Biblical Context:
The account of Elisha raising the Shunammite's son is found in 2 Kings 4:8-37. This narrative is part of the broader ministry of Elisha, the prophet and successor to Elijah, who performed numerous miracles as a testament to God's power and presence among His people. The account highlights themes of faith, divine intervention, and the prophetic authority bestowed upon Elisha.

The Shunammite Woman:
The Shunammite woman is introduced as a prominent and hospitable figure residing in Shunem, a town in the territory of Issachar. Recognizing Elisha as a holy man of God, she and her husband provide him with a furnished upper room to stay whenever he passes through. Her generosity and respect for the prophet set the stage for the miraculous events that follow.

Promise of a Son:
Moved by her kindness, Elisha desires to bless the Shunammite woman. Through his servant Gehazi, Elisha learns that she is childless and her husband is old. Elisha prophesies that she will embrace a son by the same time the following year. Despite her initial skepticism, the prophecy is fulfilled, and she gives birth to a son, as recorded in 2 Kings 4:16-17: "And he said, 'At this time next year you will hold a son in your arms.' 'No, my lord,' she said. 'Do not lie to your maidservant, O man of God.' But the woman conceived and gave birth to a son at that time the next year, just as Elisha had told her."

The Child's Death and the Mother's Faith:
Years later, the child suffers a sudden illness while in the field with his father and dies on his mother's lap. Demonstrating remarkable faith and composure, the Shunammite woman lays her son on Elisha's bed and sets out to find the prophet at Mount Carmel. Her determination and trust in Elisha's ability to intercede with God are evident as she insists on speaking directly to him, despite Gehazi's attempts to turn her away.

Elisha's Response:
Upon hearing of the child's death, Elisha sends Gehazi ahead with his staff to lay on the boy's face, but the child does not awaken. Elisha arrives at the house and enters the room alone, where he prays to the LORD and stretches himself upon the child. The narrative in 2 Kings 4:34-35 describes the miraculous revival: "Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out over him, the boy’s body became warm. Elisha turned away and walked back and forth across the room. Then he got on the bed and stretched out upon him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes."

Significance:
This miracle underscores the power of God working through His prophet, affirming Elisha's role as a true servant of the LORD. The Shunammite woman's unwavering faith and Elisha's intercessory prayer highlight the importance of trust in God's promises and the efficacy of prayer. The account also serves as a foreshadowing of the resurrection power that would later be fully revealed in Jesus Christ, offering hope and assurance of God's ability to bring life from death.