2Kings 4:8-37 The woman from Shunem. (PART 1)

2Kings 4:8-37 - The woman from Shunem.

(The prophet Elisha gives and restores life)

Throughout time people have written extensively about the characters in Scripture that are types of Yeshua ha Mashiach and so i came across a lot of information on the following people:

The great King David.

King Solomon.

Joseph who became viceroy in Egypt.

Moses who was called “the mouth of God”.

Boaz the kinsman redeemer of Ruth.

And of course, Adam, the first man.

This list is not complete. A lot of people have been found to be a type of Yeshua ha Mashiach.

I wanted to highlight the prophet Elisha. He is a prophet that gives life and restores it.

One day while reading the Scriptures i came to the realization that Christ is not the only One who speaks in parables. The Father also speaks in parables. The difference is that the Father shapes reality into parables. This was a real eyeopener to me. As a result i believe the fourth chapter of 2 Kings is not only about Elisha as a type of Christ, it is also another chapter that speaks of the regathering of the Northern Kingdom, also known as the House of Israel and Ephraim. Yes, once you realize Scripture is 85% about Israel, you start to discover it everywhere. I am aware that the work of Christ: His Life, His crucifixion, His burial, His resurrection, and ascension concerns and affects the whole known world and all creatures in it. That is not something I want to contend.

But i cannot unsee the narrative of the regathering of Ephraim that is found in Scripture over and over again. And it is exactly this story i hear nothing about in church. Everything seems to revolve around the church and its destiny.

Many believers see the church as being separate from Yisrael.

The message of the Bible got distorted because it's interpretation changed. Over time a lot of believers started to think that “the Jews” needed to be grafted into the church. They forgot the fact that they were grafted into “the congregation of the called-out saints”, also known as (believing) Yisrael.

Replacement theology is still the dominant theology in the minds of a lot of believers. The fact that the land Yisrael has been restored does not affect the way they think about their identity. Many believers just understand the Bible the way they were taught from the pulpit.

This blog is an attempt to contribute in changing this.

The story that we read in 2 Kings 4:8-37 takes place near and around the valley of Jezreel and on mount Carmel.

The story begins with the mention of two names: Elisha: wich means “God is salvation”.

Shunem: which means “Two resting places”.

When i think of two resting places, i think about the fact that the Kingdom of Yisrael was divided into two houses.

Jezreel is also a name that we need to mention because it is the name of the valley near Shunem. The valley of Jezreel is of great significance when it comes to the return of the Yisraelites into the promised land. (Hosea 1:11, Jeremiah 24:6, 31:28,32:41 and Amos 9:15). It is the valley where God broke the arch (bow) of Ephraim (Hosea 1:5). The name Jezreel means “God scatters”. This valley was later given the Greek name Esdraelon wich means: God sows / God makes fruitful.

Already we have four names:

Elisha, Shunem, Jezreel (Esdraelon). Together they read: God is salvation – two resting places – God scatters / sows and God makes fruitful.

Immediately i think about how Yeshua ha Mashiach will establish rest between the two houses of Yisrael. When the time of the exile is over. Ephraim will be the house that increased significantly in numbers of people.

This rest between the two houses is founded on Scripture. (Isaiah 11: 1-14)

Now that we have this as a background, we can continue to view 2 Kings 4:8-37.

2 Kings 4:8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so, it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

Great, in Hebrew is: Gadolah – Strong’s H1419 / great – of prestige.

We know that Israel is the wife of YHWH ha Elohim and that He made her great and of prestige.

Genesis 12:2.3 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Ezekiel 16:8-14 Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith YHWH ha Elohim, and thou becamest mine. Then washed I thee with water; yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith YHWH ha Elohim.

2 Kings 4:9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

Elisha is a shadow type of Christ. Yeshua in His Godly nature will give deeper purpose to the life of Elisha by fulfilling it with the deepest meaning.

Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:69)

Matthew 27:19 When he (Pilate) was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

2Kings 4:12-15 And he said to Gehazi his servant: “Call this Shunammite.” And when he had called her, she stood before him. And he said unto him:” Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host?” And she answered:” I dwell among mine own people.” And he said: “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the door.

Now the name of Elisha`s servant is Gehazi. The name Gehazi is Strong’s H 1522, and that means: valley of visions. So now we have five names. Let`s list them again: Elisha, Shunem, Jezreel (Esdraelon), Gehazi.

When translated they say: God is salvation – two resting places – God scatters / sows and God makes fruitful – valley of visions.

Again, i think about how Yeshua ha Mashiach will establish rest between the two the houses of Yisrael. When the time of the exile is over for the Israelites, He will bring them, and those who are attached to Ephraim, in the valley of visions.

NEXT WEEK PART 2