As soon as Naaman had departed Jehoram summoned the counselors and wise men of his kingdom and thus addressed them:
"Benhadad, king of Syria, seeketh a quarrel with me. He maketh a request which he knoweth it be impossible for me to grant. I fear that he doth this for the purpose of provoking war as his father, Benhadad I, before him, did with my father, Ahab."
"My lord, what meaneth thou?" anxiously inquired one of the wise men of the kingdom.
"The king hath sent to me Naaman, the great Syrian general, with a letter which I will read to thee," replied the king. "'Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold I send herewith Naaman, my servant, that thou mayest cure him of his leprosy.' Seeth thou how he seeketh a quarrel with me?" cried the king, as he rent his garments. "Am I God to kill and give life that Benhadad sendeth to me a man to be cured of his leprosy?"
The wise men and the counselors of the kingdom looked silently and apprehensively into one another's faces, for they knew not what to say to the king.
"It doth appear that Benhadad mocks me," said the king, "for well he knoweth that no man hath the power to heal the leper."
"My lord, what answer hast thou given to Naaman who brought to thee the king's letter?" asked one of the wise men.
"I have given him as yet no answer," replied Jehoram. "I did send him away, bidding him return to-morrow. In the meanwhile, I have summoned thee, my counselors and wise men, that we may confer together."
"Thinketh thou, my lord, that this Naaman, who cometh in such pomp and splendor to Samaria, be in truth a leper?" asked one of the counselors.
"Truly I know not," answered the king. "But when I didst ask him if he were a leper, his face flushed with shame and he replied, 'Yes, I am a leper.' He is a man of magnificent form and stately bearing, he is evidently of great wealth and high in favor with Benhadad, Syria's king. He is also a soldier and a man of valor. But why waste we time in discussing this Syrian. Let us rather take counsel as to what answer we shall send to his king."