During his ministry in northern Israel, the prophet Elisha had occasion at times to pause at the little village of Shunem, which lies on rising ground at the eastern end of the plain of Esdraelon. Moreover, on each successive visit he was fed a light repast by one whom our Common Version significantly describes as "a great woman" (II Kings 4:8). It is evident that her generosity matched the strength and noble dignity of her character. She was married, but, as in the case of Deborah, little is said with regard to her husband, evidently many years her senior (compare verse 14).
Realizing intuitively that the prophet was no ordinary visitor, but a "holy man of God," she arranged for a room to be prepared and furnished expressly for his use. Touched by this kindly and unsolicited hospitality, Elisha was anxious to do something for her in return, but when he approached her on the subject, she asked for no reward, courteously assuring him that she was already well cared for. At length Gehazi, the prophet's attendant, reminded him of her childlessness, and upon her wondering ears there fell Elisha's prediction that in due course she would bear a son.
When we next hear of the Shunammite, her son is a growing lad who has run to join his father in the harvest field. On complaining of a pain in his head, the boy was swiftly carried to his mother by one of the harvesters; and we read that "he sat on her knees till noon, and then died" (verse 20).
