NAAMAN THE GENERAL OF ARAM
Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was important to his lord and high in his favor, for through him the Lord had granted victory to Aram. But the man, though a great warrior, was a leper.
Once, when the Arameans were out raiding, they carried off a young girl from the land of Israel, and she became an attendant to Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “I wish Master could come before the prophet in Samaria; he would cure him of his leprosy.
Naaman went and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. And the King of Aram said, “Go to the king of Israel, and I will send along a letter.” He set out, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. He brought the letter to the king of Israel. It read: “Now, when this letter reaches you, know that I have sent my courtier Naaman to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” When the king of Israel read the letter, he rent his clothes and cried, “Am I God, to deal death or give life, that this fellow writes to me to cure a man of leprosy? Just see for yourselves that he is seeking a pretext against me!”
When Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, he sent a message to the king: “Why have you rent your clothes? Let him come to me, and he will learn that there is a prophet in Israel”…
Returning with his entire retinue to the man of God, he stood before him and exclaimed, “Now I know that there is no God in the whole world except in Israel! (IIK 5:1-8, 15)
This beautiful story is a magnificent testimony to a valiant righteous gentile — Naaman. He is described as blessed in every regard– the commanding officer of Aram, a man of limitless success, military victory and wealth, but alas, pathetically cursed with the incurable disease of leprosy. He is miraculously healed through the agency of the Hebrew prophet and the holiness of the Land of Israel.
The narrative is an attestation to Naaman’s ability to profoundly acknowledge with humility, the greatness of the Lord God of Israel and the sanctity of His land.
Na’ara Ketana M’Eretz Yisrael–
THE YOUNG SERVANT GIRL FROM THE LAND OF ISRAEL
In addition to Naaman there are other minor characters who play major roles in this story. Their grandeur, not just their association with him, places them in the royal limelight. They are initially associated with royalty through their positions as servants. However, very quickly the lines of demarcation blur and they become leaders in their own right rather than followers.
One such character is the little girl – naara ketana- from the Land of Israel.
Once, when the Arameans were out raiding, they carried off a young girl from the land of Israel, and she became an attendant to Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “I wish Master could come before the prophet in Samaria; he would cure him of his leprosy. (IIK5:2-3)
Who was this naara ketana? The adjective ketana can mean small or young. Alternatively, it could denote stature — a lowly girl. Kathryn Cappocia points out that while this servant is ostensibly just another unnamed female character, her actions and her words acclaim her. The expression naara ketana could be translated young maiden or lowly maiden indicating that she was young in years or in importance. Either way the word is simply a foil for her grandeur.
She attended to her mistress. Perhaps she performed household chores such as cooking, cleaning, bathing and dressing her mistress. Once upon a time, in the course of a routine day they had this “casual” conversation.
Who was she? We are told that she was a Jewess who was enslaved in a foreign land and displayed loyalty and compassion to her masters by sharing her faith with them. Moreover, she informs Mrs. Naaman of the curative powers of Elisha the prophet of Israel who is capable of healing her husband. The information which she shares has far reaching ramifications and the reader begins to wonder who exactly is the servant of whom. Is this young girl a “lady in waiting”? Or perhaps Mrs. Naaman is the “lady in waiting” and the young girl a servant — of the God of Israel?
Mrs. Naaman was no doubt overjoyed to hear of a leprosy-specialist and promptly informed her husband. He had the king of Aram write a letter to the King of Israel. The Israelite king was estranged from the prophet by his heretical idolatrous leanings. Upon receiving the letter he was outraged by the audacity and convinced that it was a set up. Everyone knows leprosy is incurable! How could the King of Aram be serious?
The plot unfolds and Naaman and his entourage make their way to the Land of Israel. They are chagrined by Elisha the prophet who does not come out to greet the great general. Instead he sends word that Naaman is to dunk seven times in the Jordan. Despite his better judgement he does take Elisha’s advice and we are told: “So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan seven times as the man of God had bidden; and his flesh became like a little boy’s and he was purified.” (IIK5:15)
The little girl from the land of Israel served as the catalyst for the great man to be reborn as a little boy. Naaman the general of Aram, beyond anyone’s wildest expectations understood deeply the greatness of the God of Israel and the sanctity of His land and exclaimed:
Now I know that there is no God in the whole world except in Israel! (IIK5:15)