Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son Bible story for kids

The donkey did not slow down.

Up the road, over the stones, past the barley fields — a woman, a servant, one donkey, going fast. She had said one thing before they left, to the servant holding the rope. "Go on. Don't slow down for me unless I tell you."

She was riding to find the man of God. Elisha.

But I have to tell you about the morning first. It started so ordinary.

She lived in a little town called Shunem. The Bible never writes her name down — it only calls her the woman of Shunem. She had a husband, and fields, and a boy.

That morning her boy ran out to the fields where his father was working with the harvesters. Warm sun. Dry grain. A good day.

And then the boy stopped. "My head," he said. "My head."

His father didn't wait a second. "Carry him to his mother," he told one of the workers.

That is every single thing the Bible tells us about what was wrong. Not one word more.

They carried him home, and his mother sat down and held him on her lap. All morning. The house got very quiet.

And at noon... the boy didn't wake up.

His mother stood up.

She carried him up the little stairs to the room on the roof — the room this family kept ready for Elisha. She laid her boy on Elisha's own bed, stepped out, and shut the door.

Remember that door, little one. We are coming back to it.

Then she called for her husband. Send me a servant and a donkey, she said. I am going to the man of God and coming straight back.

He didn't understand. Why today? It isn't a new moon. It isn't the Sabbath.

And she said three words. "It is well."