2 Kings 5 · a question people ask
When Elisha said "Go in peace", did he approve of Naaman bowing in the house of Rimmon?
Naaman first vows that he "will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to the LORD" (5:17). Then he asks: "In this thing may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon. When I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may the LORD pardon your servant in this thing" (5:18). Bow is shachah, the verb of the command "you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them" (Exodus 20:5) (tap bow), and pardon is salach, "forgive, pardon" (tap pardon). It is the LORD's pardon Naaman asks for. Elisha's whole answer is "Go in peace" (5:19), and the chapter says nothing more about it. Christians agree on all of that. They read Elisha's answer in two main ways, each resting on verses.
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
A blessing on his request
Those who hold this view note that Naaman has just vowed to offer to no other gods, "but to the LORD" (5:17), and asks the LORD's pardon only for bowing when his master "leans on my hand" (5:18). Elisha gives no rebuke; he says, "Go in peace" (5:19). They hear it as when Eli answered Hannah, "Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him" (1 Samuel 1:17), and read Elisha as sending Naaman home in peace with his request.
2 Kings 5:17-19 · 1 Samuel 1:17
A farewell that leaves it with the LORD
Those who hold this view note that Naaman asked the LORD to pardon him (5:18), and that Elisha doesn't say the LORD will; he says only "Go in peace" (5:19), the words of a leave-taking elsewhere, as in Jethro's answer to Moses, "Go in peace" (Exodus 4:18). They read Elisha as sending Naaman home without ruling on his request, leaving it with the LORD, to whom Naaman had made it.
2 Kings 5:18-19 · Exodus 4:18
The verses
“Naaman said, “If not, then, please let two mules’ load of earth be given to your servant; for your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to the LORD. In this thing may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon. When I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may the LORD pardon your servant in this thing.” He said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him a little way.”
“you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me,”