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2 Samuel 14 · Preschool

Bring Him Home

Name Date

Color the woman and the city! A wise woman asked the king to bring his son home.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“For we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground, which can’t be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast from him.”

2 Samuel 14:14 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God makes a way to bring people back to Him. God never wants anyone to be far away from Him.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

2 Samuel 14 · Kindergarten

Come Home

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace each word with your pencil.

HOME
SON
KING
KISS
So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 14:23 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each word to its picture.

WOMAN
KING
CITY
FIELD

Mini Maze

Help find the way through the maze.

Draw It

Draw a door opening for someone to come home.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for making a way back to You. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Who do you miss when they are far away?
  • What does it feel like to come home?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

2 Samuel 14 · Grade 1

Bring Him Back

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace the words and the verse.

BACK
WISE
SON
HOME
The king said to Joab, “Behold now, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, and bring the young man Absalom back.”

2 Samuel 14:21 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each sentence to its picture.

A wise woman came to the king.
She told the king a story.
Joab brought Absalom home.
Absalom did not see the king.
At last the king kissed Absalom.

A Way Back Home

Write the number 1 to 4 in each circle to show the right order.

a wise woman

the king kissed Absalom

but devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast

brought Absalom to Jerusalem

Draw a door opening for someone to come home.

Memory Verse

The king said to Joab, “Behold now, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, and bring the young man Absalom back.”

2 Samuel 14:21 (WEB)

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for making a way back to You. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Why did Joab send the wise woman to the king?
  • What did the king do when Absalom came home at last?
  • What would you like to say to God about this chapter?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

2 Samuel 14 · Grade 2

The Son Comes Home

Name Date

Read the Story

Absalom was far away. King David missed him. Joab could tell. He sent a wise woman to the king.

The woman told the king a story about her own sons. Then she said, Why not bring your son home? God makes a way for people to come back.

David said, Bring Absalom back. Joab brought him to Jerusalem. But for two years, David would not see him. At last the king called him. Absalom bowed down, and the king kissed him.

Memory Verse

“For we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground, which can’t be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast from him.”

2 Samuel 14:14 (WEB)

Show What You Know

Circle the right answer, or write it on the lines.

  1. Who did David miss?

    Bring Absalom backAbsalomHe kissed him

  2. Who did Joab send to the king?

    He kissed himA wise womanBring Absalom back

  3. What did David say?

    He kissed himTwo yearsBring Absalom back

  4. How long did David not see Absalom?

    Two yearsA wise womanHe kissed him

  5. What did the king do at last?

    He kissed himTwo yearsAbsalom

Word Search

Find and circle each word. Words go across and down.

AKLKHAIRIOBRIITEKGWAAWWSHELWBWNIMSKMOSAAISVEYMAMETSEWDALSTJEHJWNOGILRREYSMGROUNDD
  • BANISHED
  • ABSALOM
  • GROUND
  • KISSED
  • WOMAN
  • WATER
  • WISE
  • HAIR

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for making a way back to You. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How do you feel when you have to wait to see someone you love?
  • How can you make up with someone after a hard time?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

2 Samuel 14 · Grade 3

A Wise Woman's Story

Name Date

Read the Story

Joab saw that the king's heart was toward Absalom. So he sent for a wise woman from Tekoa. He told her to dress like a woman in mourning and tell the king a story.

She said she was a widow. One of her two sons had killed the other in a fight, and her family wanted to kill the son who was left. The king promised to protect him. Then she asked why the king would not bring back his own banished son. She said God devises means so that the banished is not an outcast from Him.

David saw that Joab was behind this. Still, he told Joab to bring Absalom back. Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem without seeing the king's face. Then Joab took the matter to the king, and David called for Absalom and kissed him.

Memory Verse

“For we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground, which can’t be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast from him.”

2 Samuel 14:14 (WEB)

Answer the Questions

  1. What did Joab see?

  2. Where was the wise woman from?

  3. What did the king promise the woman?

  4. What does God devise, according to the woman?

  5. How long did Absalom live in Jerusalem without seeing the king?

A Way Back Home

Write what happened in each box.

1
2
3
4

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for making a way back to You. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How was the woman's story like Nathan's story?
  • Why do you think Absalom set the field on fire?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

2 Samuel 14 · Grade 4

Half a Welcome

Name Date

Read and Think

Joab perceived that David longed for Absalom. He arranged for a wise woman of Tekoa to come to the king with a made-up case. She pretended to be a widow whose only remaining son was in danger because he had killed his brother. When David promised to protect the son, she turned the story toward the king himself.

She spoke of life as water spilled on the ground that cannot be gathered again. Then she said that God does not take away life, but devises means so that he who is banished is not an outcast from Him. David guessed that Joab had put the words in her mouth, but he agreed to bring Absalom home.

Yet David gave only half a welcome. Absalom was told to go to his own house and not see the king's face. Two years passed. When Joab would not come to him, Absalom had Joab's barley field set on fire to get his attention. Finally Joab spoke to the king, and David received Absalom with a kiss. But the chapter leaves us wondering whether their hearts were truly reconciled.

Show What You Know

  1. What did the wise woman pretend to be?

  2. What did she compare life to?

  3. How did Absalom get Joab's attention?

  4. How did David finally receive Absalom?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

Absalomwisewaterbanished
  1. Joab perceived that David longed for .
  2. He arranged for a woman of Tekoa to come to the king with a made-up case.
  3. She spoke of life as spilled on the ground that cannot be gathered again.
  4. Then she said that God does not take away life, but devises means so that he who is is not an outcast from Him.

Think About It

  1. God devises means so that the banished is not an outcast from Him. How does God make a way for people to come back to Him?

  2. David brought Absalom home but kept him at a distance. Why is true forgiveness more than just letting someone near?

Memory Verse

“For we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground, which can’t be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast from him.”

2 Samuel 14:14 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for making a way back to You. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • What is the difference between letting someone come home and truly forgiving them?
  • How can you welcome a friend who feels left out?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

2 Samuel 14 · Grade 5

God Devises Means

Name Date

Read and Think

Chapter 14 centers on reconciliation that is incomplete. Absalom had been in Geshur three years after killing Amnon. Joab perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom, so he sent for a wise woman from Tekoa and put the words in her mouth. Dressed as a mourner, she presented the king with a case like Nathan's parable: a widow whose surviving son faced death for killing his brother.

When David swore by Yahweh that not one hair of her son would fall to the earth, she applied the case to him. She argued that the king had convicted himself by not bringing home his banished son. Her most memorable words describe God's character: we must die and are like water spilled on the ground, but God does not take away life; He devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast from him.

David recognized Joab's hand and granted the request, but with conditions. Absalom returned to Jerusalem but did not see the king's face for two full years. The writer notes Absalom's striking appearance and his heavy hair, hinting at his pride. Frustrated, Absalom burned Joab's barley field to force a meeting. At last Absalom bowed before the king, and the king kissed him. The outward reconciliation would soon prove hollow.

Show What You Know

  1. How was the woman's case like Nathan's parable?

  2. What did David swear about the woman's son?

  3. What do the woman's memorable words say about God?

  4. What hints at Absalom's pride?

  5. How did Absalom force a meeting?

Crossword

42153

Across

  1. The king's son who came back to Jerusalem
  2. The king ____ Absalom.

Down

  1. We must die, and are like ____ spilled on the ground.
  2. he weighed the ____ of his head
  3. brought a ____ woman from there

Think About It

  1. The woman said God devises means so that the banished is not an outcast from Him. How does that describe God's heart toward people who are far from Him?

  2. A kiss can look like peace without real change of heart. What makes reconciliation real between people?

Memory Verse

“For we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground, which can’t be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast from him.”

2 Samuel 14:14 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for making a way back to You. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • What clues show that Absalom's heart was still proud?
  • Why can a half-finished reconciliation lead to more trouble?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.