Shunem

Shoo´nuhm

A town on the southern border of Issachar (Josh 19:18) guarding the pass to the Valley of Jezreel on the north, opposite the town of Jezreel at the foot of Mt. Gilboa. It is identified with modern Solem. The Philistines camped at Shunem before defeating the Israelites at Mt. Gilboa (1Sam 28:4), and David’s nurse in his old age, Abishag, was from Shunem (1Kgs 1:3). Elisha frequently stopped at this town in his travels, and a woman there provided him with quarters; in return Elisha’s promise of a son was fulfilled and later Elisha revived him from death (2Kgs 4).