2 Kings 5:12

[Are] not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

Are not Abana {H71}{H549} and Pharpar {H6554}, rivers {H5104} of Damascus {H1834}, better {H2896} than all the waters {H4325} of Israel {H3478}? may I not wash {H7364} in them, and be clean {H2891}? So he turned {H6437} and went away {H3212} in a rage {H2534}.

Aren't Amanah and Parpar, the rivers of Dammesek, better than all the water in Isra'el? Why can't I bathe in them and be clean?" So he turned and went off in a rage.

Are not the Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not have washed in them and been cleansed?” So he turned and went away in a rage.

Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.

Commentary

In 2 Kings 5:12, we encounter the indignant reaction of Naaman, the powerful captain of the Syrian army, to the prophet Elisha's seemingly simple instruction for healing from leprosy. Having traveled a great distance to Israel, Naaman expected a grand, perhaps miraculous, display from Elisha.

Context of Naaman's Rage

Naaman, a respected general, arrived at Elisha's house expecting the prophet to personally come out, invoke the name of the Lord, and wave his hand over the afflicted area (2 Kings 5:11). Instead, Elisha sent a messenger with the instruction: "Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean" (2 Kings 5:10). This perceived slight, combined with the seemingly mundane and undignified command, ignited Naaman's fury. He contrasts the muddy Jordan with the superior, clear rivers of his homeland, Abana and Pharpar, which flowed through Damascus, seeing them as far more suitable for a cleansing ritual.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Pride and Humility: Naaman's reaction is a classic example of pride hindering one's blessing. His status and expectations made it difficult for him to accept a humble, simple command. This highlights the biblical principle that pride goeth before destruction.
  • Obedience to God's Unconventional Ways: God often works through means that seem illogical or beneath human dignity to demonstrate His power and require faith. Naaman wanted healing on his terms, but God required obedience on His. The story of Naaman's healing beautifully illustrates how God's ways are higher than man's ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).
  • The Nature of True Cleansing: Naaman sought a physical cure, but the narrative also speaks to spiritual cleansing. Just as Naaman needed to humble himself to be made clean, so too does spiritual salvation often require a humble submission to God's prescribed path, even if it seems foolish to the world.

Linguistic Insights

The names of the rivers, Abana (often identified with Barada) and Pharpar (often identified with Awaj), were well-known in the ancient world for their purity and abundance, supplying the fertile region of Damascus. Naaman's rhetorical question underscores his disdain for the Jordan, which was comparatively muddy and less impressive. His phrase "may I not wash in them, and be clean?" reveals his belief that the efficacy of the cleansing lay in the quality of the water, not in the divine instruction behind it.

Practical Application

Naaman's initial resistance serves as a powerful reminder for us today. Are we willing to set aside our pride, expectations, and personal preferences when God calls us to a simple act of obedience? Often, God's greatest blessings and transformations come through humble submission to His commands, even when they don't make logical sense to our human minds. Just as Naaman eventually humbled himself and found healing (2 Kings 5:14), so too can we experience profound spiritual cleansing and breakthrough by trusting and obeying God's specific instructions for our lives.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Mark 1:9 (4 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

  • Zechariah 13:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

  • Proverbs 14:17 (2 votes)

    ¶ [He that is] soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

  • Ezekiel 47:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house [stood toward] the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south [side] of the altar.

  • Ezekiel 47:8 (2 votes)

    Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: [which being] brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.

  • Joshua 3:15 (2 votes)

    And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)

  • Joshua 3:17 (2 votes)

    And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.