Jewish Maid, a Youth That Left Indelible Mark

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary says, “dark ages” is a period of history or a time when something was not developed or modern. The time that I want to write about here is the time when the kings were ruling in the land of Israel. They have evolved over the time when judges were their rulers and have formed a system of government for themselves like other neighboring countries.

The definition given to indelible is that it is something which cannot be removed, washed away or erased.

It was during this (dark age) time that an incident happened in one of the neighboring countries to Israel, Syria. The author of the chapter could not talk about the incident without making mention of what necessitated or brought about the incident.

The origin of the incident was what a maid attached to a captain of the host of the king of Syria did.

However, despite the utterances of the maid, the documents of what followed would not be completed without mentioning other principals involved in the history and one of the chief persons involved in the history was the anointed and now renown prophet in the land of Israel did.

The development was a marked one such that the author of the book of second kings cannot overlook it. This incident is one of the accounts among others that can only be found in the book of the second Kings. This incident is well described in the chapter 5 of the book of second Kings which I shall be writing on here.

The systems of the world in the times past have a way of merging together despite the absence of internet connections as it is today. During this time, news of what is happening in some countries has a way of reaching other ends of the world by which countries at the ends of the world would know whether to toe the line of the news heard or styles of leadership of such country or distance themselves from such.

Therefore, all humans in the world who have been familiar with history one way or another know that in the time past the common method of a country (and perhaps individual) ascertaining their superiority over another person is through wars (fighting).

Towns will rise against towns to subdue them, after those towns have been overpowered, the town that overpowered them would start receiving royalties from the towns or countries they conquered.

While in the case of humans, when a person subdues another person, the person who subdues his or her partner would turn the person to a slave who would be working under him, they will be using those ones as slaves, on their farms, shepherding their flocks among others which they would be subjected to.

“And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.” (Jos 9:27)

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

“But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister” (Mat 20:25-26)

Those leaders, princes, chiefs, captains in the time past exercise dominion over their subjects after they had overpowered them. Though the influence of technology and internet have reduced this a bit, but not eliminated for it could be found at some other disciplines most especially military.

It would interest the reader to know that Israel as a nation was not exempted from something like this. The nation, Israel, also goes to war with other countries, to ascertain which country is the most powerful among the comity of countries around. In the same vein was it happening at countries and continents at the extreme ends of the world.

I do hope you get this picture. It was during this period that what we want to look at happened, and we shall see some things about this maid who was the genesis of the development in this chapter of the book.

It was during this period that a king called Jehoram lived and ruled over Israel. King Jehoram was the heir of King Ahab. After King Ahab’s death his son, Jehoram, was crowned King over the nation of Israel.

It was when this King, King Jehoram, was a ruler over the country of Israel that the king of Syria became one of the world’s super-powers. The King of Syria had a well-formed military that had fought with many other countries and had overpowered them. One of the countries overpowered was Israel.

When the Syrian army fought with the children of Israel, and overpowered the nation, they took some of the children of Israel hostage. One of those held as prisoners of wat was a maid.

After this maid has been captured alongside with others, as the customs were then, the spoil of war including the hostages would be shared among the warriors, mostly the generals (captains) to be serving them. This maid was assigned to the captain of the host of the king of Syria of Syria named Naaman.

This article is essentially centered on this maid; however, I shall make brief references to other persons in this chapter to understand this article better and clearly see the indelible mark that was left by the maiden.

The name of this maid was not stated in the bible neither was her genealogy stated. What was however said of her was that she was an Israelite.

“And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.” (2 Ki 5:2)

She was a young woman according to the translation of this Hebrew word, “נערה”, Romanized form na‛ărâh (pronounced as nah-ar-aw') and if we consider the Hebrew word used for little which is “קטן קטן”, Romanized as qâṭân qâṭôn (phonetic spelling is kaw-tawn', kaw-tone') which means youngest, we may consider the maid to be teenager, perhaps just attaining menarche.

Female warriors were not many then, thus this lady may be one of those who went to the battle front to serve her siblings foods or as medical attaché at the battle front, because the documentation does not state that the nation of Israel was ravaged by the Syrian army. Therefore, she may have been sent to the battle front as David’s father sent him to check for the welfare of his brethren on the battle field when fighting with the Philistines.

“And Jesse said unto David his son, take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;

“And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.” (1 Sa 17:17-18)

As a loved daughter and a person who has tender heart, someone who has in her heart the thoughts of her brothers she went to the battle ground to supply her brothers’ foods.

Tragedy perhaps struck when she was on the battle field attending to her brothers and before she could leave the Israeli army camp the Syrians launched their attack on the camp and she was one of those people who couldn’t escape thus, she was taken captive along with others.

“And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.” (2 Ki 5:2)

Sometimes we became caught up in the web of something when we were there or about to leave there, and things would happen fast, so rapidly that there won’t be escape route for us.

This may perhaps be what happened unto this young woman, before she could say “Jack” the un-expected has happened.

After they were led to the Syrian land by the army, they started distributing the spoils of war including the hostages and she was appointed to serve (as this Hebrew word, “פּנים”, Romanized form pânı̂ym (pronounced as paw-neem') used for “waited” means) the wife of Naaman captain of the host of the king of Syria.

“And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.” (2 Ki 5:2)

After this maid had been told that she would be serving the captain’s wife, she started developing good relationship with her, she forgot the past, she forgot whom she was, what her parents had or would have had, and concentrated on her present.

This wasn’t the case of this maid, she forgot the past, forgot what she supposed to do which she did not do which brought her into the position she was, she forgot the errors of her leaders, for it is a possibility that it was the errors of her leaders that brought her into that position, she forgot all and concentrated on her present, serving her mistress.

The maid familiarized herself with the mistress and the master of the house, and she does this she started noticing some things about the master of the house, the captain.

It will not be out of the way to say that this maiden is a good observant. She doesn’t develop good rapport with her mistress and master of the house alone but she equally paid good observation to all that passes by her in the house, most importantly the health status of her mistress’ husband, the captain.

One of the things that makes a good scientists is good observation, this is why they would take them to the laboratory to perform some experiments because they want them to know how to observe, how to make inference from what they are seeing, and people who could not observe well would likely not be a good scientists in the future, even if they passed their papers, they wouldn’t be able to do exploits in the field because of their poor level of observation.

It is equally expected of a good follower to also be a good observer because failing to do this, the person wouldn’t be able to decipher some things about his master. It is not everything that the master would tell his subjects, but he would expect his subject to always be a good observer. Note that, this was true of the disciples of Jesus Christ, he did not tell them that he was the Christ of God, but from their close observation, Peter boldly said he was the Christ of God.

“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

“And they said, some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

“He saith unto them, but whom say ye that I am?

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Mat 16:13-16)

It is always expedient for us to be a good observer everywhere we are, because if the disciples could be one, nothing lesser than this is expected of us.

This maid thence demonstrated this feat, showing that she was a good observer.

I said this because I assume that the master being a warrior, captain and a rich person would be covering his sickness, infirmity with clothes those days, and because of this perhaps many people do not know what was wrong with him, his infirmity was not exposed to all but limited people.

I assume if many people had known about his infirmity, many petitions would have been written about him that the king should let him go because he is not the only one who could execute the job efficiently and effectively, at least if he dies, somebody else would replace him, his position wouldn’t be left vacant, people would have said to the king like that.

To be a good leader, you must be a good observer; to be a good follower you must be a good observer.

Her good upbringing was demonstrated where she was living for assuming, she does not have good upbringing, she wouldn’t be able to present her case well to her mistress. Many have good intentions about some things, many have good counsel to offer but they couldn’t present themselves well because of poor background, poor upbringing. Lawyers used to say, it is not enough to have a good case, but it is important that one gets his data and facts correctly.

She had good intentions and she was able to present herself right and correctly because of her upbringing which was good. This could be noticed in how she presented her case to her mistress.

“And she said unto her mistress, would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.” (2 Ki 5:3)

The Hebrew word for “would” here is “אחלי אחלי”, 'achălay 'achălêy (pronounced as ak-al-ah'ee, akh-al-ay') which means “o that”, or “I pray thee”.

She did not present the subject to her mistress as if she knows it all, she did not present the message to her mistress in an annoying way, but she presented it to her in a way that she would accept it.

Jesus Christ when presenting the message of the gospel to unbelievers during his days, presented it in a loving way, through the means that would make the message sink unto the minds of his listeners, little wonder we read from his accounts that thousands got attached to him and became converted because he presented those messages to them simply, clearly and lovingly, not as dictator.

Be it known that if we present the message of Jesus to the perishing souls in a harsh way, or as dictators, people would not be saved, they would prefer to continue in their ways of life and living other than coming to Jesus Christ. Thence, learn how to present the gospel to unbelievers because we are those God is counting on to bring the gospel to the perishing people of the world so that they would be saved and come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

This maid knew the capability of the prophet in her land, she knew the grace of God upon the man of God, which the people in other land were in oblivion of. She wouldn’t hide the idea, she wouldn’t transfer her aggression to the man, but she opened herself to her mistress of the benefits they could derive if they can give the man of God in her land a chance.

“And she said unto her mistress, would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.” (2 Ki 5:3)

It is disturbing today that many people keep what they know to themselves and yet they would be expecting to receive more from God. I doubt if thou would receive new thing from God if you continue in that status.

The blacks and specifically the Africans are backward today because we keep most of what we know to ourselves, whereas the Scandinavians, Caucasians and other tribes of the world would open up, they will tell us (others) what would bring life into our lives (their lives), what would bring changes to our lives, but instead of us doing similar thing, we wouldn’t but would keep those things we know in our hearts thus when those people who know something die, they would die with their knowledge because they haven’t at a time shared their knowledge with others neither written them down. Though means of writing things down haven’t been well developed in the times past, during our fore-parents’ days, but assuming some of their knowledge were being shared, I believe, it is not all that would have been forgotten today and Africans would have taken a step forward than this.

She told her mistress about the man of God, the prophet in her land and implored her to tell her love to give the man of god a trial, for what she would say, she wouldn’t be able to convince the man as the wife would convince him.

The maiden knows the person she was directly working under, she does not jump the gun, she does not go directly to the master of the house despite knowing that the infirmity was on him, she recognizes levels of authority.

“Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:

“Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

“For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.” (Luk 7:6-8)

This Centurion sent elders of the Jews to Jesus Christ to come and heal one of his servants who was sick. From what this Centurion said here, it is apparent that what he discussed with the elders of the Jews were different from what they presented unto Jesus Christ. What he discussed with them would perhaps have been that they should implore Jesus Christ to use his authority to command that the infirmity on the body of his servant be removed.

However, because of what this Centurion had done for the Jewish land, the elders of the land when they got to Jesus Christ what they told him was that he should follow them to the Centurion’s house. They told Jesus Christ that if indeed he was a true son of Abraham whom he claimed to be, if he is a true Jew, he needs to come with them to heal the centurion’s servant, because he’s worth it, because of what he had done for the country. They started itemizing what the centurion has done for their land, which makes their land to be at the forefront among the comity of other lands within the land.

Jesus Christ obviously shows them that he was a true Jew and by extension that, that was the reason for which he has come to the world he started following them.

“… For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 Jn 3:8b)

When the news of Jesus coming got to the Centurion from afar off, he quickly sent message to Jesus Christ, that the people had added to what he discussed with them, for what he discussed with them was not what they did, what he asked them to tell Jesus was not what they told him and he profoundly apologized for mis-communication being carried to Jesus and told him what he wants him to do, for he is a man of authority, he knows there are chains of authorities he knows authorities have levels, just as he was a man under authority with people also under him and he can command that one goes like this and another goes like that and it would be done.

He told Jesus that, that is what he expected of him, he doesn’t expect him to come to his house but to issue out command and what he says would be carried out instantly.

This maid also recognizes levels of authority and she wouldn’t for knowing how the master would be healed jump protocols neither seek for herself undue favor from the master but she followed the lay down rules and went to her mistress to tell her what she knows and what would happen to the master of the house if he could endeavor to try the prophet in Israel.

Some having been given some privileges, some having known some things, they would through that refuse to follow the command chain in their departments, faculties, work places etc. This is not good enough, we should learn from this young woman, despite having the key on her, she followed the right channel and wouldn’t want undue favor for herself.

She has every reason to hoard the information she has, she has every reason to hide the information from the woman and her husband, for after all she was a slave, and it is possible that those people would say assuming there was a God in Israel powerful than the gods of Syria they wouldn’t have been conquered, their God ought to have delivered them.

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom 12:21)

She did not condescend to their level but used good to overcome evil and told the mistress, the person she was directly working under, of what could be done about the sickness of the master of the house.

It is a possibility that her mind would be thinking that what of if her mistress did not listen to what she would say? Even if she listens what assurance do I have that she would accept it? She would again remember what some Syrians have been saying that it was because their gods were superior to Yahweh t5hat was why they could overcome the Israelis in battle, but they wouldn’t know the covenant that backs the Israelis, the covenants which the Lord says they should always pay attention to for him to continue to deliver them from their enemies, those they wouldn’t know because they weren’t of the clan of Israel, they were alien to the covenant of God.

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:” (Eph 2:12)

All these this lady knows but despite knowing them, she ignores them and what she might have heard and allows for good thought to rule and reign in her heart to deliver the message to her mistress.

It is this kind of thought that prevent some people from reaching out to others, telling them about Jesus. We should overcome such thought by good thoughts, by thinking of what they stand to benefit than allowing our minds to be weighed down by negative words which we have heard. Jesus says, it is the kind of thought in our hearts that defines us, shows whom we really are. If it is good, we shall demonstrate good features; and if it is bad thoughts, we shall exhibit bad features. We are however enjoined in the strongest possible terms to allow good thoughts to overcome evil thoughts in our lives so that we shall by this save lives and add meaning to someone’s life as this maid did.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Php 4:8)

She ignored the evil thoughts that have stemmed out of evil words she has heard in the streets and at other places allowing good thoughts to dominate her heart and presented the route of escape to her mistress.

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts,…” (Mar 7:21a)

Her mistress, the wife of captain Naaman heard what her maid said, and she presented the case to her lover, Naaman. Naaman too sent the information to the king of Syria obviously seeking for order to go to Israel. The king sent the message to the king of Israel of the need to find solution to the sickness of his captain. This news got to prophet Elisha when the king was troubled of the news heard, because the king thought the king of Syria was seeking for an occasion to wage war against his country again.

When prophet Elisha heard the news, he asked him not to be troubled because it was for that reason that the maiden was captured so that light would reach the gentiles.

He asked that the king sent the person with infirmity to him that he would know that there is a God and a prophet in Israel.

“And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” (2 Ki 5:8)

This perhaps corroborates the fact that the people of Syria would have been saying assuming Israelis God was powerful they wouldn’t have conquered them.

When captain Naaman got to the prophet he was completely healed through the instructions given him which he was able to keep to.

We can also leave indelible mark in our offices, families, countries when we allow good thoughts to overcome evil thoughts in our lives, and when we share the knowledge we have with others.