McGuffey's Sixth Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson CXXII · Part 12: Herculaneum, Waterloo and A Psalm of Life

128. Death of Absalom (The Bible)

Goal: Your student can retell the story of Absalom's death and David's grief.

⏱ About 35 minutes · 6 steps

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You'll need

  • The book, open to this lesson
  • A notebook and pen
  • A dictionary

What's in the book

The story from 2 Samuel 18: David's son Absalom rebels, is caught by his hair in an oak and killed, and David mourns him. The heading is at the bottom of the page.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Words and meanings

    Look over the notes and definitions printed at the end of the lesson before you start, so names and hard words don't trip up the reading.

    If your student does not know who Absalom was, explain simply: he was King David's son, who rebelled to take his father's throne.

    Your student picks three unfamiliar words, guesses each meaning from the sentence, then checks a dictionary.

  2. About the author

    This selection is from the Bible (2 Samuel, chapter 18).

  3. Read aloud

    Read it aloud slowly. Let your student read David's last words.

    Listen for these lines:

    O my son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

  4. Talk about it

    SayWhat did David ask his captains to do about Absalom before the battle?

    SayHow was Absalom caught, and who killed him?

    SayHow did the news reach David? Why did the messengers hesitate?

    SayAbsalom was a rebel. Why does David grieve so deeply?

  5. Narration

    Your student retells the story from the battle to David's lament.

  6. Memorize or copy

    Learn David's lament:

    O my son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

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