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Shunem - location profile

Location and Setting

Located in the tribal territory of Issachar near the southwestern end of the Hill of Moreh, Shunem was separated from Jezreel across the Harod Valley by about three miles.
Its situation at the edge of the fertile and productive Plain of Jezreel and its proximity to the International Coastal Highway, made Shunem an important town during the period of Israel’s monarchy.

When the Philistines prepared to attack Saul’s army, they assembled at Shunem, where they controlled the route of the International Coastal Highway that passed through the Harod Valley to Beth-Shan. From there they could observe the men of Israel across the valley on Mount Gilboa (1 Sam 28:4). Saul’s position would have placed him just above the city of Jezreel. It is possible that he was assuming that this high ground would give him an advantage over his enemy in the valley, as it had for Gideon over the Midianites in almost the same location.
The beautiful young woman, Abishag, whom David’s servants brought to minister to him in his last years, came from Shunem (1 Kgs 1:1-4).
A prominent woman and her older husband who lived in Shunem, frequently hosted Elisha. Their location at Shunem provided a convenient stopping place for Elisha, as his travels took him along the roads that converged nearby. This godly couple prepared a room on their roof "patio" for Elisha (2 Kgs 4:8-10). In appreciation for their hospitality, he promised that God would give them a son, a prediction that was fulfilled the following year (2 Kgs 4:17). Some years later when the son was grown, he died suddenly, apparently of a stroke. His mother rode her donkey across the Plain of Jezreel to Mount Carmel, some fifteen miles distant, to seek Elisha’s help. He followed her back across the plain to Shunem, where he restored her son to life (2 Kgs 4:18-37).

Bimson, John J., ed. Baker Encyclopedia of Bible Places. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1995.