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50. Gehazi.

Elisha had a servant at the time called Gehazi. Gehazi was a greedy and mischievous fellow. He lusted after the beautiful bright silver and the brightly colored clothes that his master had spurned. He secretly left Elisha and hurried after Naaman on his journey home. When the good-natured man saw him coming, he got down from his chariot and went to meet him, asking him in kind words what it meant that he was following him. Gehazi, the mischievous one, said that two boys had just come to his master from the prophet in Ephraim. His master asked him if he would give him a talent of silver and two beautiful garments for them. Naaman gave him two talents, not just one, and two fine garments. Centner here means a certain amount of money, because in those days money was not counted but weighed. Two of Naaman's servants carried the money to him as far as Ophel. He hid it in Ophel and came back to the prophet as if nothing had happened. Elisha said to him, “Where from, Gehazi?” Gehazi said that he had not been anywhere else, as cheeky liars do when they have something to hide. - Evil deeds are difficult to conceal. Elisha had already heard everything. He said to him, “Is this the time to take silver and clothes, so that you can buy yourself an estate?”

For Gehazi wanted to buy olive groves and vineyards for himself. He was then punished with the same disease from which Naaman had been freed. He went away from the prophet with leprosy and was not happy with his stolen wealth. First stolen wealth does not make one happy, even without leprosy. But how the captive Israelite girl in Naaman's house may have rejoiced when her master returned to his homeland in good health and knew the God of Israel and told him what kind of man his prophet was! How the pious, mild person may have repaid the poor child the thanks he owed the prophet!