GEHAZI (ge-ha'zi), (Heb. gay-khah-zee', valley of vision).
The servant of Elisha, whose entire confidence he enjoyed. His history is involved in that of his master (see ELISHA). He personally appears in reminding his master of the best mode of re warding the kindness of the Shunamite (2 Kings iv :i4). He was present at the interview in which the Shunamite made known to the prophet that her son was dead, and was sent forward to lay Elisha's staff on the child's face, which he did without effect (2 Kings iv :30. (B. C. about 887). The most remarkable incident in his career is that which caused his ruin. When Elisha, with a noble disinterestedness, declined the rich gifts pressed upon him by the illustrious leper whom he had healed, Gehazi felt distressed that so favor able an opportunity of profiting by the gratitude of Naaman had been so wilfully thrown away. He therefore ran after the retiring chariots, and requested, in master's name, a portion of the gifts which had before been refused,on the ground that visitors had just arrived for whom he was unable to provide. He asked a talent of silver and two dresses; and the grateful Syrian made him take two talents instead of one. Having de
posited this spoil in a place of safety, he again ap peared before Elisha, whose honor he had so se riously compromised. His master asked him where he had been? and on his answering, 'Thy servant went no whither,' the prophet put on the severities of a judge, and having denounced hic crime, passed upon him the terrible doom, that the leprosy of which Naaman had been cured, should cleave to him and his forever. 'And he went forth from his presence a leper as white as snow' (2 Kings v :2o-27). (B. C. 894.) We afterwards find Gehazi recounting to king Joram the great deeds of Elisha, and, in the provi dence of God, it so happened that when he was relating the restoration to life of the Shunamite's son, the very woman with her son appeared before the king to claim her house and lands, which had been usurped while she had been absent abroad during the recent famine. Struck by the coinci dence, the king immediately granted her applica tion (2 Kings viii