Shunammite
Shunammite is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Galilee in modern-day Israel. Known today as Sulam. It appears across 9 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Shunem was a town in the territory of Issachar situated on the southwestern slope of the Hill of Moreh in the Jezreel Valley. The designation "Shunammite" in Scripture refers to a person from this town, and it appears most prominently in connection with two significant women. In 1 Kings 1, Abishag the Shunammite was brought to warm the aging King David, and her presence later became politically significant when Adonijah requested her hand in marriage from Solomon — a request that cost him his life (1 Kings 2:17-25). Far more extended is the story of the unnamed Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4, a woman of means who showed hospitality to the prophet Elisha by building him a guest room. Elisha repaid her kindness by prophesying that she would bear a son despite her husband's old age. When that child later died, she sought Elisha, who raised the boy back to life in a remarkable miracle. The Shunammite woman stands as a model of faith and initiative in Israel's prophetic narratives, making her hometown a place of spiritual significance in the Elisha cycle.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Shunem is identified with modern Sulam (also spelled Solem), a small village on the northern edge of the Jezreel Valley near the Hill of Moreh in Israel. The site preserves the ancient toponym clearly in its Arabic name. Archaeological surveys have noted Iron Age remains in the vicinity consistent with the biblical narratives set during the monarchy period. The region around Sulam has been investigated as part of broader surveys of the Jezreel Valley, which has revealed intensive occupation from the Bronze Age through the Byzantine period. While large-scale excavations specifically targeting Shunem have not been conducted, the continuity of the place name and the presence of ancient remains strongly support the identification with the biblical town.
Verse Appearances (9)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →