Na'aman: Leprosy in Modern Times

It is well known that leprosy is a mistranslation of the tza'ra'at that afflicted people of biblical times. Na'aman the Aramean, a senior commander of Hadadezer, King of Aram-Damascus in the time of Jehoram, the King of Northern Israel (Samaria) was beside himself after his military might was shadowed the unseemliness of his appearance, and so, on the advice of his wife's Jewish captive servant, sought out Elisha the prophet, who cured him of his leprosy. 

His leprosy may have been very physically unbecoming for someone of his stature, taking away from the prestige of the kingship, which is why the King of Aram was willing to engage in diplomacy - sending a royal contingent - and foot the bill for the mission, and the prize money were the prophet to succeed. 

This story seems to present a complexity; we typically see leprosy as a punishment. Here, Na'aman has committed no offense. There is no mention of slander, or libel, or evil eye. Naaman, in fact, even rises to the occasion, proclaiming monotheism, and eschewing idol worship after he sees the power and impact of the true prophet. 

I vividly remember Rabbi Moshe Shapira Z"L, whose daughter succumbed to cancer, and who himself did as well. In one of the last lectures I heard from him he said, "Cancer is the modern day tza'ra'at; it uses the body's powers against itself."

I never did understand that observation, for a careful reading of Parshat Tazria does not indicate that leprosy was a punishment or that purity was indicative of one's low spiritual state. 

Food for thought.