Rashi on Tanakh2 Kings 5

Na’amon the general. He goes on and lists the miracles that were performed through Elisha.

Victory to Arom. He drew back his bow innocently and killed Achov.¹See I Melochim 22:34 and Rashi there.

Bands of marauders [from Arom] went out. When they go [in groups of] one hundred or two hundred by themselves, to plunder whatever they find, that is called a גְּדוּד [=band].

A little girl. A young girl from the city of נַעֲרוֹן.²Two apparently contradictory words, נַעֲרָה [=a twelve year old girl] and קְטַנָה [=a young child] describe the girl. Rashi therefore explains that נַעֲרָה does not mean girl, but one who comes from the city of נַעֲרוֹן, which is mentioned in I Divrei Hayomim 7:28. Alternatively, נַעֲרָה can mean a girl of any age, and when modified by קְטַנָה, it means “a small girl.”—Ralbag

She became [a servant] to [Na’amon’s wife]. [Targum Yonoson renders,] “and she served Na’amon’s wife.

“My master should plead [for curing his illness] before the prophet.” An expression [similar to], “and Moshe prayed [וַיְחַל].”³Shemos 32:11. See also Tehillim 119:5. The supplications of all those who pray for him, will be that the miracle shall come before the prophet.

Plead. Soheidement, in O.F., i.e., this is the supplication that he needs.

He came. Na’amon.

And told his master. The king of Arom.

And took in his hand. A present for the prophet.

Six thousand gold [pieces]. Gold pieces.

Saying, “Now when this letter reaches, etc.” The letter said to him, “And now, when this letter reaches, etc.”

Arrange to cure him of this tzora’as. ‘אֲסֵפָה’ [=gathering], pertaining to a metzora, is an expression of his cure, because when he is cured, he is [once again] gathered in among people, but during his illness, everyone stays away from him.⁴The Torah forbids a metzora to dwell within the camp of Yisroel. See Vayikra 13:46. However, even among the other nations a metzora is excluded from the general community until he is cured.

“Am I God?” The [first] ‘ה’ is voweled with a ‘פתח’ to indicate that it is a question.

He is looking for an excuse. He is looking for a pretext to attack me.⁵Because he was so involved in his evil ways, it did not occur to Yehorom to seek help from Elisha the prophet.—Metzudas Dovid He is looking for an excuse.

[מִתְאַנֶּה is] an expression of “false accusation [=עֲלִילוֹת דְּבָרִים].”⁶Devarim 22:14.

“Behold, I thought.” I thought the prophet would come out and speak with me, and see the ailment.

And wave his hand toward the spot. Of the tzora’as.⁷Alternatively, אֶל הַמָּקוֹם refers “to the place where he worships God, i.e., towards the Beis Hamikdosh.—Ralbag

“My father [master].” אָבִי [lit., my father, means] the same as אֲדוֹנִי [=my master].⁸We find instances where אָב is a title that is used for prominent people. See Bereishis 45:8.

Would you not do it? Wouldn’t you do it, even if he told you to do something requiring exertion?

Certainly since. By a fortiori conclusion, for he said to you [to do] an easy thing, “immerse yourself and become clean.”

A blessing [a gift]. A gift of peace, upon greeting, [e.g.,] when a student or a servant greets [his] master,⁹See Bereishis 33:11. salud, in O.F.¹⁰Na’amon lived as a righteous gentile, keeping the seven commandments that God gave to Noach and his descendants. However, he did not convert to Judaism. See Maseches Gittin 57b.

I will not accept. Because monies pertaining to idols are included in it.

“Please.” An expression of a request, an expression of הַלְוַאי [=were it only so].¹¹Na’amon would not even take a small amount of earth with asking permission. Radak.

“May there be given.” From this soil of Eretz Yisroel, which is holy, a load [of earth] carried by a team of mules, and I will carry it off to my city, and I will make it [into] an altar.

The house of Rimon. The name of a pagan deity.

To bow down there. Against my will, when my master bows, because he leans on my hand.

A distance. כִּבְרַת אֶרֶץ is the name of a land measure,¹²The distance of a mile.—Radak as in, “portions [צִמְדֵי] of vineyard,”¹³Yeshayahu 5:10. arpent, in O.F.

Something. The ‘א’ is missing,¹⁴The word “מְאוּמָה” is written “מוּמָה,” without the ‘א.’ מוּם means a flaw. As a result of this taking, he was stricken with Na’amon’s flaw, that of tzora’as. because this taking was [responsible for his being stricken with] a flaw [=[מום.

And he jumped off. [Targum Yonoson renders,] “and he leaned over.”¹⁵This expression is similar to the one in Bereishis 24:64 pertaining to Rivkah.

“Please.” Swear that he sent you.¹⁶Na’amon asked him to swear because he did not believe that Elisha changed his mind. Alternatively, הוֹאֵל means “agree.”—Metzudas Tzion

In two bags. Types of garments and kerchiefs, as in, “and the kerchiefs and the pouches [=חֲרִיטִים].”¹⁷Yeshayahu 3:22. Menachem classified it thus. But [Targum] Yonoson rendered this as “פַּלְדָּסִין [=sheets],” and the one [חֲרִיטִים] in the Book of Yeshayahu, [he rendered] as “מְחַכַּיָּא [=a plate covering the genitals].” The exegetes say that “בִּשְׁנֵי חֲרִיטֵי,” means “in two long pockets,” brides, in O.F.

His two servants. Na’amon’s.

And they carried them before him. Before Geichazi.

And he came to a concealed place. [Targum] Yonoson rendered, “to a hidden place.”¹⁸Alternatively, עֹפֶל means “a stronghold,” a secure place.—Radak

And took from their hands. From the hands of Na’amon’s two servants.

And he dismissed the men so that Elisha would not see them.

Was that the time to take silver. To become wealthy, and to buy with it clothing and olive [trees], etc.