David's Children - Amnon, Absalom, and Tamar (Discussion Questions)

Categories: David

Read 2 Samuel 13

Discuss with older students. This is a story of deception.

  • Who are Amnon, Absalom, and Tamar? (David's children; Absalom and Tamar have the same mother.)
  • Why is Amnon interested in his half-sister Tamar? (She was very beautiful)
  • What does Amnon's friend, Jonadab suggest? (II Sam 13:5)
  • What did Amnon ask his father?
  • How did Tamar try to stop Amnon?
  • Why did Amnon defile his sister?
  • Why did he throw her out of his house?
  • Should Amnon be punished? How? By whom?
  • What does David do?
  • Why do you think David didn't punish Amnon?
  • Why should we learn to respect each other?
  • How does Absalom react to the news about his sister?
  • What does Absalom eventually do to Amnon?
  • Does Absalom kill Amnon because of the rape or because he wants to be next in line to be King?
  • Discuss pride, greed, power, deception, position.
  • Describe Absalom physically (II Sam 14:25).
  • Describe Absalom's character (II Sam 14:28-33).
  • Why did the people love Absalom? (II Sam 15:1-6)
  • Did Absalom deceive the people? David? Why?
  • Why did David flee?
  • What happened to Absalom? (II Sam 18:9-10,15)
  • Who grieved Absalom's death?
  • What important lessons do we learn from David and his family?
  • What are some of the negative characteristics that need to be cast out? (pride, greed, lust, selfishness, hatred, jealousy, anger, deception, vanity, pretense)
  • How do we avoid these characteristics?