The term "Shunamite" refers to a woman from the ancient town of Shunem, located in the territory of Issachar in the northern part of Israel. The Shunamite woman is a notable figure in the Old Testament, appearing in the narratives of 1 Kings and 2 Kings. Her account is marked by faith, hospitality, and divine intervention, and she is remembered for her interactions with the prophet Elisha.

The Shunamite Woman and Elisha

The most prominent Shunamite woman is introduced in 2 Kings 4:8-37. She is described as a "prominent woman" who showed great hospitality to the prophet Elisha. Recognizing Elisha as a "holy man of God," she persuaded her husband to prepare a small room for him on the roof of their house, providing him with a bed, table, chair, and lamp. This act of kindness and respect for God's servant highlights her piety and generosity.

In gratitude for her hospitality, Elisha sought to bless her. Despite her initial reluctance to ask for anything, Elisha, through his servant Gehazi, learned that she had no son and that her husband was old. Elisha prophesied that she would embrace a son within a year, a promise that was fulfilled as recorded in 2 Kings 4:17: "But the woman conceived and gave birth to a son at that time the next year, just as Elisha had told her."

The Miracle of Resurrection

Tragedy struck when the child, having grown, suddenly fell ill and died. The Shunamite woman displayed remarkable faith and determination by laying her son on Elisha's bed and setting out to find the prophet at Mount Carmel. Her unwavering trust in God's power through Elisha is evident in her words to her husband, "It will be all right" (2 Kings 4:23).

Upon reaching Elisha, she expressed her distress, and Elisha returned with her to Shunem. In a miraculous act, Elisha prayed to the LORD and stretched himself upon the child, reviving him. The child sneezed seven times and opened his eyes, as recorded in 2 Kings 4:35. This miracle not only restored her son to life but also affirmed the power of God working through His prophet.

The Shunamite Woman's Land Restored

The Shunamite woman reappears in 2 Kings 8:1-6, where Elisha warns her of a coming seven-year famine. He advises her to leave her land temporarily, which she does, residing in the land of the Philistines. Upon her return, she appeals to the king for the restoration of her property. Providentially, Gehazi, Elisha's servant, was recounting the account of Elisha's miracles to the king at that very moment. When the king learned that she was the woman whose son Elisha had restored to life, he ordered that all her property be restored to her, along with the produce of the fields from the day she left until her return.

Theological Significance

The Shunamite woman's account is rich with themes of faith, divine providence, and the power of God to bring life from death. Her interactions with Elisha demonstrate the importance of hospitality and reverence for God's messengers. Her unwavering faith in the face of personal tragedy serves as an enduring example of trust in God's promises and His ability to work miracles in the lives of His people.7767. Shunammith -- female inhab. of Shunem
... of Shunem NASB Word Usage Shunammite (8). Shunamite. Patrial from Shuwnem; a
Shunammitess, or female inhabitant of Shunem -- Shunamite. see HEBREW Shuwnem. ...
/hebrew/7767.htm - 6k

Elisha Healing the Sick Boy
... lay down there. Then he said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunamite."
So he called her, and she stood before him. Elisha said ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/elisha healing the sick boy.htm

Letter Lii. To Nepotian.
... A girl is accordingly sought from the coasts of Israel"Abishag the
Shunamite"to sleep with the king and warm his aged frame. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lii to nepotian.htm

2 Kings iv. 25, 26.
... And it came to pass when the Man of GOD saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi
his Servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunamite: Run now, I pray thee, to meet ...
/.../submission to divine providence in the death of children/2 kings iv 25 26.htm

The Sin of Unbelief
... He had, doubtless, seen the marvelous defeat of Moab; he had been startled at tidings
of the resurrection of the Shunamite's son; he knew that Elisha had ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the sin of unbelief.htm

Come Ye, Let us Hear How Death Convicts the People: that Harsher ...
... Sheol is good who delivers and gives them up, without difficulty."7. To the widow
I gave her son, by the hand of Elijah: to the Shunamite her beloved, by the ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn lxvii come ye let.htm

How Solomon Became the Ruler of Israel
... repeat your words.". So Bathsheba went into David's room; he was very old,
and Abishag the Shunamite was caring for him. When David ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/how solomon became the ruler.htm

Extracts No. Ix.
... it is true, though the effect was the same, we discover as great a miracle, and
perhaps greater, than in the raising of a son of the Shunamite by Elisha the ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no ix.htm

Abram's Horror of Great Darkness.
... at these things: but when we consider them as ordered of God, the consideration,
should calm our minds, and bring us to say with the astonished Shunamite of old ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon v abrams horror of.htm

Pious Parents, under Such a Dispensation, May Conclude it is Well ...
... we are mourning for our Children, and will not be comforted, because they are
not[y]? Is it not our Language while we cannot, like the pious Shunamite in the ...
/.../ii pious parents under such.htm

Demonstration vi. --Of Monks.
... Elisha also walked in the footsteps of his Master. He used to dwell in the upper
chamber of the Shunamite, and was ministered to by his disciple. ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration vi of monks.htm

Shunamite (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Shunamite (8 Occurrences). 1 Kings 1:3 So they sought
for a fair damsel throughout all the borders of Israel ...
/s/shunamite.htm - 8k

Shunammite (8 Occurrences)

/s/shunammite.htm - 10k

Shun (14 Occurrences)

/s/shun.htm - 10k

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