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For teachers and parents. Prints separately from the student sheets.

2 Samuel 18 · For teachers and parents

Answer Key: My Son Absalom

Answers here are a guide. Welcome any answer that shows a child is thinking about the story, and celebrate their effort. Talk About It questions are open, so they have no set answers.

PreschoolA Father's Love

treepersonpeoplecity

Coloring and finding page: any careful coloring is a win. Help your child point to and name each picture above.

KindergartenA Father Loves

TREE → picture 4MULE → picture 3TRUMPET → picture 2LOVE → picture 1

Grade 1David Loves His Son

David's army went out to fight. → picture 3David said, Be gentle with Absalom. → picture 5The battle was in a forest. → picture 2Joab blew the trumpet. → picture 4David wept in the room over the gate. → picture 1

Order:

1. Deal gently for my sake with the young man2. the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak3. David was sitting between the two gates4. My son Absalom

Grade 2A Sad Day for David

  1. Who did David's army fight? Absalom's army (circle)
  2. What did David tell his captains? Be gentle with my son Absalom.
  3. Where was the battle? In a big forest (circle)
  4. What did David ask the men? Is my son Absalom well?
  5. What did David say as he wept? My son, my son Absalom!
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Grade 3Deal Gently with Absalom

  1. Who led David's three groups? Joab, Abishai, and Ittai
  2. What did David command the captains? To deal gently with the young man Absalom for his sake
  3. Where did Absalom's head get caught? In the thick branches of a great oak
  4. What did Joab do after Absalom died? He blew the trumpet to stop the battle.
  5. What did David wish? That he had died instead of his son
1: Deal gently for my sake with the young man2: the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak3: David was sitting between the two gates4: My son Absalom

Grade 4A King's Grief

  1. Why did David's men ask him to stay in the city? He was worth ten thousand of them.
  2. Why did one soldier refuse to harm Absalom? Because of the king's command
  3. Who ignored David's order? Joab
  4. What was David's one question to the messengers? Whether Absalom was well

Word bank: 1. gently; 2. son; 3. Absalom

Think About It: answers will vary. Look for answers that connect to the passage.

Grade 5I Wish I Had Died Instead of You

  1. What command did all the people hear? Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.
  2. What does the text say about the forest? It devoured more people than the sword.
  3. Why did one soldier refuse to touch Absalom? He cited the king's command and noted that Joab would have stood aloof.
  4. What contrast is there between Absalom's pillar and his burial? He raised a pillar to keep his name in remembrance but was buried under a great heap of stones.
  5. How did Ahimaaz handle the news? He avoided the hard news.
5FOREST2ABSALM3GATS1OK4GENLY

Think About It: answers will vary. Look for answers that connect to the passage.

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.