# When Elijah finished his work, God chose a man named Elisha to be his prophet

This sentence introduces Elisha as a new character in the story. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-participants]])

# the commander of an enemy army 

Naaman was a commander in the army of one of the countries that was Israel’s enemy.

# but he had a bad skin disease

The connecting word "but" contrasts Naaman's prestigious position of army commander, with his having this terrible disease. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]])

# He heard about Elisha

This means that people had told Naaman that Elisha was able to perform miracles. Here Elisha is used to represent the miracles that God gave Elisha the power to perform. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# he went to Elisha and asked him

That is, “he went to see Elisha and asked him.” Naaman had to go into Israel to find Elisha and ask him to do this.