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Naaman makes a strange request: to load two mules with dirt to take back with him.
Dirt? I can think of a few favors I would ask of a prophet in a receptive mood,
butdirtcertainly isnt one of them. The request is so odd that its hard to avoid
wondering if Naaman needed some other kind of therapy. Why would he ask for dirt?
But Naaman was completely in his right mind. In2 Kgs5:17, Naaman follows the
request with an explanation: for from now on your servant will not offer burnt
offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord (ESV). Thedirt and Naamans new
allegiance to the God of Israel are related. Naaman was a man with significant
duties in his home country. He couldnt stay in Israel, but he could take Israel
with him. Why would he wantto? Naamans unusual request stems from the ancientand
biblicalconception that the earth is the locale for a cosmic turf
(2Ki 5:17) So Naaman said, "If you won't accept my gift, then let me have two
mule-loads of earth to take home with me, because from now on I will not offer
sacrifices or burnt offerings to any god except the LORD.
(2Ki 5:18) So I hope that the LORD will forgive me when I accompany my king to the
temple of Rimmon, the god of Syria, and worship him. Surely the LORD will forgive
me!"
(2Ki 5:19) "Go in peace," Elisha said. And Naaman left. He had gone only a short
distance,
(Deu 32:8) The Most High assigned nations their lands; he determined where peoples
should live. He assigned to each nation a heavenly being,
(Exo 20:24) 'An altar of earth thou dost make for Me, and thou hast sacrificed on
it thy burnt-offerings and thy peace-offerings, thy flock and thy herd; in every
place where I cause My name to be remembered I come in unto thee, and have blessed
thee.
Dirt from Sacred Trees or Groves
(Gen 12:6) Abram traveled through the land until he came to the sacred tree of
Moreh, the holy place at Shechem. (At that time the Canaanites were still living in
the land.)
Dirt from Rocks or Mountains
(Gen 28:18) And Jacob started up early in the morning and took the stone which he
had placed at his head, and he placed it as a pillar; and he poured oil on the top
of it.