Dead (People): The Shunammite Woman's Son
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The account of the Shunammite woman's son is a profound narrative found in the Old Testament, specifically in 2 Kings 4:8-37. This story highlights themes of faith, divine intervention, and the power of God working through His prophets.

The Shunammite woman, a notable figure in the town of Shunem, is described as a woman of great hospitality and faith. She and her husband provided a room for the prophet Elisha whenever he passed through their town, recognizing him as a holy man of God. In gratitude for her kindness, Elisha prophesied that she would embrace a son, despite her husband's old age and her previous barrenness. As foretold, she bore a son the following year.

Tragically, the child later fell ill while in the fields with his father and died on his mother's lap. In her distress, the Shunammite woman laid her son on the bed of the man of God and set out to find Elisha at Mount Carmel. Her unwavering faith is evident as she insists on seeking the prophet, believing in the possibility of divine intervention.

Upon reaching Elisha, she expressed her anguish, and Elisha, moved by her plight, sent his servant Gehazi ahead with his staff to lay on the boy's face. However, this action did not revive the child. Elisha then arrived at the house and went into the room where the boy lay. He prayed to the LORD and then stretched himself upon the child, a symbolic act of imparting life. The child sneezed seven times and opened his eyes, a miraculous sign of his return to life.

This narrative underscores several key theological themes. Firstly, it illustrates the power of God to bring life from death, a foreshadowing of the resurrection power seen in the New Testament. Secondly, it highlights the importance of faith and persistence in seeking God's intervention. The Shunammite woman's determination and trust in God's prophet serve as a model of faith for believers.

The story also emphasizes the role of prophets as instruments of God's will. Elisha's actions demonstrate that it is not by human power but by God's Spirit that miracles occur. This account serves as a testament to God's compassion and His willingness to respond to the cries of His people.

In summary, the story of the Shunammite woman's son is a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty over life and death, the efficacy of faith, and the importance of seeking God's presence in times of need. It remains a significant narrative within the biblical canon, offering hope and encouragement to believers throughout the ages.
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2 Kings 4:32-37
And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid on his bed.
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Library

A Prophet of Peace
... as coming into personal touch with the people, surrounded by ... his servant, Behold,
yonder is that Shunammite: run now ... went into the room where the dead child lay ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 19 a prophet of.htm

The Upbringing of Jewish Children
... at a hundred, as if he were dead and gone ... to show how even God's dealings with His
people were regarded ... the mother of Samuel and the pious Shunammite hostess of ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 7 the upbringing of.htm

Against Jovinianus.
... a person baptized and her husband dead, it would ... is flesh." Wherefore, when Moses
died, the people of Israel ... got heat from the embrace of the Shunammite maiden ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
... All others are dead, senseless, and without true feeling of what ... Or, as the son of
the Shunammite, 'My head! ... Could some of you carnal people but get behind the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the acceptable sacrifice.htm

Resources
What is the importance of the Dead Sea in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What did Jesus mean when He said "Let the dead bury the dead" (Luke 9:60)? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Day of the Dead? | GotQuestions.org

Dead: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Dead

Dead (People): Anointing

Dead (People): Burnings of Incense Made For

Dead (People): Dorcas

Dead (People): Eutychus

Dead (People): Jairus' Daughter

Dead (People): Lazarus

Dead (People): Prepared for Burial by Washing

Dead (People): Raised to Life, (See

Dead (People): The Shunammite Woman's Son

Dead (People): The Son of the Widow of Zarephath

Dead (People): The Widow's Son

Dead (People): The Young Man Laid in Elisha's Grave

Dead (People): Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

Dead (People): Wrapping in Linen

Dead Beat Dads

Dead Body

Dead Sea

Dead Sea: Called Salt Sea

Dead Sea: East Sea

Dead Sea: Former Sea

Dead Sea: Prophecy Concerning

Dead Sea: Sea of the Plain

The Dead in a House Rendered It Unclean

The Dead were Washed and Laid Out

The Dead were Wrapped in Lined With Spices

The Dead: A Priest not to Mourn For, Except when Near of Kin

The Dead: A State of Deep Affliction

The Dead: All offerings To, Forbidden

The Dead: Characterised by Absence of all Human Passions

The Dead: Characterised by Being Incapable of Motion

The Dead: Characterised by Being Without the Spirit

The Dead: Characterised by Ignorance of all Human Affairs

The Dead: Characterised by Inability to Glorify God

The Dead: Diviners

The Dead: Even Bones of, Caused Uncleanness

The Dead: Eyes of, Closed by Nearest of Kin

The Dead: Faith Without Works

The Dead: Freedom from the Law

The Dead: Freedom from the Power of Sin

The Dead: Heathenish Expressions of Grief For, Forbidden

The Dead: High Priest in No Case to Mourn For

The Dead: Idolaters: Consecrated Part of Their Crops To

The Dead: Idolaters: Invoked and Consulted

The Dead: Idolaters: Offered Sacrifices For

The Dead: Idolaters: Tore Themselves For

The Dead: Impotence

The Dead: Instances of, Restored by Christ

The Dead: Instances of, Restored to Life Before Christ

The Dead: Man's State by Nature

The Dead: Mourning For, often by Hired Mourners

The Dead: Mourning For, often with Plaintive Music

The Dead: Mourning For, often: Lasted Many Days

The Dead: Mourning For, often: Loud and Clamorous

The Dead: Mourning For, often: Testified by Change of Apparel

The Dead: Mourning For, often: Testified by Covering the Head

The Dead: Mourning For, often: Testified by Taring the Hair

The Dead: Mourning For, often: Testified by Tearing the Garments

The Dead: Mourning For, often: Very Great

The Dead: Nazarites not to Touch or Mourn For

The Dead: Regard often Shown to the Memory of

The Dead: Return not to This Life

The Dead: Terms Used to Express: Carcases

The Dead: Terms Used to Express: Corpses

The Dead: Terms Used to Express: Deceased

The Dead: Terms Used to Express: Those Who are Not

The Dead: The Jews Looked for a Resurrection From

The Dead: They Who Have Departed This Life

The Dead: Those Defiled By, Removed from the Camp

The Dead: Too Soon Forgotten

The Dead: Touching of, Caused Uncleanness

The Dead: Uncleanness Contracted From, Removed by the Water Separation

Related Terms

Corpses (16 Occurrences)

Half-dead (1 Occurrence)

Siddim (3 Occurrences)

Shades (29 Occurrences)

Zoar (12 Occurrences)

Cities (427 Occurrences)

Corpse (18 Occurrences)

Ciccar

Carcase (38 Occurrences)

Carcass (30 Occurrences)

Carcasses (30 Occurrences)

Sodom (49 Occurrences)

Apostles'

Vale (20 Occurrences)

Alive (166 Occurrences)

Quit (12 Occurrences)

Arabah (32 Occurrences)

Charm (5 Occurrences)

Sleep (136 Occurrences)

Quick (49 Occurrences)

Considered (80 Occurrences)

Cremation

Champaign (1 Occurrence)

Cuttings (5 Occurrences)

Apocyphra

Announce (56 Occurrences)

Apples (11 Occurrences)

Abaddon (7 Occurrences)

Salt (45 Occurrences)

Asleep (50 Occurrences)

Allow (86 Occurrences)

Sela (5 Occurrences)

Stoned (38 Occurrences)

Aren't (102 Occurrences)

Sepulcher (48 Occurrences)

Sleeping (69 Occurrences)

Sepulchre (57 Occurrences)

Hell (53 Occurrences)

Already (171 Occurrences)

Amnon (23 Occurrences)

Yielded (28 Occurrences)

Quicken (16 Occurrences)

Quickened (9 Occurrences)

Contact (4 Occurrences)

Clearly (67 Occurrences)

Cuts (20 Occurrences)

Abyss (11 Occurrences)

Another's (28 Occurrences)

Arnon (23 Occurrences)

Stench (12 Occurrences)

Sepulchers (15 Occurrences)

Shaking (162 Occurrences)

Sleepeth (13 Occurrences)

Slime (6 Occurrences)

Sepulchres (17 Occurrences)

Surprised (46 Occurrences)

Sore (156 Occurrences)

State (51 Occurrences)

Violently (92 Occurrences)

Suffer (195 Occurrences)

Charged (109 Occurrences)

Ceremonially (38 Occurrences)

Cleansing (37 Occurrences)

Sheol (64 Occurrences)

Canaan (102 Occurrences)

Changed (177 Occurrences)

Vine-garden (43 Occurrences)

Quietly (30 Occurrences)

Celebrate (66 Occurrences)

Speaketh (367 Occurrences)

Slept (74 Occurrences)

Cleansed (76 Occurrences)

Conduct (93 Occurrences)

Stead (117 Occurrences)

Spake (704 Occurrences)

Awake (83 Occurrences)

Sell (58 Occurrences)

Speaking (376 Occurrences)

Dead (People): Raised to Life, (See
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