This verse recounts the start of a relationship that will soon reveal God’s power and faithfulness through Elisha’s ministry.
Now there came a day when Elisha passed over to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman, and she persuaded him to eat food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat food. (v.8)
Here we see the prophet Elisha, a disciple and successor of Elijah, traveling through Shunem in the 9th century BC. This region is thought to have been in the territory of Issachar, located in the fertile Jezreel Valley. Shunem also appears in other biblical stories, notably related to King Saul’s interactions (1 Samuel 28:4). Elisha’s role as a prophet was crucial during this period of the kings of Israel, and his ministry emphasized God’s power through miracles. In this verse, the “prominent woman” (commonly called the Shunammite woman) extends hospitality and generosity to Elisha, offering him something to eat whenever he passes through. Her actions echo the broader scriptural tradition that values welcoming others, a principle reaffirmed in the New Testament as believers are encouraged to show hospitality (Hebrews 13:2). This particular Shunammite woman will become central to a later miraculous event when Elisha raises her son from the dead (2 Kings 4:18-37).
The verse underscores the importance of hospitality toward God’s messengers, a gesture that not only meets a physical need but also foreshadows the profound spiritual blessings she and her family will experience. Elisha, whose prophetic ministry spanned the reigns of several Israelite kings, is shown here as a humble recipient of the woman’s kindness. He would frequently return to her home, signifying both his gratitude and the ongoing relationship between the prophet and this family. Such details highlight how ordinary acts of welcome can serve a greater purpose in God’s unfolding plan.
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2 Kings 4:8 meaning
Now there came a day when Elisha passed over to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman, and she persuaded him to eat food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat food. (v.8)
Here we see the prophet Elisha, a disciple and successor of Elijah, traveling through Shunem in the 9th century BC. This region is thought to have been in the territory of Issachar, located in the fertile Jezreel Valley. Shunem also appears in other biblical stories, notably related to King Saul’s interactions (1 Samuel 28:4). Elisha’s role as a prophet was crucial during this period of the kings of Israel, and his ministry emphasized God’s power through miracles. In this verse, the “prominent woman” (commonly called the Shunammite woman) extends hospitality and generosity to Elisha, offering him something to eat whenever he passes through. Her actions echo the broader scriptural tradition that values welcoming others, a principle reaffirmed in the New Testament as believers are encouraged to show hospitality (Hebrews 13:2). This particular Shunammite woman will become central to a later miraculous event when Elisha raises her son from the dead (2 Kings 4:18-37).
The verse underscores the importance of hospitality toward God’s messengers, a gesture that not only meets a physical need but also foreshadows the profound spiritual blessings she and her family will experience. Elisha, whose prophetic ministry spanned the reigns of several Israelite kings, is shown here as a humble recipient of the woman’s kindness. He would frequently return to her home, signifying both his gratitude and the ongoing relationship between the prophet and this family. Such details highlight how ordinary acts of welcome can serve a greater purpose in God’s unfolding plan.