Children Bible Stories

In Shunem, there lived a rich woman with her husband.

Whenever Elisha visits the place, he would go and have a meal at the house of the rich woman.

Sometime later, the rich woman said to her husband, “I am sure the man that often come and eat with us is a prophet. Let us put up a bed on our flat roof so that whenever Elisha comes, he can go up and spend the night there.”

The next time Elisha come to Shunem, he stopped by at the house of the rich woman and go up to the flat roof to rest.

Elisha said to his servant, Gehazi, “The woman is very nice to me. Is there anything that she wants that I can help her with?”

Gehazi answered, “She doesn’t have any son.”

Elisha said to Gehazi, “Go and tell her to come and stand at the entrance to my room.”

The rich woman came and stand at the entrance to Elisha’s room.

Elisha said to her, “Next year at this time, you will have a son.”

A few month s later, the rich woman became pregnant and she gave birth to a son.

One day, the boy was playing at the field when all of the sudden, the boy shouted, “Ouch! My head hurts so bad!”

The father of the boy said to the servant, “Carry the boy back to his mother.” The servant picked up the boy and carried him back to his mother.

The boy lay on the lap of her mother until noon and he died. The rich woman left the room and shut the door behind him.

Then she said to her husband, “Let me ride one of your donkey. Please let me take along a servant so that I can return as soon as possible.”

The rich woman rode the donkey and came to Elisha. She said to Elisha, “My son is dead. Please come and make him alive again.”

Elisha said to Gehazi, “Taking my walking stick and lay it on the boy. Remember don’t stop to talk to anyone.”

But the rich woman held on the Elisha’s garment,” I won’t leave you alone unless you go with me.” So Elisha went with them.

On the way, Gehazi ran back and told Elisha, “The boy didn’t wake up even after I put your walking stick on him.”

When Elisha arrived at the room of the boy, he laid his body on the boy with his eyes on the boy’s eyes and his mouth on the boy’s mouth.

As Elisha laid his body on the boy, the boy’s body becomes warm. Then he walked back and forth in the room.

After that, Elisha went back and lay on the boy again. The boy sneezed seven times, and he opened his eyes. Elisha showed the boy to his mother.

The mother of the boy bowed down and picked up her son. Then she left.

There once lived a poor widow who only has a son.

One day, the poor widow said to Elisha, “My husband used to be your follower. He was very poor and owed a person a lot of money. Now we don’t have any money to pay back the person.”

Elisha asked the poor widow, “What do you have?”

The poor widow answered, “All I have is a small bottle of olive oil at home.”

Elisha said, “Go and borrow some jars from your neighbor. Then fill the jars with the olive oil.”

The son of the poor widow brought the jars to his mother.

The poor widow filled up all the jars with the olive oil until there is no more jar anymore.

The poor widow said to her son, “Bring me another jar.”

The son of the poor widow replied, “There is no more jar left.” Then, the olive oil from the small bottle stopped flowing.

The poor widow went to Elisha and said to him, “We have filled up the jar with olive oil. What should I do now?”

Elisha answered, “Take the jars of olive oil and sell them so that you can get the money to pay back the money owed. You and your son can live on the left over money.”

The poor widow did as Elisha told her. She took the jars of olive oil and sold them.

From the money that she obtained from selling the olive oil, she pay back all the money owed to the person.

Then she and her son lived on the money that is left.

Sometime later, David allowed Absalom to come back to the palace.

After two years, Absalom got himself a chariot with horses.

Absalom would ride his chariot to the entrance of the city gate where people who want to bring their cases to King David have to pass their way.

If the person is from the northern tribe, Absalom would say to him, “I hope you win the case. If you didn’t then it is too bad. I wish someone can be a judge here. I would be fair to everyone.”

Whenever someone saw Absalom, he would bow down to him but Absalom would hug him and kiss him. Soon everyone loves Absalom more than they love David.

Four years later, Absalom said to David, “Let me go to Hebron. While I was living at Geshur, I promised God that I would worship him at Hebron if he brings me back to Jerusalem.”

David let Absalom go. Absalom took 200 men with him and offered sacrifices at Hebron. After that, Absalom sent for the advisor Ahitophel to come to him.

More and more joined Absalom’s plot. Then Absalom sent messages to the northern tribe of Israel, saying, “When you heard the trumpet blast, shout, ‘Absalom is now king in Hebron!’”

A messenger told David, “The whole of Israel is now on Absalom’s side.” David and his men quickly left Jerusalem.

While David and his men was on near the town of Bahurim, a man named Shimei, one of Saul’s distant relatives, yelled at him, “Get out of here! God is taking his revenge on you. You took the kingdom away from Saul now he is giving the kingdom to your son Absalom now!”

Abishai said to David, “Let me go over and chop off Shimei’s head!”
David answered, “Don’t do that! If God is telling him to insult me, why should I stop him?”

David and his men went down the road. Shimei went along the hillside. Shimei cursed David and throw rocks and dirt at him.

By this time, Absalom and Ahitophel had arrived at Jerusalem.

Hushai, King David’s advisor, said to Absalom, “Long Live the King!”
Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this how you show your loyalty to King David?”

Hushai replied, “You are the chosen king of Israel now so I cannot leave but stay here to serve you.”

Then Ahitophel said to Absalom, “Some of King David’s wives are left here. Go in and sleep with them then everyone will know that you have dishonor your father.”

So Absalom set up a tent on the flat roof and went in to sleep with King David’s wives one by one.

Ahitophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men to go and fight David tonight while he is weary and disappointed. All his menwill run away. I will just kill David.”

But Absalom said, “Let’s call in Hushai and hear what he says.”
Hushai came in and Absalom told him Ahitophel’s idea. Absalom asked Hushai, “What is your plan?”

Hushai replied, “You should gather all the warrior men from Dan to Beersheba. Then we will go to fight David. You should lead the army troops yourself. We will be able to easily capture King David and his men. King David and all his men will surely die!”

Absalom thought Hushai’s idea is better than Ahitophel so he agreed to follow Hushai’s plan,

When Ahitophel learned that Absalom did not listen to his plan, he saddled a donkey back home and hung himself.

Hushai quickly go to Zadok and Abiathar and told them the advice Ahitophel had given as well as the advice he had given to Absalom.

Then Hushai said, “Send someone to tell David and his men to move away from this side of the river to the other side of the river so that they won’t be killed.”

Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at Rogel Spring for Hushai’s message. A maidservant went up to them and told them the message.

A man from Absalom’s side saw them and reported them to Absalom.

So Jonathan and Ahimaaz went and hid in the well at the house of a man in Bahurim.

The soldiers went to look for them, but they didn’t find them so they left. Jonathan and Ahimaaz climbed out of the well and hurried to David to give him the message.

After David and his men heard the message, they got up and crossed to the other side of the Jordan River.

David divided his soldiers into groups of hundreds and thousands.Before David sent the army troops away to war, he shouted in a very loud voice, “Joab! Abishai, Don’t harm Absalom for my sake!”

Then David stood at the side of the gate, while watching the army marching passed him in troops of hundreds and thousands.

The war took place all over in Ephraim Forest. Twenty thousand soldiers died that day.

More of the soldiers died because of the danger in the forest rather than the sword.

Absalom was riding his mule when his hair got caught in the bough of a large tree.The mule ran away, leaving Absalom caught in mid air.

Some of David’s soldier happened to pass by and went to tell Joab about it.

Joab said, “Why didn’t you kill Absalom?”

The soldier replied, “We all heard King David shouted in a very loud voice not to harm Absalom and bring him back alive.”

Joab answered, “I will not waste my time anymore!” Then Joab took 3 spears and stuck them into Absalom’s chest. Ten of Joab’s bodyguards came and finished Absalom.

An Ethiopian ran back to brought David the good news. When the Ethiopian arrived, David asked him, “Is my son, Absalom alive?”

The Ethiopian replied, “Your Majesty, your son, Absalom is dead.”

David shook all over his body. David felt very sad and he went up the room above the city gate to weep. As he went, he kept repeating, “My son, Absalom! My son, Absalom!”

When Absalom find out that Amnon raped Tamar, he hated Amnon very much.

Soon Tamar moved into Absalom’s house, but she is always sad and forlorn.

When David heard about what Amnon did to his daughter, Tamar, he was very angry but he didn’t do anything because Amnon is his oldest son and his favorite.

After two years, Absalom’s servants were cutting wool from the sheep at Baal Hazor. Absalom invited all the king’s sons to celebrate with him.

But David said, “We are not going because it is too expensive for us.”

But Absalom said, “If you don’t want to go, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” David agreed to let Amnon and all his sons go to the feast that Absalom had prepared.

Absalom prepared a luxury banquet but he ordered his servants, saying, “Watch out for Amnon. When he gets a little drunk, I will give you the signal and you will kill Amnon.”

Absalom’s servants murdered Amnon just as Absalom commanded them.

All the other king’s sons quickly rode away on their mules and escape to Jerusalem.

While the king’s sons were on their way to Jerusalem, someone came and told David, “Amnon had killed all your sons!”

When David heard this, he tore his clothes and lay down on the floor.

A guard noticed some people on the road to Honoraim. Then Jonadab said, “Your Majesty, here come your sons.”

As soon as David’s sons came in, they wept aloud. David and his officials wept too.

David felt depressed because Amnon is dead and no more.

After Absalom had murdered Amnon, he ran away to his mother’s Maacah’s father kingdom, Geshur to hide from David.

David had a beautiful daughter called Tamar. Tamar is the sister of Absalom and half sister of Amnon.

It happened that Amnon fell in love with his half sister, Tamar. Amnon wanted Tamar very much but he couldn’t think of a way to be with her alone.

Amnon had a friend named Jonadab who knows how to get everything he wanted.

Jonadab said to Amnon, “What is the problem? You are the king’s son and you should be able to get whatever you want easily.”

Amnon said, “I am in love with Tamar.”

Jonadab answered, “Go and lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When you father comes to see you, tell him to sent Tamar so that you can watch Tamar cooking food for you.”

Amnon went to lie down on his bed and pretend to be sick.

When David comes in to see Amnon, Amnon asked him to send Tamar to him.

So David sent his daughter, Tamar to Amnon’s bedroom.

When Tamar arrived, she made the dough and baked the bread for Amnon.

After that Tamar served the bread to Amnon but Amnon doesn’t want to eat.

After Amnon had sent the servants out, he said to Bathsheba, “Serve the bread in my bedroom.”

As Tamar was taking the bread over to Amnon, Amnon said to her, “Come and sleep with me!”

Amnon was stronger than Tamar so he overcame Tamar and raped her.

Then Amnon hated Tamar more than he loved her. Amnon said to his servants, “Throw this woman out!”

It is a custom that the king’s unmarried daughter wears long robes.

Tamar tore off his long robes and put ashes on her head.  Then she covered her face with her hands and wailed loudly as she walked away.

It was spring when all the kings go to war. David had sent out his entire army troop under Joab to conquer the city of Rabbah. David did not go with them; he stayed at Jerusalem.

One afternoon, David got up from his nap and went walking on his flat roof.

A very pretty woman named Bathsheba was bathing underneath. David saw her and lusted for her.

David sent his servant to find out who is that pretty woman.  The servant returned and told David, “Her name is Bathsheba. Bathsheba is the daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah, the Hitite.”

Then David sent his servants to bring Bathsheba to her. David lay with Bathsheba and Bathsheba became conceived.

When Bathsheba found out that she is pregnant, she told David about it.

At that time, Uriah was fighting in the war so David sent a message to Joab to bring for Uriah to come to see him.

Joab sent Uriah to David and David asked him, “How is Joab? What about the war?”

Then David said to Uriah, “Go home.” David also had dinner sent to Uriah’s home.

That day, Uriah didn’t go home; he slept on the entrance to the king’s palace.

Someone told David that Uriah didn’t go home last night. So David asked Uriah, “Why didn’t you go home last night?”

Uriah answered, “I was worried about the sacred chest and the soldiers that are still camping in the fields under the command of Joab so I didn’t go home to eat and sleep with my wife.”

David said, “Stay here today and you can go back tomorrow.”

Uriah stayed and David invited him for dinner. Uriah ate and drinks.Then he went out to sleep on his mat at the entrance to the palace.

The next day, David wrote a letter to Joab and has Uriah deliver it to Joab.

The letter says: Put Uriah on the front battle line so that Uriah will be wounded and die.”

When the men came out to fight, some of David’s soldiers along with Uriah were killed.

Joab sent a messenger to report everything that happened at the war.

The messenger also told David that Uriah was killed during the fight at the war.

When Bathsheba found out that Uriah, her husband was killed during the war, she mourned for him.

After that, David brought Bathsheba into his palace and Bathsheba became David’s wife and they had a son.

God was very angry that David killed Uriah so that he could have Bathsheba as his wife and he sent the prophet Nathan to speak to him.

Nathan came to David and tells him a story, “There lived a rich and poor man. The rich man has lots of cattle and sheep; but the poor man has only one lamb.

The lamb is the pet of the poor man and his children. The poor man let the lamb eat from his plate, drink from his cup, and sleep on his lap. The lamb became like one of his children.

One day, the rich man had a guest that came visiting him. The rich man doesn’t want to slaughter his own cattle and lamb to serve meal for the guest.

Instead, he went and stole the lamb from the poor man. He slaughtered it and serves it as a meal instead to the guest.”

David grew angry and said to the prophet, Nathan, “Who is this rich man? I swear I would have him killed now!”

Nathan replied, “The rich man in the story is you. You murdered Uriah, the Hitite by letting the Ammonites kill him so that you could take his wife, Bathsheba to be your wife. Because you had done this, your family will never have peace. Someone from your family will cause you a lot of trouble.”

God made David and Bathsheba’s young son very sick.

Every day, David would lie on the floor to beg God to heal his son.

He also didn’t eat and fasted every day. After the boy was sick for seven days, he died.

When David found out that his son is dead, he got up from the floor, combed his hair and get dressed.

After David worshipped the Lord, he had a meal. David comforted Bathsheba and they had another son, Solomon.

The prophet Nathan came to tell David that God loves Solomon very much call him, “Jedidiah”.