Thematic Bible: Parental affection exemplified by


Thematic Bible



And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. Verse ConceptsParental LoveSoft TreatmentThe King's Orders

Then the king was much moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept; and as he went, he said this: O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! I would rather have died instead of thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! Verse ConceptsDavid, Character OfCryingChildren, needs ofDespondency, Causes OfBereavement, Experience OfIntimacyLonelinessMourningRegretStairwaysSuffering, Emotional Aspects OfWeepingChildren, Parents LoveDuplicating WordsDesire For DeathUpper RoomsMourning The Death Of OthersLove For Children

And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died. And the slaves of David feared to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice; how much more will it trouble him if we tell him that the child is dead? But when David saw that his slaves whispered, David understood that the child was dead; therefore, David said unto his slaves, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes and came into the house of the LORD and worshipped. Then he came to his own house; and when he asked, they set bread before him, and he ate. read more.
Then his slaves said unto him, What is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And he replied, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will have mercy on me, that the child may live? But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, yet I would not put forth my hand against the king's son, for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that no one touch the young man Absalom. Otherwise, I should have wrought falsehood against my own soul (for there is no matter hid from the king), and thou thyself would have set thyself against me.

So Joab came to the king and told him. Then he called Absalom, who came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom. Verse ConceptsPeople KissingKissingReinstatementKissesBowing Before DavidKings Summoning

So after Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he was there three years. And King David longed to see Absalom, for he was now comforted concerning Amnon, who was dead.

Now Joab, the son of Zeruiah, perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom. Verse ConceptsAffection, ExpressingHuman AffectionHeart, Human

And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom. And that day the salvation was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day how the king was grieved for his son. And the people entered by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. read more.
But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! And Joab entering into the house of the king, said unto him, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy slaves, who this day have saved thy life and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters and the lives of thy wives and the lives of thy concubines, by loving those who hate thee and hating thy friends. For thou hast declared this day that thou dost not regard thy princes nor thy slaves. For this day I perceive that if Absalom had lived and we had all died today, then this would be right in thine eyes.

But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure disaster befall him. Verse ConceptsPartialityFear Of Other Things

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak peaceably unto him.

And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he alone is left; if some disaster should befall him by the way in which ye go, then shall ye bring my gray hairs with sorrow down to Sheol. Verse ConceptsBereavement, Experience OfGrave, TheLove, And The WorldUnhappinessParental LoveAfflicted To DeathGreySole SurvivorsDeath Of Unnamed Individuals

and told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is lord over all the land of Egypt. And his heart fainted, for he did not believe them. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them; and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob, their father, revived: Then Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive; I will go and see him before I die.

Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man. And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may let your other brother go, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my sons, I am bereaved.

Now the eyes of Israel were so dim for age that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him, and he kissed them and embraced them. And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face, and, behold, God has showed me also thy seed.

While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood without, desiring to speak with him. Verse ConceptsChrist's Earthly FamilyCrowds SeekingConversationWhile Still SpeakingOutside The HouseSiblingsSibling Love

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. Verse ConceptsMaternal LoveLove, And The WorldExamples Of Mothers' LoveThe CrossDeath Of A MotherJesus Deathcrucifixion

His mother said unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. Verse ConceptsServants Of PeoplemomsWaiting Till Marriage

And when they saw him, they were amazed; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. Verse ConceptsCriticism, against believersLove, And The WorldMothers, Responsibilities OfAnxiety, CauseWhy Does Jesus Do This?

And the other woman said, No, but my son is alive, and thy son is dead. And this one said, No, but thy son is dead, and my son is alive. Thus they spoke before the king. Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that is alive, and thy son is dead. And the other saith, No; but thy son is dead, and my son is alive. And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. read more.
And the king said, Divide the living child in two and give half to the one and half to the other. Then the woman, of whom the living child was, spoke unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it, for she is its mother. And all Israel heard of that judgment which the king had judged, and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to judge.

And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under a tree. And she went and sat her down over against him a good way off as it were a bowshot; for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him and lifted up her voice and wept.

And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now and kiss me, my son. And he came near and kissed him, and he smelled the smell of his clothing and blessed him and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed.

And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away my heart and carried away my daughters as captives taken with the sword? Why didst thou flee away secretly and steal away from me and didst not tell me that I might have sent thee away with mirth and with songs with tambourine and with harp? And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.

And Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, took sackcloth and spread it upon the rock from the beginning of harvest until water rained upon them out of heaven and allowed neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night. Verse ConceptsMaternal LoveLove, And The WorldRainProtection Day And NightWild Beasts SubduedBirds EatingBirdsTragedy

Then her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go. Verse ConceptsTen Or More DaysPeople Who Delayed

The nobleman said unto him, Sir, come down before my child dies. Verse ConceptsBeforePossibility Of DeathRecovery

And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his venison; but Rebekah loved Jacob. Verse ConceptsFathers, Examples OfPrejudiceTastePartialityThose Who LovedMan's FavouriteDeergames

Moreover his mother made him a little coat and brought it to him each year when she came up with her husband to offer the accustomed sacrifice. Verse ConceptsGesturesFaithfulness, In Human RelationshipsMaternal LoveChildren, needs ofLove, And The WorldRobesDressPeople Giving ClothesEvery Yearmoms

And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to thy mother's house; the LORD deal with you in mercy as ye have dealt with the dead and with me. The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice and wept.


and besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lies at the point of death; come and lay thy hands on her that she may be saved, and she shall live. Verse ConceptsDeath, Means OfBad ParentsLove, And The WorldParents Duty To ChildrenParental LoveKept Alive By MenLaying On Hands To HealHow Healing CameFaith And HealingHealth And Healing