Now there were fourleprousmenat the entranceof the gate;and they saidto oneanother,"Whydo we sithereuntilwe die?
Now Naaman,captainof the armyof the kingof Aram,was a greatmanwith his master,and highly respected,becauseby him the LORDhad givenvictoryto Aram.The manwas also a valiantwarrior,[but he was] a leper.
"Ifwe say,'We will enterthe city,'then the famineis in the cityand we will diethere;and ifwe sithere,we diealso. Nowtherefore come,and let us gooverto the campof the Arameans.Ifthey spareus, we will live;and ifthey killus, we will but die."
Now the kingwas talkingwith Gehazi,the servantof the manof God,saying,"Pleaserelateto me allthe greatthingsthat Elishahas done."
"Whywill you die,you and your people,by the sword,famineand pestilence,as the LORDhas spokento that nationwhichwill not servethe kingof Babylon?
Whyare we sittingstill?Assembleyourselves, and let us gointo the fortifiedcitiesAnd let us perishthere,Becausethe LORDour Godhas doomedus And givenus poisonedwaterto drink,For we have sinnedagainst the LORD.
But when the cloudhad withdrawnfrom overthe tent,behold,Miriam[was] leprous,as [white as] snow.As AaronturnedtowardMiriam,behold,she [was] leprous.
But the LORDsaidto Moses,"If her fatherhad but spitin her face,would she not bearher shamefor sevendays?Let her be shutup for sevendaysoutsidethe camp,and afterwardshe may be receivedagain."
