GEHAZI was the personal servant and messenger of the Old Testament prophet Elisha, best remembered for his tragic downfall caused by greed and deception. Naaman, a wealthy Syrian army commander, was healed of leprosy after following Elisha's instruction to wash in the Jordan River. However he refused the gifts from Naaman. Driven by covetousness, Gehazi chased after Naaman. He lied, claiming Elisha had changed his mind and needed two changes of clothing and silver for visiting young prophets. Naaman generously gave him even more than he asked for. Elisha rebuked him, noting that it was not the time to accumulate wealth and declared that Naaman's skin disease would cling to Gehazi and his descendants forever. Gehazi immediately left Elisha's presence "as white as snow" with leprosy.