The Shunammite Woman and Her Son

In Shunem, a prominent woman urges Elisha to eat at her house whenever he passes through. She suggests to her husband that they set up a little room on the roof for him, with a bed, a table, a stool, and a lamp. To thank her, Elisha tells her, “About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son.” She objects, “do not lie unto thine handmaid.” Yet the child is born. When he has grown, one day he cries out to his father, out with the reapers, “My head, my head.” He dies at noon on his mother’s lap. She lays him on the bed of the man of God and hurries to Mount Carmel: “I will not leave thee.” Elisha arrives, shuts the door, prays to the LORD, and stretches himself out on the child. The flesh grows warm; the child sneezes seven times and opens his eyes. “Take up thy son!”