Becoming a Compassionate Woman: 6 Biblical Examples Намуна

The Shunammite Woman: A Compassionate Hostess

The Bible is full of names you may know, such as Ruth, Mary, and Sarah. But plenty of compassionate women found in its pages often go unnoticed. One of these women is the unnamed Shunammite woman, who we meet in 2 Kings 4.

Our story starts with Elisha, a prophet who spent his time traveling throughout Israel and teaching the people. In 2 Kings 4, we find Elisha in Shunem. During his travels, a wealthy woman, the Shunammite woman, would ask Elisha to come into her home for a meal.

While this was surely great news for the weary traveler, the woman didn’t stop there. She asked her husband to set up a guest room for Elisha: “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay here whenever he comes to us”(2 Kings 4:9-10, NIV).

The Shunammite woman opened her home to Elisha and gave up her time and resources to care for him as he served as a prophet. Her incredible hospitality is a perfect example of love in action.

During one of Elisha’s visits, he asked his servant, Gehazi, how he might be able to help the woman in return for her compassion. In verse 14, Gehazi tells Elisha that the woman is childless.

In response, Elisha asked Gehazi to call for the woman. When she arrived, Elisha declared that she would have a son by that time next year. By God’s grace, she did. And when she later lost her son, Elisha returned to bring him back to life.

While the woman is unnamed in the Bible, she made a remarkable impact on Elisha and on those who received the word of God through him in Shumen and beyond.

Remember: No act of compassion is too small. Simply sharing a meal can make more of an impact than you realize.

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:8-36