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2 Samuel 18 · Preschool

A Father's Love

Name Date

Color the big oak tree and the gate. David loved his son very much.

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

Bible Verse

“The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” All the people heard when the king commanded all the captains concerning Absalom.”

2 Samuel 18:5 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Even when his son did wrong, David loved him. God loves us like a good father, even when we do wrong.

2 Samuel 18 · Kindergarten

A Father Loves

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace each word with your pencil.

LOVE

SON

TREE

GATE

David counted the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.

2 Samuel 18:1 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each word to its picture.

TREE

MULE

TRUMPET

LOVE

Mini Maze

Help find the way through the maze.

Draw It

Draw a father hugging his child.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for loving me like a Father. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Who loves you very much?
What would you do if a friend was sad?

2 Samuel 18 · Grade 1

David Loves His Son

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace the words and the verse.

GENTLY

FOREST

OAK

WEPT

Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held the people back.

2 Samuel 18:16 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each sentence to its picture.

David's army went out to fight.

David said, Be gentle with Absalom.

The battle was in a forest.

Joab blew the trumpet.

David wept in the room over the gate.

A Father's Sorrow

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

Deal gently for my sake with the young man

My son Absalom

the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak

David was sitting between the two gates

Draw a father hugging his child.

Memory Verse

“Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held the people back.”

2 Samuel 18:16 (WEB)

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for loving me like a Father. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What did David ask his captains to do for Absalom?
Where did the battle happen?
What would you like to say to God about this chapter?

2 Samuel 18 · Grade 2

A Sad Day for David

Name Date

Read the Story

David's army went out to fight Absalom's army. David told his captains, Be gentle with my son Absalom. Everyone heard him.

The battle was in a big forest. David's men won. Absalom died in the battle.

Two men ran to tell David. David asked, Is my son Absalom well? When he heard Absalom had died, David was very sad. He went up to a room over the gate. He wept and said, My son, my son Absalom!

Memory Verse

2 Samuel 18:5 (WEB)

Show What You Know

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

Who did David's army fight?
Is my son Absalom well?Absalom's armyIn a big forest
What did David tell his captains?
Where was the battle?
Is my son Absalom well?Absalom's armyIn a big forest
What did David ask the men?
What did David say as he wept?

Word Search

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

ABSALOM
GENTLY
FOREST
GATES
NEWS
OAK
SON
RAN

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for loving me like a Father. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why was David so sad when he heard the news?
Where did David go to weep?

2 Samuel 18 · Grade 3

Deal Gently with Absalom

Name Date

Read the Story

David divided his people into three groups under Joab, Abishai, and Ittai. The people would not let David go to the battle. As the army went out, David commanded the captains to deal gently with the young man Absalom for his sake.

The battle was in the forest of Ephraim, and David's servants won. Absalom was riding on his mule when it went under the thick branches of a great oak. His head caught in the oak, and the mule went on. A man told Joab. Joab and ten young men who carried his armor killed Absalom. Then Joab blew the trumpet to stop the battle.

Ahimaaz and a Cushite ran to David with the news. David asked each one, Is it well with the young man Absalom? When he understood that Absalom was dead, David went up to the room over the gate and wept. He said he wished he had died instead of his son.

Memory Verse

2 Samuel 18:5 (WEB)

Answer the Questions

Who led David's three groups?
What did David command the captains?
Where did Absalom's head get caught?
What did Joab do after Absalom died?
What did David wish?

A Father's Sorrow

Write what happened in each box.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for loving me like a Father. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you love someone even when they have done wrong?
Why is it wrong to disobey a command we do not like?

2 Samuel 18 · Grade 4

A King's Grief

Name Date

Read and Think

David organized his army under three leaders: Joab, Abishai, and Ittai. His men begged him to stay in the city, because he was worth ten thousand of them. As they marched out, all the people heard the king command his captains: Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.

The battle in the forest of Ephraim went against Absalom's army, and the forest itself took many lives. Absalom's head was caught in a great oak while his mule ran on. A soldier refused to harm him because of the king's command. But Joab ignored David's order and struck Absalom, and his armor bearers killed him. Joab blew the trumpet, and the fighting ended.

Ahimaaz the son of Zadok wanted to run with the news, and a Cushite was also sent. David waited at the gate. His one question was whether Absalom was well. When the Cushite answered, the king was much moved. He went up to the room over the gate and wept: My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you.

Show What You Know

Why did David's men ask him to stay in the city?
Why did one soldier refuse to harm Absalom?
Who ignored David's order?
What was David's one question to the messengers?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

Absalomgentlyson

As they marched out, all the people heard the king command his captains: Deal for my sake with the young man Absalom.
Ahimaaz the of Zadok wanted to run with the news, and a Cushite was also sent.
His one question was whether was well.

Think About It

David loved Absalom even though Absalom had rebelled. How does David's love remind you of God's love for people who turn away?
Joab disobeyed the king's command. Why is it wrong to ignore a clear command even when we think we know better?

Memory Verse

2 Samuel 18:5 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for loving me like a Father. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What does David's grief show about a parent's love?
How does Absalom's pillar show his pride?

2 Samuel 18 · Grade 5

I Wish I Had Died Instead of You

Name Date

Read and Think

Chapter 18 brings Absalom's rebellion to its end. David numbered his people and set three commanders over them: Joab, Abishai, and Ittai the Gittite. The troops refused to let the king go into battle, saying he was worth ten thousand of them. Standing by the gate, David gave a command that all the people heard: deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.

The battle in the forest of Ephraim was a great defeat for Absalom's forces, and the text says the forest devoured more people than the sword. Absalom, riding his mule, was caught by his head in the boughs of a great oak, left hanging between the sky and earth. One soldier refused to touch him, citing the king's command and noting that Joab would have stood aloof. Joab, however, struck Absalom, and his young armor bearers finished the deed. The proud son who had raised a pillar to keep his name in remembrance was buried under a great heap of stones in the forest.

Joab blew the trumpet to stop the pursuit. Ahimaaz begged to run and outran the Cushite, but he avoided the hard news. The Cushite spoke it plainly. David's response is one of the most heartbreaking moments in Scripture. He went up to the chamber over the gate and wept, saying, My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!

Show What You Know

What command did all the people hear?
What does the text say about the forest?
Why did one soldier refuse to touch Absalom?
What contrast is there between Absalom's pillar and his burial?
How did Ahimaaz handle the news?

Crossword

Across

the thick boughs of a great ____
The battle was in the ____ of Ephraim.

Down

My son ____!
David was sitting between the two ____.
Deal ____ for my sake with the young man.

Think About It

David wished he had died instead of his rebellious son. How does that kind of love point us to the heart of God?
Absalom built a monument to himself but ended under a heap of stones. What does that teach about pride and seeking our own glory?

Memory Verse

2 Samuel 18:5 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for loving me like a Father. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you tell someone sad news with love?
How can love for someone who did wrong reflect God's heart?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?