מלכים ב, פרק ה׳, פסוק כ״ו

A moment of confrontation exposes a servant's hidden actions and moral collapse as he attempts to profit personally and financially from a divine miracle. The prophet challenges him on two distinct fronts, addressing both the deception itself and the profound moral failure of accepting a reward. Asking a piercing question about his own awareness, which the primary approach among commentators understands rhetorically, the prophet makes it clear that his consciousness remained entirely sharp. Even while sitting in his place, he saw exactly what unfolded when Naaman turned his chariot around to meet the servant [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A complementary perspective notes that the prophet is simply stating that his understanding never left him, granting him complete knowledge of what was done in secret [רלב״ג].

The confrontation then strikes at the core of the offense by questioning the timing of the act. It is fundamentally inappropriate to seek personal gain from a divine miracle, especially when there is no urgent crisis or threat to survival [מצודת דוד]. The prophet had originally refused any payment specifically to sanctify the name of God, proving clearly that the healing was performed by Him alone rather than through natural means. By taking the money, the servant directly undermined this sacred purpose and ruined the profound opportunity of the moment [מלבי״ם].

To highlight the depth of the greed involved, the prophet lists an extensive collection of assets, including clothing, olive groves, vineyards, livestock, and servants. Since the servant had actually only taken silver and clothing, commentators explain that this list exposes his hidden ambitions. The prophet reveals the servant's true plan, which was to use the silver to build vast personal wealth and purchase large estates [רש״י, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. If the servant had tried to justify his actions by claiming he took the funds for a noble cause, such as feeding the poor during a famine, this specific list of luxuries shatters that defense and proves his goal was purely personal enrichment [מלבי״ם]. Alternatively, the prophet is emphasizing the severity of the restriction, clarifying that even if Naaman had freely offered all of this immense wealth, it would still have been strictly forbidden to accept it at that time [מצודת דוד]. Because of this deep betrayal, the servant faces a severe consequence, as the very leprosy that was cured will now cling to him and his descendants forever [רלב״ג].