*1 Kings 3:16-28
King Solomon demonstrates his wisdom by discerning the true mother of a child through a clever test.
- The Dispute:
- Two women, both mothers, come before King Solomon, each claiming to be the mother of a newborn baby boy.
- One woman asserts that the other accidentally smothered her own infant while they slept, swapping the deceased child with the living one.
- The other woman vehemently denies this accusation, insisting that the living child is rightfully hers.
- Solomon’s Judgment:
- Solomon listens attentively to both women’s claims, recognizing the gravity of the situation.
- In a stroke of wisdom, he proposes a solution to discern the true mother.
- He orders a sword to be brought forth, declaring his intention to divide the living child in half, giving each woman a portion.
- Revealing the True Mother:
- Upon hearing Solomon’s decree, the true mother, out of genuine maternal love, pleads for the child’s life to be spared, even if it means losing him to the other woman.
- In contrast, the other woman shows no concern for the child’s well-being, agreeing to the division as proposed by the king.
- Solomon’s Verdict:
- Solomon, deeply moved by the true mother’s selfless display of love, discerns her as the rightful parent.
- He declares her the true mother and awards her custody of the child, sparing his life.
- The People’s Response:
- Witnessing Solomon’s divine wisdom in action, the people of Israel marvel at his judgment and revere him as a wise and just king.
- They acknowledge that the wisdom bestowed upon Solomon surpasses that of any other ruler of his time, solidifying his reputation as a legendary figure in Israel’s history.
3:16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
3:17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
3:18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
3:19 And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
3:20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
3:21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
3:22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
3:23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
3:24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
3:25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
3:26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was 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.
3:27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
3:28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.