Gehazi’s secretive handling of Naaman’s gifts and his dismissal of the servants underline the subtlety of sin and the certainty of its eventual exposure.
When the servant Gehazi arrived at the hill and was away from Elisha’s sight, the Scripture says, “When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and deposited them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed” (2 Kings 5:24). Gehazi had just deceitfully secured silver and garments from Naaman’s servants by falsely invoking Elisha’s authority (2 Kings 5:20-23). Adjusting the path so he would not be caught, he met the men in a concealed location, received the gifts, and quietly hid them. The hill in question was near the prophet Elisha’s dwelling in the land of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (9th century BC), not far from Samaria. This region served as the setting for many of Elisha’s miraculous acts recorded in 2 Kings, showing God’s guidance and power through His prophet.
Gehazi was the servant of Elisha, and historically he appears after the ministry of Elijah, around the era of King Jehoram’s reign. By this time, Aram (or Syria) was a regional power, and military conflicts with Israel were frequent (2 Kings 6). Naaman, a Syrian commander, had been miraculously healed of leprosy by dipping in the Jordan River, demonstrating the Lord’s sovereignty over all nations. However, Gehazi’s greed led him to disobey Elisha’s directive not to accept payment for Naaman’s healing. The verse here underscores how Gehazi tried to conceal the evidence of his wrongdoing. He took the riches “from their hand,” tucked them away so that no one would witness his deception, and then dismissed Naaman’s men with little fanfare. This action would ultimately bring judgment upon Gehazi, for his scheme was revealed by Elisha, and he was stricken with leprosy for his sin (2 Kings 5:20-27).
Spiritually, this passage highlights the destructive nature of secret sin. Just as Jesus warned believers to “be on your guard against every form of greed” (Luke 12:15), Gehazi’s heart revealed a longing for temporal wealth rather than trust in God’s provision. Attempting to hide the plunder, he committed an act that would cost him his health and his role as Elisha’s trusted attendant. Throughout the New Testament, followers of Christ are encouraged to keep their motives pure, understanding that any deceit undermines God’s glory and our own fellowship with Him (1 John 1:6-7). Gehazi’s story stands as a cautionary reminder that even private acts have public consequences, and that God, who sees and knows all, calls His people to honesty and humility.
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2 Kings 5:24 meaning
When the servant Gehazi arrived at the hill and was away from Elisha’s sight, the Scripture says, “When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and deposited them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed” (2 Kings 5:24). Gehazi had just deceitfully secured silver and garments from Naaman’s servants by falsely invoking Elisha’s authority (2 Kings 5:20-23). Adjusting the path so he would not be caught, he met the men in a concealed location, received the gifts, and quietly hid them. The hill in question was near the prophet Elisha’s dwelling in the land of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (9th century BC), not far from Samaria. This region served as the setting for many of Elisha’s miraculous acts recorded in 2 Kings, showing God’s guidance and power through His prophet.
Gehazi was the servant of Elisha, and historically he appears after the ministry of Elijah, around the era of King Jehoram’s reign. By this time, Aram (or Syria) was a regional power, and military conflicts with Israel were frequent (2 Kings 6). Naaman, a Syrian commander, had been miraculously healed of leprosy by dipping in the Jordan River, demonstrating the Lord’s sovereignty over all nations. However, Gehazi’s greed led him to disobey Elisha’s directive not to accept payment for Naaman’s healing. The verse here underscores how Gehazi tried to conceal the evidence of his wrongdoing. He took the riches “from their hand,” tucked them away so that no one would witness his deception, and then dismissed Naaman’s men with little fanfare. This action would ultimately bring judgment upon Gehazi, for his scheme was revealed by Elisha, and he was stricken with leprosy for his sin (2 Kings 5:20-27).
Spiritually, this passage highlights the destructive nature of secret sin. Just as Jesus warned believers to “be on your guard against every form of greed” (Luke 12:15), Gehazi’s heart revealed a longing for temporal wealth rather than trust in God’s provision. Attempting to hide the plunder, he committed an act that would cost him his health and his role as Elisha’s trusted attendant. Throughout the New Testament, followers of Christ are encouraged to keep their motives pure, understanding that any deceit undermines God’s glory and our own fellowship with Him (1 John 1:6-7). Gehazi’s story stands as a cautionary reminder that even private acts have public consequences, and that God, who sees and knows all, calls His people to honesty and humility.