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→Naaman and the Jordan
Another Old Testament account provides an interesting parallel, although the New Testament does not explicitly connect it with baptism. Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, suffered from leprosy and travelled to Israel seeking healing. Elisha instructed him to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman initially resisted, but eventually obeyed: "So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan... and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." ([[2 Kings 5:14]])
Naaman's washing should not simply be identified with Christian baptism. Nevertheless, the account brings together several themes that later surround baptism: going down into water, cleansing, obedience to God's word and the beginning of a transformed allegiance to the God of Israel ([[2 Kings 5]]:15–18). The fact that this occurred in the Jordan is also striking in light of the river's later role in the ministry of John the Baptist.
Taken together, these Old Testament themes form an important background to Christian baptism. Water could cleanse what was unclean, mark God's judgement and rescue, and portray the deeper cleansing from sin that only God could accomplish. The prophets looked forward to a time when God would cleanse his people, give them new hearts and place his Spirit within them. These themes come together more fully as the New Testament story begins with John baptising in the Jordan and announcing the coming of one who would baptise with the Holy Spirit.