Thematic Bible: Parental affection exemplified by


Thematic Bible



And the king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, "Entreat me gently, my son Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge over Absalom. Verse ConceptsParental LoveSoft TreatmentThe King's Orders

And the king was moved and went up to a chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went thus he said, "My son Absalom, my son, my son, my son Absalom, would to God I had died for thee 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 happened the seventh day that the child died. But the servants of David durst not tell him that the child was dead. For they said, "See, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice. How much more then will he vex himself if we tell him that the child is dead?" But David saw his servants whispering and thereby perceived that the child was dead, and said unto his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "Yea." Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his apparel, and went into the house of the LORD and prayed; and after came to his own house and bade that they should set meat before him, and he did eat. read more.
Then said his servants unto him, "What is this that thou hast done? Thou did fast and weep for thy child while it was alive, and as soon as it was dead thou didst rise up and didst eat meat." And he answered, "While the child was alive, I fasted and wept. For I this thought, 'Who can tell whether God will have mercy on me that the child may live?' But now, seeing it is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him again any more? I shall go to him: but he shall not come again to me."

And the man answered Joab, "Though I had a thousand sicles of silver told in my hand yet would I not stretch out mine hand against the king's son. For we heard with our ears when the king charged thee, Abishai and Ittai, saying, 'Spare me the lad Absalom.' Moreover though I had jeoparded my life and done falsely thereto, yet could nought of all the matter have been hid from the king: yea, and thou thyself wouldest be against me."

And Joab went to the king and told him. And he sent for Absalom; which, when he was come, fell to the ground on his face before the king. And the king kissed him. Verse ConceptsPeople KissingKissingReinstatementKissesBowing Before DavidKings Summoning

And so Absalom escaped and went to Geshur, and was there three years. And by that time, the king turned his mind from pursuing Absalom. For he had left mourning for the death of Amnon.

When Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was turned again to Absalom, Verse ConceptsAffection, ExpressingHuman AffectionHeart, Human

And it was told Joab, how that the king wept and mourned for Absalom. And the victory was turned that day into mourning unto all the people. For the people heard say that day, how the king sorrowed for his son, and the people went stealing into the city, as people confounded steal away when they flee in battle. read more.
And the king hid his face and cried with a loud voice, "My son Absalom, Absalom my son my son." And Joab went into the house to the king and said, "Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life and the lives of thy sons and daughters, and the lives of thy wives and concubines: in that thou lovest thine enemies and hatest thy friends. Thou hast declared this day that thou carest neither for thy lords nor servants. For this day I do perceive, if Absalom had lived, and all we died this day, that then it had pleased thee well.

for Benjamin, Joseph's brother, would not Jacob send with his other brethren: for he said, "Some misfortune might happen him." Verse ConceptsPartialityFear Of Other Things

And Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he begat him in his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. When his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak one kind word unto him.

And he said, "My son shall not go down with you. For his brother is dead, and he is left alone. Moreover, some misfortune might happen upon him by the way which ye go. And so should ye bring my gray head with sorrow unto the grave." Verse ConceptsBereavement, Experience OfGrave, TheLove, And The WorldUnhappinessParental LoveAfflicted To DeathGreySole SurvivorsDeath Of Unnamed Individuals

"Joseph is yet alive and is governor over all the land of Egypt." And Jacob's heart wavered, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph which he had said unto them. But when he saw the chariots which Joseph had sent to carry him, then his spirits revived. And Israel said, "I have enough, if Joseph my son be yet alive: I will go and see him, yer that I die."

Take also your brother with you, and arise and go again to the man. And God almighty give you mercy in the sight of the man and send you your other brother and also Benjamin, and I will be as a man robbed of his children."

And the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them to him, and he kissed them and embraced them. And Israel said unto Joseph, "I had not thought to have seen thy face, and yet lo, God hath showed it me and also thy seed."

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

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

His mother said unto the ministers, "Whatsoever he sayeth unto you, do it." Verse ConceptsServants Of PeoplemomsWaiting Till Marriage

And when they saw him, they were astonished. 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, "It is not so: But the living is my son, and the dead thine." And she said again, "Thou sayest untrue, for the dead is thy son, and the living mine." And thus they pleaded before the king. Then said the king, "The one sayeth, 'This that is alive is my son, and the dead is thine.' And the other sayeth, 'Nay: But thy son is the dead and the live child is mine.'" Then said the king, "Bring me a sword." And they brought a sword before the king. read more.
And then the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give the one half to the one, and the other to the other." Then spake the woman whose son lived, unto the king - for her motherly heart was kindled with pity over her son - and said, "I beseech thee, my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it." And the other said, "It shall be neither mine nor thine, but divide it." Then the king answered and said, "Give her the living child and slay it not, for she is the mother thereof." And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged and feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.

When the water was spent that was in the bottle, she cast the lad under a bush and went and sat her out of sight a great way; as it were a bowshot off. For she said, "I will not see the lad die." And she sat down out of sight, and lift up her voice and wept.

And his father Isaac said unto him, "Come near and kiss me my son." And he went to him and kissed him. And he smelled the savour of his raiment and blessed him, and said, "See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed.

Then said Laban to Jacob, "Why hast thou this done, unknowing to me, and hast carried away my daughters as though they had been taken captive with sword? Wherefore wentest thou away secretly, unknown to me, and didst not tell me, that I might have brought thee on the way with mirth, singing, timbrels and harps, and hast not suffered me to kiss my children and my daughters? Thou wast a fool to do it,

And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it under her upon the rock, even from the beginning of harvest until rain dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to fall on them by day nor beasts of the field by night. Verse ConceptsMaternal LoveLove, And The WorldRainProtection Day And NightWild Beasts SubduedBirds EatingBirdsTragedy

But her brother and her mother said, "Let the damsel abide with us a while, and it be but even ten days, and then go thy ways." Verse ConceptsTen Or More DaysPeople Who Delayed

The ruler said unto him, "Sir, come away or ever that my child die." Verse ConceptsBeforePossibility Of DeathRecovery

Isaac loved Esau because he did eat 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 from feast to feast when she came up with her husband to offer the offering of the said feast. Verse ConceptsGesturesFaithfulness, In Human RelationshipsMaternal LoveChildren, needs ofLove, And The WorldRobesDressPeople Giving ClothesEvery Yearmoms

Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, "Go, and return each of you unto your mother's house. The LORD deal as kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me." And the LORD grant you that you may find rest, either of you in the house of her husband." And so she kissed them.


and besought him greatly saying, "My daughter lieth at point of death, I would thou wouldst come and lay thy hand on her, that she might be safe and 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