CHAPTER IV.
"What is thy will with me, good Naaman?" asked Benhadad, king of Syria,with whom the Syrian general stood high in favor.
"I am come to seek counsel of thee, my lord," replied Naaman. "My wifehath a maid-servant who cometh from the land of Israel, and this maidensayeth that in Samaria there is a prophet called Elisha, who hath donemost marvelous things even to the raising of the dead to life. Themaiden claimeth that if I seek the prophet, Elisha, he will heal me ofmy leprosy. What thinketh thou, my lord? dost thou believe that whichthe maiden sayeth be true?"
"I have never heard of this Elisha," replied Benhadad. "He is nodoubt a magician, and, if what the maiden sayeth be true, his powerfar exceedeth that of any magician at my court. Thou shalt journeyto Samaria, my Naaman, bearing a letter from me to Jehoram, king ofIsrael. This Elisha is perhaps attached to the court of Jehoram, but,if not, the king hath power to make his subjects do his bidding. Takewith thee gold in plenty to reward this Elisha."
Naaman kissed the hand of the king and went forth from his presence.Upon the day following his interview with Benhadad, Naaman, in greatpomp and splendor, set forth upon his journey to Samaria. He carriedwith him ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold (aboutsixty thousand dollars) and ten changes of costly raiment with which toreward Elisha.
The first blush of the rising sun lay upon the city of Damascus as themagnificent caravan of Naaman passed through its gates. Naaman and hisretinue journeyed over the uplands of Bashan, through the valley ofJordan, and upon the fifth day stood before the gates of Samaria.
Then Naaman, ordering the caravan to halt, called one of his servantsto him and said:
"Send ahead a messenger to Jehoram, king of Israel, announcing thatNaaman, the great Syrian general, art approaching with his retinue anddesireth audience with him."
A fair-haired lad, robed in scarlet and mounted upon a jet-black horseof wonderful swiftness, bore Naaman's message to the king. So when thecaravan reached the palace, Jehoram was waiting to receive Naaman.
Tall and lithe of form, straight of feature was the Israelite king.The long hair, bound by the jeweled crown, was black as the raven'swing. There was a flush upon his dark brow and a troubled look in hiseyes as Naaman entered his presence.
"Thou art Naaman, general in the Syrian Army," he said, "and thouseeketh speech with me?"
"Yes, I am Naaman," replied the Syrian, as he bent his proud headbefore Israel's dark king. "I have journeyed from Damascus, bearingthis letter from Benhadad, king of all Syria to Jehoram, king ofIsrael," and taking the parchment from his breast, he presented it toJehoram.
The latter read the letter and his face turned white. Lifting his eyes,angry and disturbed, he fixed them upon Naaman.
"Thou art a leper?" he said, while a look of loathing passed over hisface.
A dark red flush of shame and humiliation rose to Naaman's proud brow."Yes, my lord, I am a leper," he replied.
The king fell into deep thought, his brows drawn together in a frown.
Naaman, standing at the foot of the throne in torturing suspense, notedthat the king was greatly disturbed. His thin lips were unsteady, thelong, slim fingers, which held the golden sceptre, trembled.
At length, the king roused himself, and, turning his eyes again uponNaaman, he asked:
"Knoweth thou the contents of this letter?"
"Yes, my lord," replied Naaman.
"I must have time to consider this request of Benhadad," continued theking. Naaman's face paled. He had not anticipated any hesitation on thepart of Jehoram to grant the wish of Benhadad, knowing how unwise itwould be for political reasons for Jehoram thus to act. If the king ofIsrael noted Naaman's disturbance he gave no sign of it.
"Seek me to-morrow at this time," he said, "and thou shalt have myanswer to the letter of thy king."
As soon as Naaman had departed Jehoram summoned the counselors and wisemen of his kingdom and thus addressed them:
"Benhadad, king of Syria, seeketh a quarrel with me. He maketh arequest which he knoweth it be impossible for me to grant. I fear thathe doth this for the purpose of provoking war as his father, BenhadadI, before him, did with my father, Ahab."
"My lord, what meaneth thou?" anxiously inquired one of the wise men ofthe kingdom.
"The king hath sent to me Naaman, the great Syrian general, with aletter which I will read to thee," replied the king. "'Now when thisletter is come unto thee, behold I send herewith Naaman, my servant,that thou mayest cure him of his leprosy.' Seeth thou how he seeketh aquarrel with me?" cried the king, as he rent his garments. "Am I God tokill and give life that Benhadad sendeth to me a man to be cured of hisleprosy?"
The wise men and the counselors of the kingdom looked silently andapprehensively into one another's faces, for they knew not what to sayto the king.
"It doth appear that Benhadad mocks me," said the king, "for well heknoweth that no man hath the power to heal the leper."
"My lord, what answer hast thou given to Naaman who brought to theethe king's letter?" asked one of the wise men.
"I have given him as yet no answer," replied Jehoram. "I did send himaway, bidding him return to-morrow. In the meanwhile, I have summonedthee, my counselors and wise men, that we may confer together."
"Thinketh thou, my lord, that this Naaman, who cometh in such pomp andsplendor to Samaria, be in truth a leper?" asked one of the counselors.
"Truly I know not," answered the king. "But when I didst ask him ifhe were a leper, his face flushed with shame and he replied, 'Yes, Iam a leper.' He is a man of magnificent form and stately bearing, heis evidently of great wealth and high in favor with Benhadad, Syria'sking. He is also a soldier and a man of valor. But why waste we time indiscussing this Syrian. Let us rather take counsel as to what answerwe shall send to his king."
"My lord, what answer canst thou send to Benhadad, king of Syria, savethat thou art not God and, therefore, hath not the power to heal theleper?" asked one of the wise men.
The king frowned.
"Thus would I do as Benhadad wisheth--give him pretext to make war uponme," he cried, impatiently. "Thou speaketh with scant wisdom, Mahab.Benhadad knoweth well that it be not in the power of man to heal theleper. But I would temporize with him, not thus openly give him pretextto make war upon Israel."
At that moment one of the king's servants entered and said:
"My lord, a servant of the prophet, Elisha, is without and desirethspeech with thee."
"He must seek me later," cried the king, impatiently. "I am engaged atpresent with the counselors and wise men of my kingdom upon a matter ofgrave import."
"Pardon thy servant, my lord," persisted the servant, "but this man bidme say that his master hath sent him to speak words of counsel thatneither the wise men nor the counselors of thy kingdom could give untothee."
The king started.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, "now I do remember that this Elisha be a greatprophet and a holy man of God. Go, bring hither his servant."
The servant withdrew, returning in few moments with a man simply cladand grave of mien.
"My lord," he said to Jehoram, "my master, Elisha, the prophet, bade meseek thee and say, 'Why hast thou rent thy garments? Sendeth to me thisNaaman of Syria that he may know there is a prophet in Israel.'"