Naʿ^aman from Aram, Ugarit, or Edom? 2 Kings 5:1-5: Textual Criticism and Ancient Near East Literature

Who knows if, at the time of Naʿ^aman the Syrian, leprosy or what this term meant, created the same fear or panic that a pandemic now raises? However, it seems that Naʿ^aman moved without restrictions and problems. In 2 Kings 5:1-5 Naʿ^aman is called ‘of Aram’ according to the MT and ‘of Syria’ in the LXX^B version. If for these textual witnesses Naʿaman’s leprosy is not a serious matter, then for other witnesses (LXX^L, Pesh, Vg) it is. Naʿ^aman may be a valiant warrior, a charming man but, for these textual witnesses he is still a leper. Why? What did he do? Regardless, he has leprosy.

Where does Naʿ^aman really come from? Aram, Syria or ‘Edom’? Textual criticism, literary criticism and the comparison with Ancient Near East’s texts reveal that Naʿ^aman actually comes from Ugarit, where he is well known. Who would really know him? The reader, who will have to convince himself that, only YHWH, the God of Israel will be able to cure Naaman of leprosy.