2 Samuel 4 · Preschool

A Boy Is Carried

Name Date

Color the little boy and his nurse! She carried him to keep him safe.

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

Bible Verse

“Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse picked him up and fled. As she hurried to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.”

2 Samuel 4:4 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud gently. Say: A nurse carried a little boy to keep him safe. God gives us people to care for us.

Open Kindergarten on its own page

2 Samuel 4 · Kindergarten

Carried to Safety

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace each word with your pencil.

CARRY

BOY

FEET

SAFE

When Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

2 Samuel 4:1 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each word to its picture.

BOY

NURSE

HOUSE

CARE

Mini Maze

Help find the way through the maze.

Draw It

Draw God caring for someone who is hurt.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for caring for me in hard times. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Who takes care of you when you are hurt?
What can you do to help a friend who fell down?

Open Grade 1 on its own page

2 Samuel 4 · Grade 1

Do What Is Right

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace the words and the verse.

RIGHT

WRONG

LAME

KING

When Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

2 Samuel 4:1 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each sentence to its picture.

Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth.

His nurse picked him up and ran.

Two men went to Ishbosheth's house.

They hoped David would reward them.

David would not reward a wrong.

God Redeems David

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

He was five years old

who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity

David commanded his young men

his nurse picked him up and fled

Draw God caring for someone who is hurt.

Memory Verse

“When Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.”

2 Samuel 4:1 (WEB)

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for caring for me in hard times. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why was Israel troubled when Abner died?
Who carried Mephibosheth when he was little?
What would you like to say to God about this chapter?

Open Grade 2 on its own page

2 Samuel 4 · Grade 2

A Boy Who Fell

Name Date

Read the Story

Saul's son heard that Abner had died. He became weak and afraid. All Israel was troubled.

Jonathan had a little boy. He was five years old. When bad news came, his nurse picked him up. She ran fast. But the boy fell. His feet were hurt, and he could not walk well. His name was Mephibosheth.

Two men did a very bad thing to Saul's son. Then they ran to David. They thought he would be glad. But David was not glad. He said they were wicked men. David did not reward wrong.

Memory Verse

“Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse picked him up and fled. As she hurried to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.”

2 Samuel 4:4 (WEB)

Show What You Know

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

How did Saul's son feel when Abner died?
His nurseWeak and afraidFive years old
How old was Jonathan's boy?
Five years oldWeak and afraidMephibosheth
Who picked up the boy?
Five years oldMephiboshethHis nurse
What was the boy's name?
Weak and afraidMephiboshethHis nurse
Did David reward the two men?

Word Search

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

REDEEMED
JONATHAN
HEBRON
NURSE
LAME
FEET
FIVE
SOUL

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for caring for me in hard times. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you be kind to someone who cannot walk?
How do you feel when someone gets in trouble for being unfair?

Open Grade 3 on its own page

2 Samuel 4 · Grade 3

David Will Not Reward Wrong

Name Date

Read the Story

When Ishbosheth heard that Abner was dead, his hands became feeble. All the Israelites were troubled, because Abner had been their strong leader.

The Bible pauses to tell us about Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth. He was five years old when news came that Saul and Jonathan had died. His nurse picked him up and fled. As she hurried, he fell and became lame.

Some wicked men did a terrible wrong to Ishbosheth. They came to David and thought he would reward them. But David would not reward wrong. He said they were wicked men.

Memory Verse

“Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse picked him up and fled. As she hurried to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.”

2 Samuel 4:4 (WEB)

Answer the Questions

Why were the Israelites troubled?
How did Mephibosheth become lame?
Did David reward the wicked men?
What did David call the two men?
Where was Ishbosheth buried?

God Redeems David

Write what happened in each box.

1

2

3

4

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for caring for me in hard times. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why do you think the writer tells us about Mephibosheth here?
How did David show that God's way is better than a shortcut?

Open Grade 4 on its own page

2 Samuel 4 · Grade 4

A Wicked Shortcut

Name Date

Read and Think

With Abner gone, Ishbosheth lost courage, and all Israel was troubled. Two captains of raiding bands, Rechab and Baanah, saw a chance to win favor with David.

Before telling what they did, the writer introduces Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son. He was five years old when the news came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but he fell and became lame. This boy will appear again in chapter 9.

Rechab and Baanah killed Ishbosheth as he rested at noon and carried the proof to Hebron. They expected thanks. Instead, David reminded them of the man who had claimed to kill Saul. If he punished that man, he said, how much more should he punish wicked men who killed a righteous person in his own house? David would not let anyone gain his throne by murder.

Show What You Know

Why did Ishbosheth lose courage?
How old was Mephibosheth when he became lame?
What did Rechab and Baanah expect from David?
Why did David refuse to reward them?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

Hebronfivenurse

He was years old when the news came from Jezreel.
His picked him up and fled, but he fell and became lame.
Rechab and Baanah killed Ishbosheth as he rested at noon and carried the proof to .

Think About It

Rechab and Baanah tried to help David by doing wrong. Why does God never need us to sin to bring about His plans?
Mephibosheth's injury was not his fault. How can you show kindness to someone who has been hurt by hard events?

Memory Verse

“Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse picked him up and fled. As she hurried to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.”

2 Samuel 4:4 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for caring for me in hard times. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why can a good goal never make a wicked act right?
What does it mean that God redeemed David out of all adversity?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

2 Samuel 4 · Grade 5

Redeemed Out of All Adversity

Name Date

Read and Think

Chapter 4 closes the story of Saul's house as a ruling family. After Abner's death, Ishbosheth's hands became feeble, and Israel was troubled. Two Benjamite captains, Rechab and Baanah, decided to take matters into their own hands.

Before describing their crime, the writer gives a short note about Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son. When the news of Saul and Jonathan came, his nurse fled with him, and in her haste he fell and became lame in his feet. This note prepares us for David's great kindness later, when he remembers his promise to Jonathan.

Rechab and Baanah entered Ishbosheth's house in the heat of the day and killed him while he rested. They carried the evidence to David and announced that the Lord had avenged the king. David answered with an oath by the Lord, who had redeemed his soul out of all adversity. He would not accept a throne won through treachery. He ordered the murderers punished and buried Ishbosheth's head in Abner's grave. David trusted God, not wicked shortcuts, to give him the kingdom.

Show What You Know

What does chapter 4 close?
Why does the writer include the note about Mephibosheth?
How did Rechab and Baanah describe their crime to David?
By whom did David swear?
What did David trust to give him the kingdom?

Crossword

Across

Saul's son, the father of Mephibosheth
He was ____ years old.
who has ____ my soul out of all adversity

Down

had a son who was ____ in his feet
His ____ picked him up and fled.

Think About It

David said the Lord had redeemed his soul out of all adversity. How has God carried you through hard times without your needing to take shortcuts?
Sometimes people think doing wrong will please those in charge. How can you stand for what is right even when wrong seems helpful?

Memory Verse

“Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse picked him up and fled. As she hurried to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.”

2 Samuel 4:4 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for caring for me in hard times. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you trust God's timing instead of grabbing what you want?
Why is it important for leaders to refuse rewards that come from wrong?
How can you stand up for someone who was treated unfairly?

2 Samuel 4: David Does What Is Right

Read 2 Samuel 4

Worksheets

A Boy Is Carried

Prayer

Take It Home

Carried to Safety

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Do What Is Right

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

God Redeems David

Prayer

Take It Home

A Boy Who Fell

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

David Will Not Reward Wrong

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

God Redeems David

Prayer

Take It Home

A Wicked Shortcut

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Redeemed Out of All Adversity

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options