to the servant hon or similar to that which he would have paid to his master, the Syrian captain descended from his

chariot to meet him. In answer to Naaman's anxious inquiry, Gehazi pretended a message from Elisha to the effect that

two of the sons of the prophets had just come to him from Mount Ephraim, on which both Bethel and Gilgal were

situated, and that he requested for them a talent of silver and two changes of garments. Probably we are to understand

that these imaginary "sons of the prophets" were represented as having come in name of their respective communities,

to crave help from Elisha. This would explain why Naaman should have urged Gehazi to "be pleased" - to "consent" -

to take two talents (each from 300 pounds to 375 pounds). But for the hardening effect of sin, especially of lying and

covetousness, Gehazi must have been touched by the evident simplicity of Naaman, and by that respectful courtesy

which now would not allow the servant of the prophet, who had come on such a charitable errand, to be burdened with

carrying the silver, but detailed two of his attendants for the purpose. Gehazi allowed them to come as far as "the

hill,"  215 and then dismissed them, to prevent possible detection.

Having secreted the money in the house, Gehazi made his appearance before his master. To what he might have felt as

a searching inquiry, "Whence, Gehazi?" he replied by a bold denial of having been absent from the house. Evidently

Gehazi did not realize that the Jehovah Whom he had erst invoked, and before Whom Elisha stood, wa s the living and

the true God. Taking up the very words of Gehazi, "Thy servant did not go," Elisha put it, "Did not my heart go?"216

and then set before him the whole scene as it had been present to his inward spiritual vision.

Then, setting forth the in congruity of such mean lying and self-seeking on such an occasion - when the glory of God

should have been the sole thought and aim of a true Israelite, he pronounced upon him what must be felt a sentence of

meet retribution. The Syrian had become an Israelite in heart and spirit, and he was healed of his leprosy in Israel's

waters. The Israelite had become heathen in heart and spirit, and he and his were struck with the leprosy of the Syrian,

whose money he had coveted for himself and his family. What each had sown, that did he reap. And this also was not

only for just judgment, but for a testimony to God and to His servant.217