Gehazi
Encyclopedia
Gehazi, Geichazi, or Giezi (Douay-Rheims) (Hebrew
: ; Tiberian
: ; Standard: ; "valley of vision") is a figure found in the Tanakh
Books of Kings
. He was Elisha's
servant. He appears in connection with the history of the Shunammite and of Naaman
the Syrian. On this latter occasion, Gehazi, overcome with avarice, solicited, and obtained in the prophet's name "a talent of silver and two changes of garments" from Naaman. Consequently, he was guilty of duplicity and dishonesty of conduct, causing Elisha to denounce his crime with righteous sternness, and pass on him the terrible doom that "the leprosy
of Naaman would cleave to him and his descendants for ever". After Elisha cursed Gehazi, Gehazi was Leprosy As White As Snow. (2 Kings 5.25)
Later, he appeared before King Joram
, to whom he recounted the great deeds of his master.
In Rabbinic Literature, Gehazi is identified as one of four commoners who forfeited his share in Olam haba, the afterlife, because of his wickedness, especially in the presence of a upstanding example such as Elisha, and his consistent refusal to repent.
He is the ostensible subject of Rudyard Kipling
's poem Gehazi, thought to be aimed at Rufus Isaacs
, a member of the British
Liberal
government at the time the poem was composed.
Two meanings for the name "Gehazi" have been suggested: "valley of vision" or "valley of avarice."
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: ; Tiberian
Tiberian Hebrew
Tiberian Hebrew is the extinct canonical pronunciation of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh and related documents in the Roman Empire. This traditional medieval pronunciation was committed to writing by Masoretic scholars based in the Jewish community of Tiberias , in the form of the Tiberian vocalization...
: ; Standard: ; "valley of vision") is a figure found in the Tanakh
Tanakh
The Tanakh is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible. The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra. The name is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim —hence...
Books of Kings
Books of Kings
The Book of Kings presents a narrative history of ancient Israel and Judah from the death of David to the release of his successor Jehoiachin from imprisonment in Babylon, a period of some 400 years...
. He was Elisha's
Elisha
Elisha is a prophet mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an. His name is commonly transliterated into English as Elisha via Hebrew, Eliseus via Greek and Latin, or Alyasa via Arabic.-Biblical biography:...
servant. He appears in connection with the history of the Shunammite and of Naaman
Naaman
Naaman was a commander of the armies of Ben-Hadad II in the time of Joram, king of Israel. He is mentioned in of the Tanakh. According to the narrative, he was afflicted with tzaraath...
the Syrian. On this latter occasion, Gehazi, overcome with avarice, solicited, and obtained in the prophet's name "a talent of silver and two changes of garments" from Naaman. Consequently, he was guilty of duplicity and dishonesty of conduct, causing Elisha to denounce his crime with righteous sternness, and pass on him the terrible doom that "the leprosy
Tzaraath
The Hebrew noun tzaraath describes a disfigurative condition mainly referred to in chapters 13-14 of Leviticus, as well as conditions equivalent to be "mildew" on clothes and houses.Tzaraath affects both animate...
of Naaman would cleave to him and his descendants for ever". After Elisha cursed Gehazi, Gehazi was Leprosy As White As Snow. (2 Kings 5.25)
Later, he appeared before King Joram
Jehoram of Israel
Jehoram was a king of the northern Kingdom of Israel. He was the son of Ahab and Jezebel.According to , in the fifth year of Joram of Israel, Jehoram became king of Judah, when his father Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, indicating a co-regency...
, to whom he recounted the great deeds of his master.
In Rabbinic Literature, Gehazi is identified as one of four commoners who forfeited his share in Olam haba, the afterlife, because of his wickedness, especially in the presence of a upstanding example such as Elisha, and his consistent refusal to repent.
He is the ostensible subject of Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
's poem Gehazi, thought to be aimed at Rufus Isaacs
Rufus Isaacs
Rufus Isaacs may refer to:* Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading , English politician and jurist* Rufus Isaacs , US-American mathematician...
, a member of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
government at the time the poem was composed.
Two meanings for the name "Gehazi" have been suggested: "valley of vision" or "valley of avarice."