"What is thy will with me, good Naaman?" asked Benhadad, king of Syria, with whom the Syrian general stood high in favor.

"I am come to seek counsel of thee, my lord," replied Naaman. "My wife hath a maid-servant who cometh from the land of Israel, and this maiden sayeth that in Samaria there is a prophet called Elisha, who hath done most marvelous things even to the raising of the dead to life. The maiden claimeth that if I seek the prophet, Elisha, he will heal me of my leprosy. What thinketh thou, my lord? dost thou believe that which the maiden sayeth be true?"

"I have never heard of this Elisha," replied Benhadad. "He is no doubt a magician, and, if what the maiden sayeth be true, his power far exceedeth that of any magician at my court. Thou shalt journey to Samaria, my Naaman, bearing a letter from me to Jehoram, king of Israel. This Elisha is perhaps attached to the court of Jehoram, but, if not, the king hath power to make his subjects do his bidding. Take with thee gold in plenty to reward this Elisha."

Naaman kissed the hand of the king and went forth from his presence. Upon the day following his interview with Benhadad, Naaman, in great pomp and splendor, set forth upon his journey to Samaria. He carried with him ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold (about sixty thousand dollars) and ten changes of costly raiment with which to reward Elisha.

The first blush of the rising sun lay upon the city of Damascus as the magnificent caravan of Naaman passed through its gates. Naaman and his retinue journeyed over the uplands of Bashan, through the valley of Jordan, and upon the fifth day stood before the gates of Samaria.

Then Naaman, ordering the caravan to halt, called one of his servants to him and said:

"Send ahead a messenger to Jehoram, king of Israel, announcing that Naaman, the great Syrian general, art approaching with his retinue and desireth audience with him."

A fair-haired lad, robed in scarlet and mounted upon a jet-black horse of wonderful swiftness, bore Naaman's message to the king. So when the caravan reached the palace, Jehoram was waiting to receive Naaman.

Tall and lithe of form, straight of feature was the Israelite king. The long hair, bound by the jeweled crown, was black as the raven's wing. There was a flush upon his dark brow and a troubled look in his eyes as Naaman entered his presence.

"Thou art Naaman, general in the Syrian Army," he said, "and thou seeketh speech with me?"

"Yes, I am Naaman," replied the Syrian, as he bent his proud head before Israel's dark king. "I have journeyed from Damascus, bearing this letter from Benhadad, king of all Syria to Jehoram, king of Israel," and taking the parchment from his breast, he presented it to Jehoram.

The latter read the letter and his face turned white. Lifting his eyes, angry and disturbed, he fixed them upon Naaman.

"Thou art a leper?" he said, while a look of loathing passed over his face.

A dark red flush of shame and humiliation rose to Naaman's proud brow. "Yes, my lord, I am a leper," he replied.

The king fell into deep thought, his brows drawn together in a frown.

Naaman, standing at the foot of the throne in torturing suspense, noted that the king was greatly disturbed. His thin lips were unsteady, the long, slim fingers, which held the golden sceptre, trembled.

At length, the king roused himself, and, turning his eyes again upon Naaman, he asked:

"Knoweth thou the contents of this letter?"

"Yes, my lord," replied Naaman.

"I must have time to consider this request of Benhadad," continued the king. Naaman's face paled. He had not anticipated any hesitation on the part of Jehoram to grant the wish of Benhadad, knowing how unwise it would be for political reasons for Jehoram thus to act. If the king of Israel noted Naaman's disturbance he gave no sign of it.

"Seek me to-morrow at this time," he said, "and thou shalt have my answer to the letter of thy king."

As soon as Naaman had departed Jehoram summoned the counselors and wise men of his kingdom and thus addressed them:

"Benhadad, king of Syria, seeketh a quarrel with me. He maketh a request which he knoweth it be impossible for me to grant. I fear that he doth this for the purpose of provoking war as his father, Benhadad I, before him, did with my father, Ahab."

"My lord, what meaneth thou?" anxiously inquired one of the wise men of the kingdom.

"The king hath sent to me Naaman, the great Syrian general, with a letter which I will read to thee," replied the king. "'Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold I send herewith Naaman, my servant, that thou mayest cure him of his leprosy.' Seeth thou how he seeketh a quarrel with me?" cried the king, as he rent his garments. "Am I God to kill and give life that Benhadad sendeth to me a man to be cured of his leprosy?"

The wise men and the counselors of the kingdom looked silently and apprehensively into one another's faces, for they knew not what to say to the king.

"It doth appear that Benhadad mocks me," said the king, "for well he knoweth that no man hath the power to heal the leper."

"My lord, what answer hast thou given to Naaman who brought to thee the king's letter?" asked one of the wise men.

"I have given him as yet no answer," replied Jehoram. "I did send him away, bidding him return to-morrow. In the meanwhile, I have summoned thee, my counselors and wise men, that we may confer together."

"Thinketh thou, my lord, that this Naaman, who cometh in such pomp and splendor to Samaria, be in truth a leper?" asked one of the counselors.

"Truly I know not," answered the king. "But when I didst ask him if he were a leper, his face flushed with shame and he replied, 'Yes, I am a leper.' He is a man of magnificent form and stately bearing, he is evidently of great wealth and high in favor with Benhadad, Syria's king. He is also a soldier and a man of valor. But why waste we time in discussing this Syrian. Let us rather take counsel as to what answer we shall send to his king."

"My lord, what answer canst thou send to Benhadad, king of Syria, save that thou art not God and, therefore, hath not the power to heal the leper?" asked one of the wise men.

The king frowned.

"Thus would I do as Benhadad wisheth—give him pretext to make war upon me," he cried, impatiently. "Thou speaketh with scant wisdom, Mahab. Benhadad knoweth well that it be not in the power of man to heal the leper. But I would temporize with him, not thus openly give him pretext to make war upon Israel."

At that moment one of the king's servants entered and said:

"My lord, a servant of the prophet, Elisha, is without and desireth speech with thee."

"He must seek me later," cried the king, impatiently. "I am engaged at present with the counselors and wise men of my kingdom upon a matter of grave import."

"Pardon thy servant, my lord," persisted the servant, "but this man bid me say that his master hath sent him to speak words of counsel that neither the wise men nor the counselors of thy kingdom could give unto thee."

The king started.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, "now I do remember that this Elisha be a great prophet and a holy man of God. Go, bring hither his servant."

The servant withdrew, returning in few moments with a man simply clad and grave of mien.

"My lord," he said to Jehoram, "my master, Elisha, the prophet, bade me seek thee and say, 'Why hast thou rent thy garments? Sendeth to me this Naaman of Syria that he may know there is a prophet in Israel.'"