Another source of information is the direction given to Naaman by Elisha. He dipped himself seven times “_according to the saying_, of the man of God.” What was that saying? Did Elisha direct him to be immersed seven times? Elisha sent to him, saying “Go, _wash_ in Jordan seven times.” The verb, _rāhatz_, to wash, we have examined. It means, to perform ablution _with water applied to the person_. It does not mean, to immerse, nor can the action expressed by it be accomplished by immersion. It is, moreover, observable, that, as though to emphasize the employment of this word, it is twice repeated in the narrative. Upon receiving Elisha’s message, Naaman exclaims,—“Abana and Pharpar.... May I not _wash_ in them and be clean?” And his servants reply,—“If he had bid thee do some great thing, ... how much rather, when he saith to thee, _Wash_, and be clean.” Manifestly, the thing which the Syrian was commanded, was not, to immerse, but, to _wash_ himself. And when to the meaning of that verb, we add the facts already developed as to the customs of ablution in those lands, the conclusion is manifest. Naaman was not directed to dip or immerse himself, but expressly, to wash; and if he was in fact dipped, it was not “according to the saying of the man of God,” but in express contravention of it. It may be objected, that a sprinkling is not a washing. But the Psalmist gives a different testimony. “_Purge me_ with hyssop, and I shall be _clean_. _Wash me_ and I shall be whiter than snow.” Here, the word, “Wash,” which is made parallel and equivalent to “Purge me with hyssop,” is not _rāhatz_, but the yet stronger term, _kābas, scour me_. The very designation of “the unclean,” for whose “cleansing” those rites were appointed is conclusive on the point. That the sprinklings thus ordained were, in the law everywhere, viewed as washings, is undeniable; and in fact, to wash with water applied, which is the meaning of _rāhatz_, is the very action of sprinkling. Moreover, in Ezek. xvi, 9, the cleansing of the defilement of _nidda_, for which sprinkling was the ritual remedy, is described as a washing of the most vigorous and thorough nature. “Then (_rāhatz_) _washed_ I thee with water; yea (_shātaph_), _I thoroughly washed away_ thy blood from thee.” How the sprinkling of water can be expressive of such thorough cleansing, we have already seen. It is very strikingly illustrated by the language of the Lord to Israel by Ezekiel. “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you.”—Ezek. xxxvi, 25.