Woman of Shunem
{{Short description|Character in the Hebrew Bible}}
File:Eeckhout Elisha and the Shunammite woman.jpg, Elisha and the Shunammite woman, 1649.]]
The woman of Shunem (or Shunammite woman) is a character in the Hebrew Bible. 2 Kings 4:8 describes her as a "great woman" (KJV) in the town of Shunem. Her name is not recorded in the biblical text.
Hospitality
According to 2 Kings 4, she showed hospitality to the prophet Elisha, constructing a room where he could stay whenever he was in the town. She is childless, but Elisha prophesies that she will have a son. A year later she gives birth to a son.
Raising of her son
{{main|Raising of the son of the woman of Shunem}}
2 Kings 4:18–37 relates how, when her son had grown up, he became sick and died. She goes to Elisha for help, and he brings her son back to life.
Land restored
Evaluation
Abraham Kuyper views the woman of Shunem as a typical example of pious people in Israel having love and respect for the prophets. Kuyper suggests that the narrative indicates her "independence and readiness".Abraham Kuyper, [https://books.google.com/books?id=6IzN_PE-7wkC&pg=PA152 Women of the Old Testament], p. 152. Carol Meyers notes that "unlike virtually all women in biblical narratives, she is not presented as the 'wife' of someone".Carol Meyers, [https://books.google.com/books?id=QzyxQU7Wl0oC&pg=PA190 Rediscovering Eve: Ancient Israelite Women in Context], p. 190. Claudia Camp says that the woman is "both independent and maternal, powerful and pious."Claudia V. Camp, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ymp4S2qZJ4cC&pg=PA113 1 and 2 Kings], in Women's Bible Commentary, p. 113. The proposal to build a room for Elisha originates with the woman and is supported by her husband (2 Kings 4:9–10).
References
{{commonscat|The woman of Shunem}}
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Category:9th-century BCE Hebrew people
Category:Books of Kings people
Category:Women in the Hebrew Bible