Original Word: שׁוּנֵם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Shuwnem
Pronunciation: SHOO-nem
Phonetic Spelling: (shoo-name')
KJV: Shunem
NASB: Shunem
Word Origin: [probably from the same as H7764 (שׁוּנִי - Shuni)]

1. quietly
2. Shunem, a place in Israel

Shunem

Probably from the same as Shuwniy; quietly; Shunem, a place in Pal -- Shunem.

see HEBREW Shuwniy

Word Origin
probably from the same as Shuni
Definition
a city in Issachar
NASB Translation
Shunem (3).

שׁוּנֵם proper name, of a location in Issachar; — Joshua 19:18 (P), 1 Samuel 28:4; 2 Kings 4:8; Σουναν[μ], Σωμαν, Σουμαν, ᵐ5^L Joshua Συνημ; in Egyptian Ša-n-m-â, Ša-na-ma WMM^As.u.Eur.170; modern Sûlem, north of Zer`în (Jezreel), Buhl^{G 217}, compare GASm^{G 400 ff}.

Geographical Setting

Shunem lay on the southern slope of the Jezreel Valley, opposite Mount Gilboa and roughly three miles north of Jezreel. Its position near the main north-south route through the valley made it a strategic village controlling access between the coastal plain and the interior hill country. Modern identification places it at the tell of Sūlem, overlooking fertile fields that in biblical times supported agriculture and viticulture.

Tribal Allotment and Settlement

Joshua 19:18 lists Shunem among the inheritance of Issachar: “Their inheritance included Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem”. The mention indicates that Shunem was part of the divinely apportioned land, fulfilling the covenant promise that each tribe would possess a distinct territory. The site’s productivity would have contributed to Issachar’s reputation for labor and for “rejoicing in their tents” (Deuteronomy 33:18).

Military Events

Shunem became a staging ground for Philistine aggression in the late monarchy: “The Philistines gathered and came and camped at Shunem, and Saul gathered all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa” (1 Samuel 28:4). The enemy’s choice of Shunem testifies to its tactical value; from here they could threaten the Jezreel corridor and isolate Saul’s forces on the ridges of Gilboa. Saul’s subsequent defeat (1 Samuel 31) underscores how terrain and spiritual condition intertwined—Shunem’s hills heard the voice of Israel’s first king seeking illicit counsel while the armies of the living God waited in fear.

Prophetic Encounters

Shunem shines brightest in the ministry of Elisha. “One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman of that place urged him to have a meal” (2 Kings 4:8). The narrative reveals:

• Hospitality toward God’s servants (4:8-10).
• Provision of a prophetic reward—the miraculous birth of a son (4:16-17).
• Triumph of resurrection power when Elisha raised the child (4:32-37).

In the context of Israel’s wavering faith, the Shunammite’s confident declaration, “It is well” (4:26), models steadfast trust. Her account anticipates New Testament resurrection hope (1 Thessalonians 4:14) and demonstrates that Yahweh’s power extends over life and death.

Notable Residents: The Shunammite Woman and Abishag

The unnamed hostess of Elisha becomes a paradigm of faith, hospitality, and perseverance. Centuries later another resident, Abishag the Shunammite, ministered to the aged David (1 Kings 1:1-4). Her presence at the royal court links Shunem to messianic lineage matters, for Adonijah’s later attempt to claim her (1 Kings 2:13-25) threatened Solomon’s throne. Song of Songs 6:13 addresses the “Shulammite,” a name many scholars see as a dialectal form of “Shunammite,” further elevating Shunem’s association with covenant love.

Messianic and Theological Themes

1. Resurrection Foreshadowed: Elisha’s work in Shunem prefigures the Messiah’s authority over death (Luke 7:11-17; John 11).
2. Hospitality Rewarded: The Shunammite’s generosity fulfills Proverbs 19:17 and anticipates New Testament exhortations to “show hospitality” (Hebrews 13:2).
3. God’s Sovereign Provision: From Issachar’s allotment to David’s nurse and Solomon’s security, Shunem illustrates how seemingly small villages serve God’s redemptive purposes.

Applications for Ministry Today

• Strategic Places: Churches in obscure locales can touch national and even global events when they remain faithful.
• Hospitable Homes: Believers who open their doors to those who serve the Lord may witness extraordinary grace.
• Faith Amid Crisis: The Shunammite’s calm assurance teaches that confession of God’s faithfulness precedes visible deliverance.

Related References

Joshua 19:18; 1 Samuel 28:4; 2 Kings 4:8-37; 2 Kings 8:1-6; 1 Kings 1:3-4; 1 Kings 2:13-25; Song of Songs 6:13.

בְשׁוּנֵ֑ם בשונם וְשׁוּנֵֽם׃ ושונם׃ שׁוּנֵ֗ם שונם ḇə·šū·nêm ḇəšūnêm shuNem šū·nêm šūnêm veshuNem wə·šū·nêm wəšūnêmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts