Location
Overview
Shunem lay on the slope of the hill of Moreh, overlooking the Jezreel Valley. It is remembered above all for a great woman's kindness to Elisha.
A room for the prophet
"A great woman" of Shunem urged Elisha to eat with them and built him a little chamber for his visits. In return, Elisha promised the childless woman a son, who was born the next year (2 Kings 4:8–17).
The son raised
When the boy later died of a sudden illness, the woman rode to Elisha at Carmel; he came, stretched himself upon the child, "and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes" (2 Kings 4:32–35).
Abishag the Shunammite
Shunem was also the home of Abishag, the young woman who cared for the aged King David (1 Kings 1:3), and near where the Philistines camped before Saul's last battle (1 Samuel 28:4).
Events Here
Elisha raises the Shunammite woman’s son at Shunem
Scripture References
3 versesJoshua1 verse
Joshua 19:18
And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
1 Samuel1 verse
1 Samuel 28:4
And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
2 Kings1 verse
2 Kings 4:8
And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. it fell on a day: Heb. there was a day constrained him: Heb. laid hold on him
Archaeology & History
Shunem is identified with the village of Sulam on the southern slope of the hill of Moreh, near the Jezreel Valley and Mount Gilboa. Its setting among the northern hills frames both the Elisha narrative and the camps of Israel's wars in the great valley below.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Shunem
Where is Shunem today?
Today, Shunem corresponds to Sulam, Israel.
What happened at Shunem in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Shunem include elisha raises the shunammite woman’s son at shunem.
Where is Shunem first mentioned in the Bible?
Shunem is first mentioned in Joshua 19:18.
How often is Shunem mentioned in the Bible?
Shunem is mentioned in 3 verses across 3 books: Joshua, 1 Samuel, 2 Kings.
What happened at Shunem?
A generous woman of Shunem hosted the prophet Elisha, who promised her a son; when the boy later died, Elisha raised him back to life.
Who was the Shunammite woman?
A wealthy, hospitable woman of Shunem who built a room for Elisha and whose son the prophet first gave and then restored from death. (Abishag, who attended King David, also came from Shunem.)