was forbidden to worship. "Now Lord, I'm going to serve you and I'm going to go out and witness, and I'm going to pray, and I'm going to do this and " I'm telling God all of the things that I'm going to do for Him because of what He's done for me. And that is why, like Naaman, we must come humbly before the Lord to obtain favor and mercy in our time of need. When the two meet, Elisha tells him rather dismissively that he needs to take a bath in the Jordan River. UFOs and Christianity: What Hath Roswell to Do with Jerusalem? 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. 3, B. Keil J. BRILL, founded in 1683, is a publishing house with a strong international focus. Museum Het Rembrandthuis ; Aachen, Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum ) ( Lochem, 1975 ), 59 no! The Alexandrian codex has ', apparently reading a strange request: to load two with... 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