Elisha summons the Shunammite, foreshadowing a godly intervention that will demonstrate His compassion and provision.
Elisha, who ministered in the Northern Kingdom of Israel around the ninth century BC, interacts with his attendant Gehazi and a notable woman from Shunem in the region of Issachar near the Jezreel Valley. The verse says, “He said to Gehazi his servant, ‘Call this Shunammite.’ And when he had called her, she stood before him.” (2 Kings 4:12). In this moment, Elisha exercises his prophetic authority by summoning the Shunammite woman, whose hospitality toward him has been highlighted in the preceding verses. Gehazi acts as a messenger between the prophet and this faithful individual, illustrating the reverence and respect afforded to Elisha’s role as God’s representative.
When Elisha instructs Gehazi to call the Shunammite woman, the text emphasizes a dynamic of servant and prophet working together so that the prophet’s message can go forth. The “Shunammite” (v.12) refers to a woman living in the town of Shunem, a small location situated to the south of Mount Gilboa. By “calling” her, we see how God often uses specific people at specific times to convey His blessings. The Shunammite woman’s prompt response, as she stands before Elisha, reveals her respect and eagerness to receive wisdom or help from the prophet.
This scene sets the stage for the miraculous events that soon follow. Later in the chapter, God’s power through Elisha will be revealed, echoing the truth that the Lord graciously meets the needs of those who honor Him. The New Testament also demonstrates God’s compassion through Jesus’ ministries of healing and miraculous provision (Luke 7:12-15). By looking at how Elisha serves God’s people through miracles, we gain a preview of God’s ultimate plan to restore and bring life under the new covenant.
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2 Kings 4:12 meaning
Elisha, who ministered in the Northern Kingdom of Israel around the ninth century BC, interacts with his attendant Gehazi and a notable woman from Shunem in the region of Issachar near the Jezreel Valley. The verse says, “He said to Gehazi his servant, ‘Call this Shunammite.’ And when he had called her, she stood before him.” (2 Kings 4:12). In this moment, Elisha exercises his prophetic authority by summoning the Shunammite woman, whose hospitality toward him has been highlighted in the preceding verses. Gehazi acts as a messenger between the prophet and this faithful individual, illustrating the reverence and respect afforded to Elisha’s role as God’s representative.
When Elisha instructs Gehazi to call the Shunammite woman, the text emphasizes a dynamic of servant and prophet working together so that the prophet’s message can go forth. The “Shunammite” (v.12) refers to a woman living in the town of Shunem, a small location situated to the south of Mount Gilboa. By “calling” her, we see how God often uses specific people at specific times to convey His blessings. The Shunammite woman’s prompt response, as she stands before Elisha, reveals her respect and eagerness to receive wisdom or help from the prophet.
This scene sets the stage for the miraculous events that soon follow. Later in the chapter, God’s power through Elisha will be revealed, echoing the truth that the Lord graciously meets the needs of those who honor Him. The New Testament also demonstrates God’s compassion through Jesus’ ministries of healing and miraculous provision (Luke 7:12-15). By looking at how Elisha serves God’s people through miracles, we gain a preview of God’s ultimate plan to restore and bring life under the new covenant.