Elisha and Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:8-37)

2 Kings 4:8-37, portrays a story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman, demonstrating themes of faith, hospitality, divine promise, and resurrection. This passage serves as a powerful testament to God's compassion, the efficacy of faith, and the hope of resurrection.

The narrative unfolds in three main parts. The first part depicts hospitality and divine reward (2 Kings 4:8-17): The Shunammite woman, described as a "great woman" (אִשָּׁה גְדוֹלָה [ishah gedolah]), shows great hospitality to Elisha, a "man of God" (אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים [ish haelohim]), by providing him with food and a room to stay whenever he passes through Shunem. In response to her kindness, Elisha promises her a son despite her husband's old age, which is an act of divine intervention. This illustrates a biblical principle that God rewards those who demonstrate kindness and faith (see Matthew 10:41-42; Hebrews 13:2)

The second part shows the death of the promised child and the woman's faith (2 Kings 4:18-28): The promised child grows, but one day, while out in the field with his father, he suddenly cries out, "My head! My head!" (רֹאשִׁי רֹאשִׁי [roshi roshi]). The father instructs a servant to carry the child to his mother, and after being held by her, the child dies on her lap. The Shunammite woman demonstrates great faith and urgency as she immediately seeks Elisha, believing that he can intercede with God to restore her son. She lays the child on the bed in the prophet's room and travels to Mount Carmel to find Elisha, declaring, "It is well" (שָׁלוֹם [shalom]) to those who inquire, reflecting her trust in the prophet's ability to perform a miracle.

The third part portrays the child's resurrection (2 Kings 4:29-37): Elisha sends Gehazi ahead with his staff to place on the child, but this act does not revive him. Elisha then comes to the house, prays to God, and physically lays upon the child, performing a symbolic act reminiscent of giving life. The child is resurrected after sneezing seven times (שֶׁבַע [sheva], see 2 Kings 5:10, 14), a number often symbolizing completeness or divine perfection in Hebrew scriptures. The passage concludes with Elisha presenting the revived child to his mother. The resurrection of the child reveals God's ultimate power over life and death, with Elisha serving as an instrument of this divine miracle. This act foreshadows later biblical themes of resurrection and restoration, emphasizing hope and divine compassion (see Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6; 1 Kings 17:17-24; Mark 5:35-43; Luke 7:11-17; John 11:1-44; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).