Single lesson
Absalom Takes Revenge and Flees
2 Samuel 13:23–39
This lesson traces a sad turning point in David’s family. Students will follow Absalom’s plan, the false report, the grief that followed, and Absalom’s flight, while considering what the passage shows about people and what it does not directly say about God’s action here.
Before you teach
In this passage, Absalom invites the king’s sons to a sheep-shearing gathering. David does not go, yet Amnon and the other sons are allowed to attend. Absalom has already decided what to do to Amnon, and the account follows the killing, the confused report to David, and Absalom’s escape to Geshur.
Students will be able to sequence 2 Samuel 13:23–39, name key choices and outcomes, and explain that this passage centres on people’s actions, grief, and separation without recording God speaking or acting here.
Welcome: Map the people in the account
5 minIntroduce the main people named in the passage: Absalom, David, Amnon, the king’s sons, the servants, Jonadab, and Talmai king of Geshur. Explain that students will track what each person does and what happens next. Note briefly and soberly that verse 32 refers back to harm done to Tamar, which helps explain why Absalom targeted Amnon in this passage.
2 Samuel 13:24, 2 Samuel 13:26, 2 Samuel 13:28, 2 Samuel 13:32, 2 Samuel 13:37
Read and explain: Absalom’s invitation and command
10 minRead verses 23–29 aloud. Point out the sequence: Absalom invited all the king’s sons, asked David to come, then asked for Amnon when David declined. After Amnon and the king’s sons arrived, Absalom commanded his servants to strike Amnon when his heart was merry with wine. Then the other sons fled on their mules.
2 Samuel 13:23, 2 Samuel 13:24, 2 Samuel 13:25, 2 Samuel 13:26, 2 Samuel 13:27, 2 Samuel 13:28, 2 Samuel 13:29
Discuss: False news, correction, and bitter grief
8 minRead verses 30–36. Help students notice that the first report was wrong: David heard that all the king’s sons had been killed. David responded with deep grief. Jonadab then said only Amnon was dead and connected it to Absalom’s determination from the day Tamar was forced. When the sons arrived, their tears confirmed the sorrow in the house.
2 Samuel 13:30, 2 Samuel 13:31, 2 Samuel 13:32, 2 Samuel 13:33, 2 Samuel 13:35, 2 Samuel 13:36
Make and respond: Sequence cards with choices and outcomes
12 minStudents make six simple cards showing key moments from the passage, then place them in order. On each card, write one choice or event and one result drawn from the text, such as invitation, permission, command, false report, the king’s sons fleeing, David mourning, the sons weeping, and Absalom fleeing to Geshur. Finish by discussing how these events filled the family with grief and separation.
2 Samuel 13:23, 2 Samuel 13:27, 2 Samuel 13:28, 2 Samuel 13:29, 2 Samuel 13:30, 2 Samuel 13:31, 2 Samuel 13:36, 2 Samuel 13:37, 2 Samuel 13:38
Closing: Absalom flees and David longs for him
5 minRead verses 37–39 again. Absalom fled to Talmai king of Geshur and stayed there three years. David mourned for his son every day, and later longed to go out to Absalom after he was comforted concerning Amnon’s death. Close by reviewing the full order of events and the lasting sadness in the passage.
2 Samuel 13:37, 2 Samuel 13:38, 2 Samuel 13:39
Questions to explore
Why did David’s first reaction not match what had actually happened?
Compare the report in verse 30 with Jonadab’s correction in verses 32–33 and the arrival of the king’s sons in verses 35–36.
2 Samuel 13:30, 2 Samuel 13:32, 2 Samuel 13:33, 2 Samuel 13:35, 2 Samuel 13:36
What details show that Absalom’s actions were planned rather than sudden?
Look for the repeated pressing to get Amnon there and the specific command about when the servants should strike.
2 Samuel 13:26, 2 Samuel 13:27, 2 Samuel 13:28
What does this passage say, and not say, about God?
Notice that these verses report people’s choices, grief, and separation from the opening invitation to David’s longing for Absalom, but they do not record God speaking or acting in this section.
2 Samuel 13:23, 2 Samuel 13:39
Make, think or respond
Sequence Cards: Choices and Outcomes
What you’ll need
- Plain paper or card
- Pens or pencils
- Scissors
- Bible text
Try it together
- Divide the passage into six moments: invitation, David declines, Amnon goes, Absalom’s command, false report and mourning, Absalom flees to Geshur.
- Write one moment on each card with the verse reference and a short result from the text.
- Mix the cards and ask students to place them in order from 2 Samuel 13:23 to 2 Samuel 13:39.
- Have students explain one choice and one outcome from two of the cards using the verses.
- Finish by discussing which moments increased grief and separation in the family.
This activity helps students follow the order of the passage and see how each action in 2 Samuel 13:23–39 leads to further sorrow and separation.
Adapt for your group
- For younger or less confident readers, prepare the six event titles for them and ask them to match each title to the correct verse reference before sequencing.
- For older students, add a second column on each card labelled 'evidence' so they must support every event and outcome with exact verse wording.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: 'God, help us to read this sad passage honestly. Teach us to notice what people do, the hurt that follows, and the seriousness of our choices. Please help us respond with wisdom and truth. Amen.'
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 Samuel 13
23 After two full years, Absalom had sheep shearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
24 Absalom came to the king and said, “See now, your servant has sheep shearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.”
25 The king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let’s not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him; however he would not go, but blessed him.
26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”
27 But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28 Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “Mark now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant!”
29 The servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man got up on his mule and fled.
30 While they were on the way, the news came to David, saying, “Absalom has slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left!”
31 Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
32 Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered, “Don’t let my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
33 Now therefore don’t let my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead; for only Amnon is dead.”
34 But Absalom fled. The young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming by way of the hillside behind him.
35 Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons are coming! It is as your servant said.”
36 As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voices and wept. The king also and all his servants wept bitterly.
37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. David mourned for his son every day.
38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
39 King David longed to go out to Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.