Gehazi
- Dates
- 864–800 BC
Name means "valley of vision." He is the servant of Elisha who shows compassion to the Shunammite woman, but covetousness with Naaman the Syrian leper's gifts. He receives Naaman's leprosy. He later speaks to King Joram about Elisha's great deeds.
In detail
Gehazi is Elisha's servant. He appears first in favorable light when he showed sympathy with a childless Shunammite woman (2 Ki 4:14), and when he showed zeal for the honor of the prophet, who he thought was not being shown the proper respect (v 27). Later he is pictured as covetous and lying. To Naaman, the Syrian commander whom Elisha had healed of leprosy, he made it appear that the prophet had broken his word. As punishment the leprosy of Naaman fell on him (ch 5:20—27). His meeting with the king of Israel after a seven—year famine (ch 8:4—6) seems to have occurred before he was punished with perpetual leprosy.
Bible passages
- 2 Kings 4:12-36
12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. 14 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. …
- 2 Kings 5:20-27
20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. 21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well? 22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. …
- 2 Kings 8:4-5
4 And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done. 5 And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.
Text of the King James Version.