In our First Reading this week, from the 2nd Book of Kings, [2 Kgs 4:8-17] we hear the story of Elisha, the prophet, and the woman in the town of Shunem. On first hearing, it sounds like a nice story of an old woman who is rewarded for her generosity. But there is more to the Old Testament than nice stories, there are profound lessons as well.

The Book of Kings is from the portion of the Old Testament that is known as the Deuteronomistic Writings. The word, Deuteronomy, means "the second telling."

The Deuteronomistic writers sought to encourage the people of God through answering the question, "what are we to do in these troubled times," by retelling their history through the perspective of lessons learned.¹ In this passage there is such a lesson, but to discern it we need to follow the details the writer used in telling the story. And we should not expect that the lesson will be obvious.

The first detail we notice is the name of the town that Elisha went to. Shunem means "second resting place." To understand the significance of that name, we need to know a little more about ancient Jewish burial practices. Ancient Jews followed the practice of ossilegium, or double burial, which was common throughout the Middle East, except in Egypt. For Jews, the first interment took place in a limestone cave in which an array of shelves had been cut into three sides of the cave. Families used the same set of shelves generation after generation. This was done so that deceased loved ones could easily enter "the realm of their ancestors" [see for example: Genesis 49:33].

One year after the first interment, the family would return to the cave and recover their loved one's bones and place them in a limestone box, called an ossuary. The ossuary was then buried in the ground. The neighboring town of Nain ("green pastures") was the site of first interments for wealthy families in Lower Galilee, and Shunem ("second resting place") was the site of second interments.

The prophet, Elisha, served the Lord under four less-than-stellar kings of the northern kingdom of Israel at a time of great turmoil and he made many enemies among the ruling class. So, Elisha was going to a place where his adversaries would not likely look for him. There, he encountered "a woman of influence" [2 Kgs 4:8b] who showed him kind hospitality. In doing so, she exposed herself to the wrath of her neighbors for Elisha had many enemies. Indeed, the woman went so far as to refer to him as "a holy man of God" [2 Kgs 4:9b] and she asked her husband to "arrange a little room on the roof and furnish it for him" [2 Kgs 4:10a].

It was common hospitality in those times to provide a place for travelers to sleep on the house's rooftop. But providing a furnished room on the roof was reserved only for members of the family.² So, this childless woman was symbolically adopting Elisha into her family.

The next detail we notice is that the writer of this passage itemized the furnishings: a bed, a table, a chair and a lamp [2 Kgs 4:10b]. In ancient Middle Eastern writings, when there were more details than the storyline really needed the writer was using those details to convey something very important.³ To the Hebrews, the bed symbolized resting in the Lord; the table symbolized fellowship; the chair was the seat of religious instruction ever since the days of Moses; and the lamp symbolized illuminating God that others might see. So, this old woman was exhibiting extraordinary discernment in what Elisha really needed, far more than just a place to lay his head. This was also the inspired writer speaking to his first readers/listeners.

The answer to that question, offered in our First Reading, was:

• embrace and support those who proclaim and defend the faith, even in the face of pushback;
• turn to God and double down on resting in the Lord;
• let that lead to greater fellowship with Him;
• be open to His instructions; and then,
• illuminate God for others to see.

Well, we too live in a time of widespread unrest and turning away from God. Of course, the particulars are different but we too question: "what are the people of faith to do in these troubled times?" That same answer, offered long ago in the 2nd Book of Kings, still applies:

• embrace and support those who proclaim and defend the faith, even in the face of pushback;
• turn to God and double down on resting in the Lord;
• let that lead to greater fellowship with Him;
• be open to His instructions; and then,
• illuminate God for others to see.

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