- - , Biblical-studies@yahoogroups.com, , [0], 2 nov 2005, Yigal Levin: Shunem is a small village in the central Jezreel valley. It's mentioned in the Amarna Letters. According to Josh 19:18, it was part of the inheritance of Issachar. The town may have had a reputation for good-looking women, since both David's young lady-friend and Solomon's lover in the Song of Songs are called Sunamites. Elisha's "great lady from Shunem" seems to have been more of a mistress of a country manor.