Melachim II Perek 5

• Na’aman, the general-in-chief for the king of Aram, contracted tsara’as – leprosy.

• Na’aman was advised by a young Jewish girl whom he had captured, and who was serving his wife, to find Elisha, who would heal him.

• The king of Aram liked the idea and sent Na’aman with gifts and a letter to Yehoram, king of Yisrael.

• Yehoram was frightened by the letter because he thought that this was just a ploy to incite a war. Yehoram knew that he couldn’t heal Na’aman.

• Elisha heard about what had happened to Yehoram and he told Yehoram to send Na’aman to him.

• Elisha told Gaichazi, his attendant, to tell Na’aman to bathe in the Yarden River seven times and he would be cured.

• Na’aman was initially offended that Elisha did not personally come out to greet him, and he reasoned that since he bathes regularly in cleaner water than the Yarden, Elisha’s cure would have no effect on him.

• Na’aman’s attendants prevailed upon him to follow Elisha’s instructions to bathe in the Yarden.

• Na’aman was completely cured.

• Na’aman gave thanks to the G-d of Yisrael and offered Elisha gifts. (Some Meforshim learn that Na’aman converted to Judaism.)

• Elisha declined the gifts.

• Gaichazi went behind Elisha’s back and asked Na’aman for the gifts and Na’aman happily complied.

• Elisha understood what had happened and he cursed Gaichazi that his family would have tsara’as for the rest of their lives.

• Gaichazi, covered in white tsara’as, left Elisha.