Single lesson
Elisha and the Shunammite Family
2 Kings 4:8–37
In this lesson, children trace the account of the Shunammite woman, her family, Gehazi, and Elisha. They will follow the order of events, notice key choices, and talk about what the passage shows about need, prayer, and God’s power.
Before you teach
This passage tells how a woman in Shunem regularly welcomed Elisha and prepared a room for him. Elisha then spoke about a son being born to her. Later, the boy died, the mother went quickly to Elisha, and Elisha prayed to Yahweh in the house. The child then opened his eyes.
Students will be able to put the main events of 2 Kings 4:8–37 in order and name at least two choices people made in the passage and what happened next.
Welcome: Who helped whom?
4 minShow the title and explain that this story includes kindness, trouble, prayer, and restoration. Ask children to listen for choices people make. Briefly introduce the main people from the passage: Elisha, the Shunammite woman, her husband, their son, and Gehazi. Tell children they will sort the story in order today.
2 Kings 4:8, 2 Kings 4:10, 2 Kings 4:12, 2 Kings 4:17, 2 Kings 4:27
Read and explain: A room, a promise, and a son
7 minRead 2 Kings 4:8–17 aloud. Explain that the woman kept welcoming Elisha and suggested making a small room with a bed, table, chair, and lamp stand. Elisha asked what could be done for her. Gehazi noted that she had no son, and Elisha said she would embrace a son. Verse 17 says it happened as Elisha had said.
2 Kings 4:8, 2 Kings 4:10, 2 Kings 4:13, 2 Kings 4:14, 2 Kings 4:16, 2 Kings 4:17
Discuss: Trouble comes to the family
7 minRead 2 Kings 4:18–31. Help children notice the order carefully. The boy became ill and died after being carried to his mother. She laid him on Elisha’s bed, asked for a servant and donkey, and hurried to Elisha. When Gehazi asked whether all was well, she answered, “It is well,” but when she reached Elisha she spoke about the son she had not asked for.
2 Kings 4:19, 2 Kings 4:20, 2 Kings 4:21, 2 Kings 4:22, 2 Kings 4:24, 2 Kings 4:26, 2 Kings 4:28, 2 Kings 4:30, 2 Kings 4:31
Make and respond: Story sequence cards
8 minGive children blank paper pieces to make simple sequence cards. They draw or write key moments: welcoming Elisha, preparing the room, the promised son, the child with his mother, the journey to Elisha, Elisha praying, and the child opening his eyes. As they place the cards in order, ask what choice each person made and what happened next.
2 Kings 4:8, 2 Kings 4:10, 2 Kings 4:17, 2 Kings 4:20, 2 Kings 4:24, 2 Kings 4:33, 2 Kings 4:35, 2 Kings 4:36
Closing: Prayer and careful summary
4 minRead 2 Kings 4:32–37. Explain that the passage says Elisha prayed to Yahweh, and the child opened his eyes. Finish by asking children to tell the story in three short steps: kindness shown, great need, and God’s answer after prayer. Close with a short optional prayer thanking God for hearing and helping.
2 Kings 4:32, 2 Kings 4:33, 2 Kings 4:35, 2 Kings 4:36, 2 Kings 4:37
Questions to explore
What did the Shunammite woman choose to prepare for Elisha, and what does that show about her care for him?
Look at the details of the room and its furniture, and connect them with her earlier habit of welcoming him for bread.
2 Kings 4:8, 2 Kings 4:10
When the child died, what actions did the mother take before Elisha came to the house?
List the steps in order from laying the child on the bed to travelling quickly to meet Elisha.
2 Kings 4:21, 2 Kings 4:22, 2 Kings 4:24, 2 Kings 4:25, 2 Kings 4:30
What does the passage say Elisha did in the house before the child opened his eyes?
Answer from the verses by naming his prayer to Yahweh and the actions that followed.
2 Kings 4:33, 2 Kings 4:34, 2 Kings 4:35
Make, think or respond
Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or scrap card
- pencils or crayons
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Read the story sections again and choose 6 to 7 main moments from the passage.
- Draw or write one moment on each card, such as the room, the promised son, the journey, the prayer, and the child opening his eyes.
- Mix the cards and work individually or in pairs to place them back in order.
- Retell the account using the ordered cards and name one choice and one outcome from the story.
This activity helps children follow the sequence of 2 Kings 4:8–37 and notice how the passage links people’s actions with what happens next.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare fewer cards with simple pictures and retell the story together using short sentences from the passage.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to add verse references to each card and explain why they placed each event where they did.
An optional closing prayer
“God, thank you for this passage. Please help us remember the kindness, the need, and the prayer in this story, and help us trust you as we learn from your word.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 Kings 4
8 One day Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman; and she persuaded him to eat bread. So it was, that as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat bread.
9 She said to her husband, “See now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God who passes by us continually.
10 Please, let’s make a little room on the roof. Let’s set a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp stand for him there. When he comes to us, he can stay there.”
11 One day he came there, and he went to the room and lay there.
12 He said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him.
13 He said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Behold, you have cared for us with all this care. What is to be done for you? Would you like to be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the army?’ ” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.”
14 He said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Most certainly she has no son, and her husband is old.”
15 He said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the door.
16 He said, “At this season next year, you will embrace a son.” She said, “No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your servant.”
17 The woman conceived, and bore a son at that season when the time came around, as Elisha had said to her.
18 When the child was grown, one day he went out to his father to the reapers.
19 He said to his father, “My head! My head!” He said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.”
20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees until noon, and then died.
21 She went up and laid him on the man of God’s bed, and shut the door on him, and went out.
22 She called to her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants, and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come again.”
23 He said, “Why would you want to go to him today? It is not a new moon or a Sabbath.” She said, “It’s all right.”
24 Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, “Drive, and go forward! Don’t slow down for me, unless I ask you to.”
25 So she went, and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her afar off, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Behold, there is the Shunammite.
26 Please run now to meet her, and ask her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with your child?’ ” She answered, “It is well.”
27 When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for her soul is troubled within her; and Yahweh has hidden it from me, and has not told me.”
28 Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me’?”
29 Then he said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, don’t greet him; and if anyone greets you, don’t answer him again. Then lay my staff on the child’s face.”
30 The child’s mother said, “As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So he arose, and followed her.
31 Gehazi went ahead of them, and laid the staff on the child’s face; but there was no voice and no hearing. Therefore he returned to meet him, and told him, “The child has not awakened.”
32 When Elisha had come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and lying on his bed.
33 He went in therefore, and shut the door on them both, and prayed to Yahweh.
34 He went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. He stretched himself on him; and the child’s flesh grew warm.
35 Then he returned, and walked in the house once back and forth, then went up and stretched himself out on him. Then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.
36 He called Gehazi, and said, “Call this Shunammite!” So he called her. When she had come in to him, he said, “Take up your son.”
37 Then she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; then she picked up her son, and went out.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.
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Something to make together
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