Who is the Shunammite Woman

• See Also:
  • Who Is Apollos
  • Who Is Theophilus

She rises to our view in 2 Kings 4 and quickly fades back into obscurity. Who is this mysterious woman who spends but 30 verses on the pages of our Bibles? More importantly, why is she here at all and why did the Holy Spirit include this story in the Bible? Who is the Shunammite woman?

Her story is part of Elisha’s story arc. Elisha was one of the so-called non-writing prophets, that is, he wrote no book like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, et al. He was the young student of The Great Prophet, Elijah, who never saw death but was taken to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:9). Jehu was ruling over the divided kingdom in Israel. The dates of his reign are not settled but are in the range of 845 – 818 BC. Elisha’s work begins slightly before and extends to just after Jehu’s reign.

We meet the Shunammite woman just after the defeat of Moab. She lives in and takes her name from the town of Shunem (2 Kings 4:8). The small city lies southwest of the Sea of Galilee. Biblically, it was included in the area assigned by Joshua to the tribe of Issachar (Joshua 19:18). This means Shunem had been in Jewish hands for about 400 years when our story began. This suggests that the woman was a Jew, or at least she was well-versed in Jewish faith. She is described as a “wealthy woman,” although no royal appellations are attached to either her or her husband. Other translations call her great (KJV), well-to-do (NIV), or prominent (NASB).

In any case, she knows Elisha as a man of God and prompts her husband to build a room for Elisha as he travels through their town often. Elisha offers to do something to express his gratitude, including speaking to the King on her behalf, which further suggests she is not royalty. Elisha’s servant notes that her husband is old and they are childless (4:14). So, Elisha tells her that she would bear a son next year.

Who is the Shunammite Woman? She is a Devoted Mother

The remainder of her story centers on her son. Several years pass between the birth of the boy and the resumption of the story in verse 18. The boy is old enough to work in the fields. Tragedy strikes when he suffers what to modern readers sounds like a stroke—a severe headache followed by unexplained collapse. He died in his mother’s arms (vs. 20)

Almost instantly, or so it seems, she calls for a servant and donkey to take her to the man of God. The husband asks why since it was not a new moon (a monthly feast) nor the Sabbath (further pointers to their Jewishness). She tells her husband, “All is well,” which clearly is not unless we are seeing extraordinary faith displayed by the unnamed mother.

Who is the Shunammite Woman? She is devoted to God and His Prophet

She rides frantically to Elisha, where she again declares that all is well. She falls at his feet in what Elisha describes as “bitter distress” (vs. 27). The prophet intends to send his servant back to heal the child, but the Shunammite woman refuses to leave Elisha. He goes back to Shunem, where he finds the child lying in his guest room. After prayer, lying atop the child, and pacing, the boy returns to life. The woman returns and brings her once-dead son back to life.

What Do We Learn from the Shunammite Woman?

First, she was fiercely dedicated to the Lord. It was her idea to build a room for Elisha (2 Kings 4:9, 10) because he was a man of God. She cared for God’s servant. When her son fell ill, she rode to find Elisha and refused to leave his presence until her son was healed (vs. 30). Elisha was her connection to God, and she would not be separated from him. Who is the Shunammite Woman? She is a woman dedicated to God.

Next, she was a woman of extraordinary faith. During the son’s illness, She twice spoke of the condition by saying, “All is well” (vss. 23, 26). This reminds me of Abraham’s faith in Genesis 22 as he traveled to sacrifice his only son as God directed. The servants were told to wait, “I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you” (Genesis 22:5). When Isaac, unaware that he was the intended sacrifice, asked about the offering, his father replied, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son” (Genesis 22:8). Both the Shunammite woman and Abraham seemed convinced that the Lord would provide a solution to their sufferings. Who is the Shunammite Woman? She is a woman of great faith.

Third, she was focused and industrious. Mere moments passed after her son’s collapse before she insisted on traveling to find the prophet. She rode hard, demanding no respite until he was found (2 Kings 4:22-25). No laziness nor slothfulness here. No collapse into victimhood. She knew what had to be done, and she did it.

So, who was the Shunammite Woman? She was a godly woman of great faith and industry. She lives today in our lives through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Shunammite woman deserves to be emulated in both women and men!

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