2 Kings 4:8

Elisha promises a son to the hospitable Shunammite (Not in Chronicles)

8. And it fell on a day From its use elsewhere the Hebrew noun, as here, with the article signifies -on that day", -at that time", and indicates a closer connexion with the preceding narrative than would be gathered from the A.V. But see below, verses 11 and 18.

Elisha passed to Shunem In Joshua 19:18, Shunem is among the places allotted to the tribe of Issachar. It is also mentioned as the place where the Philistines encamped before the battle of Gilboa (1 Samuel 28:4). It has been identified with Solam, a village situate on the little Hermon about 3 miles north of Jezreel. When Elisha was travelling either from Samaria or Jezreel to Carmel, Shunem lay on his road. The place is mentioned as being the home of Abishag (1 Kings 1:3) and from that is derived the Jewish tradition which makes the Shunammite woman of the present narrative to have been the sister of Abishag.

a great woman The adjective is used to signify wealthyin 1 Samuel 25:2, of Nabal, and 2 Samuel 19:32 of Barzillai, who is described as -a very great man". As the Shunammite woman had a husband still alive, it would be more natural to speak of him as -great" in the sense of -rich", and perhaps here the meaning is rather -influential". She was clearly a person of independent character, and one whocould act when the occasion demanded it.

she constrained him to eat bread The journeys of Elisha to and fro had somehow become known to her and she offered him hospitality. This was the usual way in the East, where houses for public entertainment were uncommon.

as oft as he passed by Apparently the allusion is to such rounds as the chief of the prophetic colleges would make to the different centres at which they were gathered. That Elisha's visits were frequent is clear from the next verse.