2 Kings 5:5

KJV

And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand [pieces] of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the king {H4428} of Syria {H758} said {H559}, Go to {H3212}, go {H935}, and I will send {H7971} a letter {H5612} unto the king {H4428} of Israel {H3478}. And he departed {H3212}, and took {H3947} with him {H3027} ten {H6235} talents {H3603} of silver {H3701}, and six {H8337} thousand {H505} pieces of gold {H2091}, and ten {H6235} changes {H2487} of raiment {H899}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The king of Aram said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Isra'el." He set out, taking with him 660 pounds of silver, 6,000 pieces of gold and ten changes of clothes.

Berean Standard Bible

“Go now,” said the king of Aram, “and I will send you with a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman departed, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing.

American Standard Version

And the king of Syria said, Go now, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 5:5 details the initial response of Naaman, the Syrian commander, to the Israelite servant girl's suggestion that a prophet in Samaria could heal his leprosy. Upon receiving permission from the king of Syria, Naaman embarks on his journey to Israel, carrying an immense fortune in silver, gold, and lavish garments, reflecting the ancient Near Eastern custom of presenting significant offerings when seeking a powerful favor or divine intervention, and underscoring the perceived magnitude of his affliction and the value placed on his recovery.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the remarkable and unexpected counsel of a young Israelite captive girl, who, despite her enslaved status, points her master Naaman to the prophet Elisha in Samaria for healing of his leprosy ([2 Kings 5:3](/2_kings/5-3 "2 Kings 5:3 - The Israelite Girl's Counsel")). Naaman, a highly esteemed and powerful general, is afflicted with a debilitating and socially isolating disease ([2 Kings 5:1](/2_kings/5-1 "2 Kings 5:1 - Naaman's Condition")), making the prospect of healing a matter of national importance for Syria. Verse 5 initiates the practical steps taken based on this advice, setting the stage for the dramatic encounter with the king of Israel and later with Elisha, highlighting the contrast between human expectations of grandeur and God's simple, unconventional methods. The lavish gifts Naaman carries here foreshadow the king of Israel's panicked reaction, as seen in [2 Kings 5:7](/2_kings/5-7 "2 Kings 5:7 - The King of Israel's Dismay"), who misinterprets the request as a political challenge rather than a plea for divine intervention.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, diplomatic relations between kingdoms often involved formal letters and the exchange of substantial gifts, particularly when seeking a significant favor or expressing respect. Naaman, as a prominent general from Aram (Syria), a powerful neighbor often in conflict with Israel, would naturally approach the king of Israel through formal channels. Leprosy (likely a broader term for various debilitating skin diseases, not necessarily modern Hansen's disease) was considered a severe affliction, often rendering individuals ritually unclean and socially ostracized. The immense wealth Naaman carried—ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment—was a customary, albeit extraordinarily large, offering intended to impress, obligate, and demonstrate the gravity of the request and the high status of the petitioner. This was not merely payment, but a culturally understood means of initiating a high-stakes diplomatic or intercessory process.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully introduces several key themes that will unfold throughout [2 Kings chapter 5](/2_kings/5 "2 Kings 5 - Naaman's Healing"). Firstly, it highlights the **contrast between human effort and divine grace**. Naaman brings an astronomical sum, symbolizing human attempts to "buy" or earn a miracle, which will starkly contrast with the simple, unearned divine healing offered by God through Elisha. Secondly, it underscores the **dynamics of diplomacy and power** between nations, as the king of Syria formally engages the king of Israel, illustrating the political landscape of the era. Thirdly, the sheer scale of the gifts emphasizes the **high value placed on Naaman's life and health**, reflecting his indispensable role in the Syrian kingdom. Finally, this verse serves as a crucial **preparation for a miracle**, setting up the narrative tension where human expectations of grandeur and material influence will be dramatically challenged and ultimately subverted by God's humble and sovereign work, as seen in Naaman's eventual washing in the Jordan River ([2 Kings 5:10-14](/2_kings/5-10 "2 Kings 5:10-14 - Elisha's Instructions and Naaman's Healing")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Talents (Hebrew, _kikkār'_):** A talent was a very large unit of weight, typically around 75 pounds (34 kg). Therefore, "ten talents of silver" would amount to approximately 750 pounds (340 kg) of silver. This was an immense sum, representing a national treasure rather than a personal fortune, underscoring the extraordinary value placed on Naaman's healing and the seriousness of the Syrian king's diplomatic overture. It signifies the highest possible material offering.
* **Changes of Raiment (Hebrew, _ḥălīfōṯ bəḡāḏīm'_):** These were not ordinary clothes but expensive, ceremonial, or royal garments, often given as gifts to signify honor, status, or as part of a diplomatic exchange. Ten such sets represented a significant portion of wealth and were highly valued in ancient cultures, often serving as a form of currency or a display of immense prestige. Their inclusion further emphasizes the lavishness of the offering and the importance of the mission.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel.":** This clause reveals the immediate and authoritative response of Naaman's king to the report of the Israelite girl's counsel. The phrase "Go to, go" is an emphatic command, indicating urgency and full endorsement of Naaman's journey. The decision to send a formal letter to the king of Israel demonstrates the high regard for Naaman and the diplomatic protocol involved in inter-kingdom affairs, suggesting that the Syrian king believed the "man of God" (Elisha) would be under the authority of the Israelite monarch.
* **"And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand [pieces] of gold, and ten changes of raiment.":** This describes Naaman's immediate and well-resourced departure. The specific enumeration of the gifts highlights the extraordinary wealth and value attached to the mission. Ten talents of silver (approx. 750 lbs), six thousand pieces of gold (likely shekels, approx. 150 lbs), and ten sets of expensive garments collectively represented an astronomical fortune, far exceeding what any individual could amass. This immense offering was intended to obligate the recipient (the king of Israel) and ensure the success of the mission, reflecting a worldly understanding that significant problems require significant material solutions.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several key literary devices. **Symbolism** is prominent, as the vast wealth Naaman carries symbolizes human attempts to control or purchase divine favor and healing. It represents the world's way of solving problems through power, status, and material resources, setting up a stark contrast with God's simple, grace-based solution. **Foreshadowing** is also at play; the king of Syria's letter and Naaman's lavish gifts immediately foreshadow the king of Israel's misinterpretation and despair, as he assumes the request is a political trap rather than a genuine plea for a miracle. This sets up the **irony** that the earthly king, despite his power, is helpless, while the true power resides with God's humble prophet. The detailed enumeration of the gifts also serves as **hyperbole**, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of the offering and the perceived impossibility of Naaman's condition apart from divine intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The immense wealth Naaman carries in 2 Kings 5:5 serves as a powerful theological statement about the futility of human resources in the face of divine power and grace. It underscores the pervasive human tendency to believe that the most significant problems can be solved through the greatest material or political means. However, the subsequent narrative will demonstrate that God's healing and salvation are not commodities to be bought or earned, but gifts freely bestowed upon those who humble themselves and obey His simple commands. This sets up a profound contrast between the world's system of transactions and God's economy of grace, highlighting that true deliverance comes not from what we can offer, but from what God provides.

* [Isaiah 55:1](/isaiah/55-1 "Isaiah 55:1 - God's Free Invitation")
* [Romans 3:23-24](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23-24 - Justification by Grace")
* [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Naaman's journey, beginning with such an impressive display of wealth and worldly influence, offers a profound mirror for our own lives. We often approach our deepest needs and spiritual challenges with a similar mindset, attempting to leverage our resources, achievements, or perceived good deeds to earn God's favor or solve our problems. This verse challenges us to examine what "talents of silver and gold" we might be carrying, metaphorically speaking, as we seek healing, peace, or salvation. It reminds us that God's ways are often counter-intuitive to human logic, requiring humility and simple obedience rather than grand gestures or material offerings. True transformation, whether physical or spiritual, cannot be purchased; it is a gift received through faith and surrender to God's unconventional methods. This narrative invites us to lay down our self-sufficiency and embrace the humbling truth that God's greatest blessings are freely given.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "wealth" or resources do I tend to rely on when facing significant challenges, rather than trusting in God's grace?**
* **How does Naaman's initial approach to healing challenge my own assumptions about how God works?**
* **In what areas of my life am I tempted to "buy" or earn what God offers freely?**
* **How can I cultivate a greater posture of humility and dependence on God's simple instructions, even when they seem illogical?**

### FAQ

**How much wealth did Naaman actually take with him, and why was it so much?**

Answer: Naaman took an astronomical sum: "ten talents of silver, and six thousand [pieces] of gold, and ten changes of raiment." A talent of silver was approximately 75 pounds (34 kg), so ten talents amounted to about 750 pounds (340 kg) of silver. Six thousand pieces of gold, likely referring to shekels, would be roughly 150 pounds (68 kg) of gold. The "changes of raiment" were expensive, ceremonial garments, not ordinary clothes. This collective sum represented an immense fortune, far exceeding what any individual could possess. It was so much because it was a diplomatic offering from a powerful king for his esteemed general, intended to impress, obligate, and ensure the success of a mission of national importance. It reflected the ancient Near Eastern custom of presenting lavish gifts when seeking a significant favor from a ruler or divine intervention, underscoring the gravity of Naaman's condition and the high value placed on his recovery. It was a kingly sum for a kingly problem, in their estimation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Naaman's journey, initiated by the immense wealth he carried in [2 Kings 5:5](/2_kings/5-5 "2 Kings 5:5 - Naaman's Wealth"), powerfully foreshadows the ultimate inability of human effort, status, or material riches to secure true healing and salvation, which can only be found in Christ. Naaman's attempt to "buy" a miracle with silver, gold, and fine garments stands in stark contrast to the New Testament's declaration that salvation is "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy" ([Titus 3:5](/titus/3-5 "Titus 3:5 - Salvation by Grace")). The vast sum he brought highlights the world's bankrupt approach to spiritual need, where humanity often seeks to earn or purchase God's favor. However, Christ, the true [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), offers healing and eternal life "without money and without price" ([Isaiah 55:1](/isaiah/55-1 "Isaiah 55:1 - God's Free Offer")), freely given through His atoning sacrifice on the cross. Naaman's eventual cleansing, not through his wealth but through humble obedience to Elisha's simple command to wash in the Jordan, points to the profound truth that our spiritual cleansing and redemption are found not in our own efforts or resources, but solely in the humble submission to Christ's finished work, a gift of pure grace ([Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith")). He is the one who truly takes away our spiritual leprosy, a cleansing that no amount of silver or gold could ever procure.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Judges 14:12

And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find [it] out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:

2 Kings 8:8

And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and enquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

2 Kings 8:9

So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

1 Samuel 9:7

Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, [if] we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and [there is] not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

1 Samuel 9:8

And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: [that] will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.

Numbers 24:11

Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

Numbers 24:13

If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do [either] good or bad of mine own mind; [but] what the LORD saith, that will I speak?