I. Name

The name of the city of Shunem, šûnēm, is attested in Josh. 18.19; 1 Sam. 28.4; 2 Kgs. 4.8 (see also the indication for inhabitants of that city *šûnammî, 1 Kgs. 1.3, 1 Kgs. 15; 1 Kgs. 2.17, 1 Kgs. 20–21; 2 Kgs. 4.12, 2 Kgs. 25, 2 Kgs. 36). The etymology is unclear (HALAT 1339 offers no etymology), the name has been related to a Ugaritic deity Shunama occurring as an element in the binomial divine name Ṯkmn-w-Šnm (Ginsberg 1936:92; Jirku 1970).