*1 Kings 3:16-28
King Solomon demonstrates his wisdom by discerning the true mother of a child through a clever test.
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Two Women Come to Solomon with a Dispute
- Two women who live in the same house come to King Solomon.
- They both had baby boys around the same time.
- One of the babies died during the night when the mother accidentally rolled over on him.
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Both Women Claim the Living Baby
- Each woman says the living baby is hers and the dead one belongs to the other.
- There are no witnesses, so it’s one woman’s word against the other.
- They come to Solomon for a decision.
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Solomon’s Surprising Test
- Solomon listens carefully to both women.
- Then he gives a shocking order: “Cut the living baby in two and give half to each woman.”
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The Real Mother Is Revealed
- One woman agrees to the plan, saying neither of them should have the child.
- The other woman begs the king to let the baby live and be given to the other woman.
- Solomon instantly knows the woman who showed compassion is the true mother.
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Solomon Gives His Judgment
- Solomon tells them to give the living baby to the woman who wanted to save his life.
- Everyone sees that Solomon has great wisdom from God to make fair decisions.
1 Kings 3:16-28 teaches us the value of wisdom and justice. When Solomon had to decide which woman was the true mother of the baby, he used wisdom to reveal the truth. This reminds us to seek understanding before making decisions and to approach problems with a fair and thoughtful mindset. It also shows the power of genuine love—true care for others puts their well-being first. In our daily lives, we should strive to be wise, fair, and compassionate in how we handle difficult situations.
1 Kings 3:16-28 (WEB)
3:16 Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king, and stood before him. 17 The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house. I delivered a child with her in the house. 18 The third day after I delivered, this woman delivered also. We were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, just us two in the house. 19 This woman’s child died in the night, because she lay on it. 20 She arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me while your servant slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. 21 When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, he was dead; but when I had looked at him in the morning, behold, it was not my son whom I bore.”22 The other woman said, “No! But the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son.”The first one said, “No! But the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son.” They argued like this before the king.23 Then the king said, “One says, ‘This is my son who lives, and your son is the dead one;’ and the other says, ‘No! But your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’ ”24 The king said, “Get me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king.25 The king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.”26 Then the woman whose the living child was spoke to the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no way kill him!”But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours. Divide him.”27 Then the king answered, “Give the first woman the living child, and definitely do not kill him. She is his mother.”28 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 justice.