King James Bible Dictionary

SHUN, verb transitive

1. To avoid; to keep clear of; not to fall on or come in contact with; as, to shun rocks and shoals in navigation. In shunning Scylla, take care to avoid to avoid Charybdis.

2. To avoid; not to mix or associate with; as, to shun evil company.

3. To avoid; not to practice; as, to shun vice.

4. To avoid; to escape; as, to shun a blow.

5. To avoid; to decline; to neglect.

I haved not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God. Acts 20:1.

A person of Shunem (1 Kings 1:3; 2 Kings 4:12). The Syr. and Arab. read "Sulamite."

1. A person from Shunem:

Abishag, the damsel who nourished David
1 Kings 1:3

Desired by Adonijah as wife
1 Kings 2:13-25

2. A woman who gave hospitality to Elisha, and whose son he raised to life
2 Kings 4:8-37

i.e. the native of Shunem , is applied to two persons: Abishag, the nurse of King David, (1 Kings 1:3,15; 2:17,21,22) and the nameless hostess of Elisha. (2 Kings 4:12,25; 36)

Two resting-places, a little village in the tribe of Issachar, to the north of Jezreel and south of Mount Gilboa (Joshua 19:18), where the Philistines encamped when they came against Saul (1 Samuel 28:4), and where Elisha was hospitably entertained by a rich woman of the place. On the sudden death of this woman's son she hastened to Carmel, 20 miles distant across the plain, to tell Elisha, and to bring him with her to Shunem. There, in the "prophet's chamber," the dead child lay; and Elisha entering it, shut the door and prayed earnestly: and the boy was restored to life (2 Kings 4:8-37). This woman afterwards retired during the famine to the low land of the Philistines; and on returning a few years afterwards, found her house and fields in the possession of a stranger. She appealed to the king at Samaria, and had them in a somewhat remarkable manner restored to her (comp. 2 Kings 8:1-6).

their change; their sleep

A city allotted to the tribe of Issachar
Joshua 19:18

Elisha dwells at, with the Shunammite
Joshua 12:4

A maid found in, to nourish David
1 Kings 1:3

(double resting-place), one of the cities allotted to the tribe of Issachar. (Joshua 13:18) It is mentioned on two occasions

(1 Samuel 23:4; 2 Kings 4:8) It was besides the native place of Abishag. (1 Kings 1:3) It is mentioned by Eusebius as five miles south of Mount Tabor, and then known us Sulem. This agrees with the position of the present Solam , a village three miles north of Jezreel and five from Gilboa.

changed; sleeping

Son of Gad.
Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:15

(fortunate), son of Gad, and founder of the family of the Shunites. (Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:15) (B.C. 1706.)

the descendants of Shuni.

SHUN'LESS, adjective Not to be avoided; inevitable; unavoidable; as shunless destiny. [Little used.]

SHUN'NED, participle passive Avoided.

SHUN'NING, participle present tense Avoiding; keeping clear from; declining.