Practicum in Biblical Interpretation: 2 Kings 5:1~14

Instructor: Claassens, Juliana

Practicum in Biblical Interpretation BI-341

February 3, 2009

2 Kings 5:1~14

   Beginning Journey at Home

   Miracles in the Bible have a clear purpose to testify that God is living. The miracle(or healing) stories in Kings declare the LORD of Israel as almighty and identify the practitioner (prophet) as the true prophet of God. Especially, the miracle stories in Kings occur during difficult periods of Israel’s history. 2 Kings 5:1~14 is special in many ways.  I believe that the healing story in 2 Kings 5:1~14 provides us with important insight into who we are people living during a difficult time in the U.S. history.

    I, as a son of Korean immigrants, when I observe my family and its community in Newport News,VA, often feel that they live as strangers in America even though they are U.S citizens. Also, the Korean immigrant community is too small to voice its opinions in effective ways. Although Korean immigrants arrived to the U.S over 100 years ago, they are still marginalized.

   Many people in the U.S are suffering economic crises. News of banks going broke is not surprising to people anymore. Many have lost their jobs;  NBC nightly news(Jan. 30, 2009) reported 102,450 jobs disappeared. All economic indicators predict that the economic situation is getting worse. Also, Korean immigrants are suffering economic crises; according to my parents, who operate a beauty supply shop in Newport News, VA, at least three shops have shut down their businesses in the past three weeks.

   Encountering The Biblical Text

    This healing story reveals that a young servant girl plays a pivotal role in this story. The healing story in 2 Kings 5:1~14 opens with the introduction of a great man, Naaman, who is the commander of the army of the king of Aram. Naaman and the king of Israel both appear to be spiritually blind, even though they are powerful players in the ancient Eastern world. Elisha appears to be following the normal routine of a prophet. However, a young girl introduces the way of salvation, and a male servant advises Naaman to accept simple instructions that lead to salvation.

   Actually, Naaman’s story is theologically multi-layered. Therefore, this story can be interpret  in different ways by readers. I read this story with an eye of a minority. However, the eye of the majority may interpret this story as a simple, universal story of salvation through the majority(Israel), or the story about obeying God.

   When I was Sunday school kid, I learned that obedience was the moral of this healing story. It was very simple, “If you want to be healed, you must obey God.” I do not think this teaching  is wrong, however, this healing story has multiple layers that need to be considered in its reading.

    A Close Reading of the Bible Texts

   In this story, I focus on the contrast of social positions that highlight the event of salvation through acts of seemingly insignificant people. I have three translation issues, which are ‘great man(5:1 NRSV),’ ‘a young girl(5:2 NRSV),’ and ‘may learn that there is a prophet in Israel(5:8 NRSV).’

   The first two translation issues are about words to describe the characters to the reader. The terms ‘Great man’ and ‘a young girl’ show a clear contrast. Actually, I am focusing on how great he is and how small she is in this story. ‘Gadol,’ is the Hebrew word used to describe Naaman’s greatness. There are two significant meanings, which describe his position of prominence and to describe his inclusiveness and generosity.¹ Also, ‘qatan’ or ‘qaton,’ are words that appear with ‘gadol’  in a variety of contexts as idioms of inclusiveness.² Perhaps, Naaman’s greatness is not only in his position, but also in his inclusiveness, because he listens his wife’s maid and his servant. However, to make a clear contrast between Naaman and the young girl, we should remember that the Hebrew word ‘qatan’ or ‘qaton’ is translated to describe a young girl as small, insignificant, and unimportant.³ Interestingly, the young girl is the first driving force of this story. “A young girl” from the land of Israel saves the “great man,” who led the Aramean’s raid.⁴

   The third translation issue is the word ‘learn (NRSV)’ and ‘know (NIV, KJV).’ ‘Yada,’ is a Hebrew word with many theological meanings. In Naaman’s case, ‘yada’ can be translated to  create a relationship with God because Naaman experienced the living God in Israel and converted.⁵

   To interpret this story, I regard this story as theological literature.  Although the Books of the Kings are historical texts, 2 Kings 5:1~14 does not contain historical references. Actually, I can find only one historical reference that supports the healing narrative as having occurred during the active time of Elisha. However, the given text leads me to deep theological reflection.

   Reading Contextually: Finding the Passage in Its Place

   Naaman’s healing story is a part of the Elisha stories (2 Kings 1-10). Elisha was the designated successor of Elijah. In the Elisha stories, the miracles designate Elisha as a true prophet⁶. The true prophet received the Spirit of God, and performed miracles. The purpose of miracles is to testify that God is living among the Israelites.  

   To locate the social context of 2 Kings, we need to consider the rise of prophecy, and the division of Israel into two  kingdoms, and the political relationship between Israel and Aram. After the end of Solomon’s kingship, Israel was divided into two Kingdoms (South-Juda and Northern Israel). Actually, the role of the prophet was to serve as a professional advisor in the royal court, but the conflict between Elijah and Ahab’s court changed their relationship.⁷ The prophets in the ninth century BCE were divorced from the royal court, but they could keep a close relationship with the people of Israel⁸. Therefore, a young girl in 2 kings 5:3 knew that the prophet was in Samaria.

   Also, we find a terrified king of Israel when he received the letter from the king of Aram(2 Kings 5:7). According to the reaction of the king of Israel, Aram seems to be a powerful nation in relation to a weak Israel. Arameans raid the land of Israel whenever they want. Many Israelites were captured by Arameans and sold as slaves. In this context, there is a serious theological question raised- “why does God let the army of Israel be defeated?” Therefore, the social context of 2 Kings 5:1~14 required the answer of a prophet to understand their suffering under Aramean oppression.

   Engaging the Text, Other readers, and Our Community

   As a marginalized Korean immigrant who is living in economic crisis, I want to point out four things from the Naaman’s story. Everything is under the control of God. Also, we are small and suffering, but we are still in the center of the salvation story. We know what the majority does not know. Therefore, we need to evoke them with our knowledge.

   Everything is under the control of God. 2 Kings 5:1 gives a simple answer for why the Lord had given to victory to Aram.⁹  The answer seems to be nonsense to Israelites. However, the salvation of Israel comes from the Naaman’s story. Israel was an easy target to raid for Aram. Naaman was a very important person for the king of Aram, but he had leprosy. Naaman, his family and the king of Aram wanted him to be healed. After Naaman was healed and converted, he feared God. For the moment, Israel was safe during Naaman’s lifetime.

   We are small and suffering, but we are in the center of God’s salvation story. In the center of this salvation story, there was a young girl who knew the prophet was in Samaria. The young girl, who was captured and served Naaman’s wife, had pity on Naaman. The young girl proposed to Naaman’s wife that he should see the prophet in Samaria. I think the young girl’s proposal informed Naaman not only of the presence of the prophet, but also the presence of God in Israel. The young, little, unimportant girl’s proposal was the driving force of this salvation story.

   Therefore, we, as minority immigrants, know something the majority does not know. Interestingly, the great people such as Naaman, the king of Aram, and the King of Israel did not know what the young girl knew.  When the king of Israel receives the letter of the king of Aram, he is terrified, tears his robe and laments his weakness. The king of Israel did not know that there was a prophet in Samaria.¹⁰ The king of Israel forgot the LORD was in Israel. However, Elisha informed the king of Israel that Naaman would learn that there is a prophet in Israel.¹¹

    Indeed, we, as Korean immigrants, are so small and unimportant. Many of us cannot be protected by the laws of the U.S. However, I believe that God uses Korean immigrants to save America as God used a young girl to save Israel. Many great people in the U.S propose solution s to overcome economic crises. However, their solutions follow the capitalistic system as the king of Israel tried to use human methods. I do not think that human methods can provide radical solutions for today’s crisis. I expect that all countries will foster right relationships(`yada) with God, and find the way to build the kingdom of God. Actually, the solution is really simple, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself(Mark 12:31).’ It seems too easy of an answer, but many people do not try  to live by this solution because it is too easy. However, Naaman followed Elisha’s message after accepting his servant’s advice. I think Korean immigrants can play the servant role for the U.S, which can be understood as today’s Naaman.

“So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of young boy(NIV 5:14).”

   As Naaman was healed, I hope the U.S will be healed. I hope that Korean immigrants play the role of driving force in the today’s healing story.