Absalom's Death

2 Samuel 18-19:8
9:45am International Bible Study Prepared by: Steven K. Burger

Introduction: Absalom has won the hearts of the people of Israel through deception and made himself king over his father. Now he gathers an army to find and kill his father, David.

Read 2 Samuel 18:1-8

Question 1: Tradition tells us that David had 4000 men. How many of Absaloms men died on the first day?

Q 2: Who are Davids three commanders? 1._______________ 2._______________ 3._______________

Q 3: What orders does David give his commanders? Why does he say this?

Q 4: Why dont the people want David to fight with them?

Read 2 Samuel 18:9-18

Q 5: Absalom is caught between heaven and earth as if both have rejected him. What is his crime and what has rejected him?

Q 6: Who finds Absalom? Why does he not kill him? He hung the king of Ai on a tree and left him there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take his body from the tree and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a large pile of rocks over it, which remains to this day. (Josh 8) Q 7: Who kills Absalom? What do they do with the body?

Read 2 Samuel 18:19-33

Q 8: What are the names of the two men sent to tell King David the result of the battle? Who arrives first?

Q 9: What is Davids reaction to Absaloms death?

3 Does God pervert justice, or does the Almighty distort what is right? 4 If your children sinned against him, then he delivered them into the power of their rebellion. (Bildad in Job 8) Application Question: Would you give your life for somebody? What type of person would you die for? Read Romans 5:6-8

Read 2 Samuel 19:1-7

Q 10: Did the people rejoice at their victory over Absalom? A large population is a king's glory, but without subjects a prince is ruined (Prov 14:28) Q 11: What does Joab tell David to do?

Q 12: Contrast the personalities of Absalom, Joab and David. Pick words that you would associate with them: Proud , arrogant , loving , mean , evil , controlling , rebellious , loyal , courageous .