Solomon’s Wise Judgment: A Mother’s Love Revealed (1 Kings 3:16-28)
After Solomon became king, he asked God for wisdom to lead the people well. Not long after, he faced a tough test—one that would show just how wise he truly was.
Two Women, One Baby
One day, two women came to see King Solomon with a heartbreaking problem. Both women lived in the same house, and each had given birth to a baby boy. But sadly, one of the babies died during the night. Now, both women were claiming that the living baby was theirs.
There were no witnesses, no family around, and no way to prove who was telling the truth. It was one woman’s word against the other’s.
A Tough Decision
Imagine being Solomon. Two crying mothers stood before him, each begging for the baby. There were no pictures, no documents, and no one else to confirm the story. It looked like an impossible case.
But Solomon had asked God for wisdom—and now he would need it.
A Surprising Plan
Solomon made a surprising and shocking request. He called for a sword and said, “Let’s cut the baby in two and give each woman half.”
Of course, Solomon didn’t actually plan to hurt the child. He was testing the women to see how they would react.
A Mother’s Heart Speaks
As soon as Solomon gave the order, one of the women cried out. “Please, my lord, give her the baby! Don’t kill him!” she begged.
But the other woman said, “Go ahead and cut him in two. Then neither of us will have him.”
Right then, Solomon knew the truth. The woman who wanted to save the child—even if it meant giving him away—was the real mother. Her love was stronger than her desire to win.
Wisdom in Action
Solomon gave the baby to the true mother. Word of his decision spread quickly, and the people of Israel were amazed. They saw that God had given their king real wisdom to lead and judge fairly.
What Can We Learn?
This story shows us that wisdom is more than just being smart. True wisdom also includes understanding people and seeing what’s in their hearts. Solomon didn’t just listen to the words—he paid attention to love, emotion, and motive.
And the mother in the story teaches us something too: real love is willing to sacrifice for the good of others.
So next time you face a hard decision, remember Solomon’s example. Ask God for wisdom, and don’t be afraid to look deeper than words. The truth often shows itself through love.
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.