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17 Naaman said, “If not, then please, let your servant be given a load of [a]earth for a team of mules; for [from this day on] your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering nor a sacrifice to other gods, but only to the Lord, [the God of Israel]. 18 In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master [the king] goes into the house of [his god] Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand and I bow in the house of Rimmon, when I bow down in the house of Rimmon, may the Lord pardon your servant in this matter [of attending the king when he worships].” 19 Elisha said to him, “Go in peace.” So Naaman departed and was a good distance away from him,

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 5:17 In the ancient world, pagans believed a god could only be worshiped on the native soil of the nation which he served. Naaman wanted the soil for an altar (cf Ex 20:24) so that he could worship God in Aram (Syria).

17 “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth(A) as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord. 18 But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning(B) on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.”

19 “Go in peace,”(C) Elisha said.

After Naaman had traveled some distance,

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