Bible Stories for Adults
Absalom's Rebellion
2 Samuel 13-18
Welcome and Announcements
Next Week - Solomon's Dream and Prayer (1 Kings 1-3, 2 Chronicles 28-29)
Bible Words to Remember:
This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10
Opening Prayer
Amnon and Tamar (2 Samuel 13)
What preoccupied the thoughts of David's oldest son, Amnon?
2 Samuel 13:1-2
What advice did Amnon take from cousin Jonadab to get Tamar into his house?
2 Samuel 13:3, 6-7
How did Tamar respond to Amnon's advances after making bread for him?
2 Samuel 13:11-13
How did Amnon respond to Tamar's pleas?
2 Samuel 13:14-16
How did this change Tamar's life?
2 Samuel 13:18-20
How did David and Absalom feel about what had happened?
2 Samuel 13:21-22
Absalom Kills Amnon (2 Samuel 13)
When and how did Absalom get his revenge on Amnon?
2 Samuel 13:23, 28
How was this action interpreted by Absalom's brothers and the people?
2 Samuel 13:29-31
Why would Absalom have killed Amnon first?
2 Samuel 3:2-5
Who understood what had really happened and why?
2 Samuel 13:32-33
Where did Absalom flee?
2 Samuel 13:37-38
Who was Talmai?
2 Samuel 3:3b
Absalom Returns (2 Samuel 14)
Did David remain bitter against Absalom?
2 Samuel 13:39
Who devised a scheme to convince David it was okay to let Absalom return?
2 Samuel 14:1-3
What story did the woman give David?
2 Samuel 14:5-7, 11
In what situation had a similar tactic been used with David?
2 Samuel 12:1-5, 9
How did the woman use David's faith to convince him to bring Absalom back?
2 Samuel 14:13-14
Was the woman correct in saying that God does not support capital punishment?
Genesis 9:6
Was the woman correct about God finding ways to reconcile the banished?
Romans 5:6-11 (Ephesians 2:13)
Did David accept the argument?
2 Samuel 14:21, 23-24
How desperately did Absalom want to see his father?
2 Samuel 14:28-31
Why did Absalom want to see David so badly?
2 Samuel 14:32
Did Absalom receive the full forgiveness he wanted?
2 Samuel 14:33
King Absalom (2 Samuel 15)
As the oldest prince of Judah, could Absalom be sure he would become king?
1 Samuel 23:16-17
How did Absalom make himself appear to the people as the heir apparent?
2 Samuel 15:1
Did Absalom look like a king?
2 Samuel 14:25-26
What did Absalom do to win the people's hearts?
2 Samuel 15:2-4
2 Samuel 15:5-6
How long did Absalom prepare for his coup and where did he begin his reign?
2 Samuel 15:7, 10
Were Absalom's supporters knowing accomplices to his coup?
2 Samuel 15:11-12
Why was it important for Absalom to enlist Ahithophel?
2 Samuel 16:23
David Flees (2 Samuel 15, 16)
Why did David run away when he heard of Absalom's coup?
2 Samuel 15:13-14
How did the people react when they saw David and his entourage leaving?
2 Samuel 15:23, 30
Was anyone happy to see David leave?
2 Samuel 16:5-8
Was Shimei's cursing justified?
2 Samuel 9:3, 7
Why didn't David let Abishai kill Shimei?
2 Samuel 16:9-12
Why didn't David take the ark of the covenant with him?
2 Samuel 15:24-26
What lesson had David obviously learned from the past?
1 Samuel 4:10-11
Absalom's First Act as King (2 Samuel 16)
What was Absalom's first act to secure his kingship?
2 Samuel 16:15, 20-22
Who had been accused of claiming the kingdom by taking Saul's concubine?
2 Samuel 3:6-7
How did this fulfill David's punishment for killing Uriah to get Bathsheba?
2 Samuel 12:11-12
David's Spy Network (2 Samuel 16, 17)
What kind of spy network did David set up in Jerusalem?
2 Samuel 15:27-28
2 Samuel 15:32-37
Was Hushai successful in frustrating Ahithophel's advice?
2 Samuel 17:6-7, 14
How did Ahithophel react when Absalom took Hushai's poor advice?
2 Samuel 17:23
Did Hushai follow his role as spy for David?
2 Samuel 17:15-16
How were Jonathan & Ahimaaz nearly caught before getting word to David?
2 Samuel 17:17-20
Where did David go after receiving Hushai's message?
2 Samuel 17:21-22, 24, 26
The Battle (2 Samuel 18)
Why didn't David march out with the troops to battle Absalom?
2 Samuel 18:2-4
What command did David give to the troops before the battle?
2 Samuel 18:5
How did God give victory to David?
2 Samuel 18:6-8
What happened to Absalom?
2 Samuel 18:9
Why didn't the soldier who saw this kill Absalom?
2 Samuel 18:10-13
Did Joab keep David's command and bring Absalom in safely?
2 Samuel 18:14-16
What monument did Joab erect for Absalom?
2 Samuel 18:17
Was this the kind of monument Absalom would have wanted?
2 Samuel 18:18
David's Reaction (2 Samuel 18, 19)
What was David's first concern after being told of his victory?
2 Samuel 18:31-32
Did David celebrate his victory?
2 Samuel 18:33
How did this affect the people who had fought for David?
2 Samuel 19:2-3
Why did this upset Joab so greatly?
2 Samuel 19:5-7
Did David understand Joab's concern?
2 Samuel 19:8
Closing Prayer
Copyright © 1997 by Kurt Rosenhagen
Use of this material is provided free of charge for use in personal or group Bible Study, no permission needed.
The author reserves all rights for use in published material or in uses where fees are involved.
For permission, or to provide your comments, insights and feedback, contact the author at:
kurt@biblestoriesforadults.com