A small town near the eastern end of the Jezreel Valley. It was the rallying site for the Philistines before they set off to war against Saul and the Israelites in the battles in which Saul, as predicted by the witch of nearby Endor whom he consulted, was vanquished (1 Sam 28:4).
Originally allocated to the tribe of Issachar, the town is of little importance though it was made famous by two persons. The best known is Abishag, "a beautiful gird" from Shunem who was brought to the old King David to keep him warm (1 Ki 1:3). She, unfortunately, became the innocent pawn in the political, and probably perceived, maneuver for the throne that led to Adonijah's death (1 Ki 2:17-25).
Shunem was also a frequent stopover for Elisha as he went about his ministry, where he enjoyed the hospitality of a childless couple who actually had a room specially prepared for him. In appreciation of their kindness Elisha prophecied that the woman would be pregnant and gave birth to a son within a year, which she did (2 Ki 4:8-17). However, the boy died suddenly. Sought out by the boy's mother Elisha returned to Shunem and brought the child back to life (2 Ki 4:18-37).
CONCORDANCE (NIV)
Shunem appears 3x in the OT, and Shunammite, 8x.
Jos 19:18 — The fourth lot came out for Issachar, clan by clan. Their territory included: Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem, Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, . . .
1 Sam 28:4 — Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all the Israelites and set up camp at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He enquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
1 Ki 1:3 — When King David was old and well advanced in years, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. So his servants said to him, "Let us look for a young virgin to attend the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm." Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
1 Ki 1:15 — So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him.
1 Ki 2:17 — So he continued, "Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife."
1 Ki 2:21-22 20 — The king replied, "Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you." So she said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah." 22King Solomon answered his mother, "Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him—after all, he is my older brother—yes, for him and for Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!"
2 Ki 4:8-12 — One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. She said to her husband, "I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let's make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us." One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. He said to his servant Gehazi, "Call the Shunammite." So he called her, and she stood before him.
2 Kings 4:25 — So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When he saw her in the distance, the man of God said to his servant Gehazi, "Look! There's the Shunammite!
2 Kings 4:36 — Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got onto the bed and stretched out upon him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, "Call the Shunammite." And he did. When she came, he said, "Take your son." She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out.
©ALBERITH
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