VERSES: 2 Samuel 13:1-14:28
MEMORY VERSE: 2 Samuel 14:25 "But in all Israel there was none to so much praised as Absalom for his beauty..."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Judges. Write "Judges" on a small slip of paper and hand out to students at the end of class.
PRAYER: Pray that we love our mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters. Thank God that we have someone to love.
SPECIAL SONG: The Family In God's Plan (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #4 on this blog)
VISUAL AID: A large Activity (see below under Activity)
LESSON POINTS:
- As we have learned, David had many wives. We know that God did not approve of David having more than one wife. How do we know that? That's right! In the beginning, God created one woman for one man for life! (Genesis 2:21-24) In Old Testament times, God sometimes tolerated men of their sins and trespasses, but today He commands all men to repent (Acts 17:30). Because of his many wives, David had many children. King David was a great king, a great soldier, but he was not a very good father. All of his sons were not brought up loving God and doing those good things that pleased the LORD.
- Three of his children that we want to mention today are Absalom, Tamar, and Amnon. All three of these children were grown-ups and were not little children anymore. In fact, the Bible says that Absalom was known for his beauty; he was very handsome and had beautiful, thick hair. The Bible says that Tamar, too, was very beautiful.
- One day, Amnon hurt his sister, Tamar, very much and it made Absalom very angry. When King David heard that Amnon had hurt Tamar, he was angry, too, but only Absalom wanted to get revenge or pay back Amnon's evil for more evil. No one could see that Absalom was angry with Amnon though because his face never showed it. However, the Bible says that Absalom hated his brother, Amnon, and hatred is never good.
- Absalom devised a wicked plan to get back at his brother, Amnon, for hurting his sister, Tamar. Absalom waited two whole years before he thought of a plan. Absalom invited all of the king's sons to a feast. He told his servants that when Amnon had much wine in him, that they should kill Amnon. He told his servants that it would be OK to kill Amnon since it was he, Absalom, who was commanding them what to do. Is it EVER good to kill someone? Never, ever, ever! But Absalom's servants did as Absalom told them to do and they killed Amnon. Then all of the other king's sons thought they might be killed, so each one got on his mule and rode back home to David!
- News traveled pretty fast back then! Jonadab had already told David not to think that all of his sons had died, but only Amnon. When Jonadab finally told David that his sons were riding into the city, everyone cried, even King David and his servants. But Absalom was not with the other sons. Absalom had run away, too, but not to David's house. No, Absalom rode far away to his mother's father--his grandfather's--house in Geshur and he stayed there three years.
- While he was gone, King David missed Absalom greatly. He loved Absalom. Eventually, David told Joab, the captain of his army, to go and get Absalom, but Absalom could not come to the palace since he had killed his brother, Amnon. He returned to his own house in Jerusalem for another two years, but did not see his father's face one time We will see what happens to Absalom next time.
- Read 2 Samuel 3:2-5 and 5:13-16. Make a list of David's sons on the whiteboard or chalkboard. Amnon, Chileab, Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatiah, and Ithream were born in Hebron when David lived in that city. Shammuah, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishma, Eliada, and Eliphalet were all born in Jerusalem. That's quite a few sons. The only daughter David had that we know her by her name is Tamar. Can you find the names of any other children of David?
- Absalom was the son of David, King of Israel, and the grandson of Talmai, King of Geshur (his mother's father). There was a lot of royal blood flowing through Absalom's veins!
ACTIVITY: "Absalom Kills Amnon!"
Materials needed: 9" x 12" white construction paper, crayons.
- Hand out white paper.
- On right side of paper, fold 3" back, vertically.
- Open paper.
- Draw a picture of the feast and King David's sons riding their mules away from the house in one direction.
- On folded part of paper, draw Absalom riding away from the house in another direction all by himself.
- Write "Absalom Kills Amnon!" ans "2 Samuel 13:29" at the top of the paper.
- Notice how Absalom rides away and no one can see him (fold back paper).
