Elisha and Naaman Jordan River Valley

A Syrian commander named Naaman contracted leprosy. Because of a servant girl who had apparently known of Elisha’s miraculous ministry, the King of Aram sent Naaman to find Elisha. We are not told of where he met Elisha, but it probably wasn’t far from the Jordan River Valley. Elisha was from Abel-meholah, and a tel in the valley has been identified as the likely location. Though he was hesitant to follow Elisha’s instructions, Naaman eventually immersed himself seven times in the Jordan River and was healed. Elisha’s servant Gehazi wasn’t so faithful, or so fortunate. Centuries later, when Jesus was ministering “along the border between Samaria and Galilee,” he and his disciples encountered 10 lepers. This would have been in the same general area as where Naaman had called upon Elijah. Jesus healed them all, though only one returned to thank the man who had so much in common with Elijah and Elisha (Luke 17:11-19).