Let’s talk about the question of two mule loads of dirt.
Let two mule loads of dirt be given to your servant (Naaman), for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering or sacrifice to any god, except the Lord.
2 Kings 5:17
Why Ask for Israel’s Dirt?
It was Holy
Why would Naaman ask for two mule loads of dirt? Naaman lived in Syria, which is just north of Israel. This was an eccentric but telling request. What was special about Israel’s dirt? Alfred Edersheim explains:
Credit: Edersheim: Sketches / The Holy Land | elconquistador.org Chapter Two, Part One—The Holy Land; Jews and Gentiles in THE HOLY LAND
“Palestine was regarded (by the Rabbis) not only as holy, but the only holy ground to the utter exclusions of all other countries. However, the Rabbis did mark within its boundaries an ascending scale of ten degrees of sanctity, rising from the bare soil of Palestine to the most holy place in the Temple (Chel. i. 6-9). Everything “outside the land” was darkness and death. The very dust of a heathen country was unclean, and it defiled by contact. It was regarded like a grave, or like the putrescence of death. If a spot of heathen dust had touched an offering, it must at once be burnt.”
Who was Naaman?
A Great Man, the Captain of Syria’s Army
“Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram (Syria), was a great man before his master and held favor because by him the Lord had given deliverance to Aram. He was also a mighty warrior, but he had leprosy (2 Kings 5:1).”
A Leper
Naaman’s wife had an Israelite servant girl who advised her to tell her husband to go to the prophet in Israel because the prophet could heal Naaman. Naaman took her advice to visit the prophet Elisha, and he brought a lavish gift for the prophet:
“So he (Naaman) went and took with him ten talents (750 pounds) of silver, six thousand shekels (150 pounds) of gold, and ten sets of clothes (2 Kings 5:5).”
Naaman Visits the Prophet Elisha in Israel
The Prophet’s Advice
“So Naaman came with his horses and chariot and stood at the entrance to the house of Elisha. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan (River in Israel), and your flesh will be returned and cleansed (2 Kings 5:9-10).”
Now leprosy was a dreaded disease and didn’t have a human remedy. One would think that Naaman would be pleased with this answer and perform this simple ritual. But he took offense:
Naaman’s Angry Response
“But Naaman became angry … and said to himself, “Surely he could have … called on the name of the Lord his God, and waved his hand over the infected area…. Are not (the) rivers of Damascus, better (cleaner) than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage (2 Kings 5:11-12).”
However, Naaman’s advisors counseled him well. If the prophet had asked him to do something difficult, he would have done it. So, why not follow his simple instructions?
Spiritual Rivers
Metaphorical River
Naaman also learned not to judge Israel’s rivers by their appearance. Because Israel had a special relationship with God, their rivers contained—metaphorically—living, healing waters that Syria’s apparently cleaner waters, did not.
“So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times … and his flesh returned like the flesh of a little boy, and he was clean (2 Kings 5:14).”
Healing Water Without Cost
Naaman offered his gift, but the prophet refused, saying,
“As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will take no gift … he refused (2 Kings 5:16).”
God’s prophet refused to take money; God did the healing.
Naaman Believed in Israel’s God (Yahweh)
The Only God
Naaman confessed and believed that Israel’s God is the only God:
“Now I know that there is no God in all the land, except in Israel (2 Kings 5:15).”
What About Syria’s god?
But Naaman knew when he returned to Syria that he’d have to accompany his king into the house of Syria’s god, Rimmon. So, he knew he had a potential problem.
God is a jealous God. He’s not one of many gods, He’s the only God, and He doesn’t share His glory with any other. So, Naaman asked Elisha if Israel’s God, the only God—Yahweh–would pardon him when he was in Rimmon’s house. Elisha responded positively, saying, yes, “Go in peace (1 Kings 5:19).”
Why the Dirt?
So, why did Naaman ask for two mule loads of dirt to take back with him to Syria?
Metaphorical Soil
Because he was Syrian, a Gentile, he couldn’t offer a sacrifice in Israel’s Temple, at that time, the only true Temple for offering sacrifices. Yet he symbolically confessed that Israel was the nation God chose to represent Him. Since he couldn’t go to Israel, he took some of Israel’s soil with him to offer his sacrifices.
Metaphorical Rivers
It was the lesson of the rivers, with the metaphor changed to the soil. Salvation was through the God of Israel.
Today, God offers salvation, (metaphorical) living water, to all who believe in Jesus’ Name.
“I will give of the spring of the water of life to him who thirsts.”
Revelation 21:6
