*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.
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.