Topical Bible: Shunammite

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The term "Shunammite" refers to a woman from the town of Shunem, a village in the territory of Issachar, located in the northern part of ancient Israel. The Shunammite woman is prominently featured in the Old Testament, particularly in the narratives concerning the prophet Elisha. Her account is a testament to faith, hospitality, and the miraculous power of God.

Biblical References:

1. The Shunammite Woman and Elisha (2 Kings 4:8-37): The most detailed account of a Shunammite is found in 2 Kings 4. The narrative describes a "notable woman" from Shunem who showed great hospitality to the prophet Elisha. Recognizing him as a "holy man of God," she persuaded her husband to prepare a small room for Elisha to stay whenever he passed through. In gratitude for her kindness, Elisha prophesied that she would have a son, despite her husband's old age and her previous barrenness. The prophecy was fulfilled, and she bore a son.

Tragedy struck when the child later died suddenly. The Shunammite woman displayed remarkable faith and determination by seeking out Elisha at Mount Carmel. Upon reaching him, she expressed her distress, and Elisha returned with her to Shunem. Through prayer and divine intervention, Elisha miraculously restored the child to life. This account highlights themes of faith, divine reward, and the power of God working through His prophets.

"When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his bed. So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. Then Elisha got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out over him, the boy’s body became warm." (2 Kings 4:32-34)

2. The Shunammite's Land Restored (2 Kings 8:1-6): The Shunammite woman reappears in 2 Kings 8, where Elisha warns her of a coming seven-year famine. He advises her to leave her land temporarily to avoid the hardship. She obeys and resides in the land of the Philistines for seven years. Upon her return, she appeals to the king for the restoration of her property. Providentially, Gehazi, Elisha's servant, is recounting her account to the king at that very moment. The king, moved by the account of Elisha's miracles, orders the restoration of her land and all the produce it had yielded during her absence.

"At that very moment, Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life. And the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life came to appeal to the king for her house and land. So Gehazi said, 'My lord the king, this is the woman, and this is the son Elisha restored to life.' When the king asked the woman, she confirmed it. So the king appointed for her an officer, saying, 'Restore all that was hers, along with all the produce of the field from the day she left the land until now.'" (2 Kings 8:5-6)

Significance:

The Shunammite woman is a model of faith and hospitality. Her interactions with Elisha demonstrate a deep respect for God's messengers and a trust in God's promises. Her account underscores the importance of hospitality, the power of prophetic ministry, and the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His word. The Shunammite's experiences also illustrate the theme of resurrection and restoration, foreshadowing the greater resurrection hope found in the New Testament through Jesus Christ.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A person of Shunem (1 Kings 1:3; 2 Kings 4:12). The Syr. and Arab. read "Sulamite."
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SHUNAMMITE
shoo'-na-mit (shunammith, shunammith; Codex Vaticanus Somaneitis; Codex Alexandrinus Soumanites): Applied to natives of Shunem.

(1) Abishag, who was brought to minister to the aged king David, love for whom led Adonijah to his doom (1 Kings 1:3, 15; 1 Kings 2:17, etc.).

(2) The woman, name unknown, whose son Elisha raised from the dead (2 Kings 4:12, etc.). Later when apparently she had become a widow, after seven years' absence on account of famine, in the land of the Philistines, she returned to find her property in the hands of others. Elisha's intervention secured its restoration (2 Kings 8:1-6).

(3) The Shulammite (Songs 6:13). In this name there is the exchange of "l" for "n" which is common.

W. Ewing
Strong's Hebrew
7767. Shunammith -- female inhab. of Shunem
... female inhab. of Shunem. Transliteration: Shunammith Phonetic Spelling:
(shoo-nam-meeth') Short Definition: Shunammite. ... of Shunem NASB Word Usage Shunammite ( ...
/hebrew/7767.htm - 6k
Library
The Shunammite's Son.
... THE SHUNAMMITE'S SON. Many interesting stories are told in the Bible, few of which
are more touching than that of Elisha the prophet, and the Shunammite woman. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/the shunammites son.htm
The Shunammite's Boy.
... THE SHUNAMMITE'S BOY. After ... Carmel. He was tired and hungry, and, as was his
custom, he stopped at the house of a certain Shunammite woman. ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/the shunammites boy.htm
A Miracle Needing Effort
... 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 Shunammite: 26. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a miracle needing effort.htm
On the Mission of the Seventy Disciples, and Christ's Charge to ...
... When Elisha sent on his servant Gehazi before him to raise the Shunammite's son
from death, I rather think he gave him these instructions: [4428] "Gird up thy ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xxiv on the mission of.htm
The Secret of Success.
... The first principle of success is gentleness. In the 4th chapter of the 2nd book
of Kings we have this story. There was a Shunammite woman who had an only son. ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/xlii the secret of success.htm
A Prophet of Peace
... door upon him, and went out.". In her distress, the Shunammite determined
to go to Elisha for help. The prophet was then at Mount ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 19 a prophet of.htm
Definiteness of Purpose in Christian Work
... When Gehazi followed Elisha's command and as he went to the home of the Shunammite
saluted no one he became the forerunner of life to the child. ...
/.../chapman/and judas iscariot/definiteness of purpose in christian.htm
Mothers, Daughters, and Wives in Israel
... position. Such names as that of Huldah the prophetess, and the idyllic narrative
of the Shunammite, will readily occur to the memory. ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 9 mothers daughters and.htm
The Example of Jesus; How we May Allow Ourselves to be Served by ...
... Many holy women, again, ministered to holy men of their substance, as the Shunammite
woman ministered to Elisha; but she did not live with him, but the prophet ...
/.../clement/two epistles concerning virginity/chapter xv the example of jesus.htm
Infant Salvation
... consolation may be afforded to them. This good Shunammite was asked by Gehazi,
whether it was well with herself. She was mourning over a ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/infant salvation.htm
Thesaurus
Shunammite (8 Occurrences)
... The Syr. and Arab. read "Sulamite.". Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SHUNAMMITE. ...
W. Ewing. Multi-Version Concordance Shunammite (8 Occurrences). ...
/s/shunammite.htm - 10k
Shu'nammite (8 Occurrences)
Shu'nammite. Shunammite, Shu'nammite. Shunem . ... Now the king was very old; and
Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.-- (See RSV). ...
/s/shu'nammite.htm - 8k
Abishag (5 Occurrences)
... ab'-i-shag, a-bi'-shag ('abhishagh, apparently, "father of wandering," that is,
"cause of wandering," or "my father wanders"): The Shunammite woman who became ...
/a/abishag.htm - 10k
Ab'ishag (5 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 1:3 So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders
of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. ...
/a/ab'ishag.htm - 7k
Gehazi (14 Occurrences)
... Valley of vision, Elisha's trusted servant (2 Kings 4:31; 5:25; 8:4, 5). He appears
in connection with the history of the Shunammite (2 Kings 4:14, 31) and of ...
/g/gehazi.htm - 19k
Geha'zi (11 Occurrences)
... Geha'zi (11 Occurrences). 2 Kings 4:12 And he said to Gehazi his servant: 'Call
this Shunammite.' And when he had called her, she stood before him. (See RSV). ...
/g/geha'zi.htm - 9k
Adoni'jah (26 Occurrences)
... hand. (See RSV). 1 Kings 2:21 And she said: 'Let Abishag the Shunammite be
given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.' (See RSV). 1 Kings ...
/a/adoni'jah.htm - 13k
Habakkuk (3 Occurrences)
... Some of the ancient rabbis, connecting the name with 2 Kings 4:16, "Thou shalt embrace
a son," imagined that the prophet was the son of the Shunammite woman. ...
/h/habakkuk.htm - 26k
Shunamite (8 Occurrences)

/s/shunamite.htm - 8k
Chamber (73 Occurrences)
... "on the wall," which the Shunammite prepared for the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 4:10),
was an upper chamber over the porch through the hall toward the street. ...
/c/chamber.htm - 36k
Resources
What is the story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman? | GotQuestions.org

How many people were raised from the dead in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Abishag in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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Concordance
Shunammite (8 Occurrences)
1 Kings 1:3
So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV)
1 Kings 1:15
Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV)
1 Kings 2:17
He said, "Please speak to Solomon the king (for he will not tell you'no'), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV)
1 Kings 2:21
She said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV)
1 Kings 2:22
King Solomon answered his mother, "Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also; for he is my elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV)
2 Kings 4:12
He said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite." When he had called her, she stood before him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV)
2 Kings 4:25
So she went, and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel. It happened, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, "Behold, there is the Shunammite.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV)
2 Kings 4:36
He called Gehazi, and said, "Call this Shunammite!" So he called her. When she had come in to him, he said, "Take up your son."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV)
Subtopics
Shunammite
Shunammite: A Person from the City of Shunem: Abishag, the Girl Who Took Care of David
Shunammite: A Person from the City of Shunem: Desired by Adonijah As Wife
Shunammite: A Woman Who Gave Hospitality to Elisha, and Whose Son he Raised to Life
Related Terms
Shunem (3 Occurrences)
Shunammite (8 Occurrences)