821 - Solomon Judges Wisely

Solomon Judges Wisely


Some time later (after Solomon had prayed to the Lord for wisdom), two prostitutes came to the king, to have an argument settled. 


“Please, my lord,” one of them began, “this woman and I …live in the same house. 


I gave birth to a baby, while she was with me, in the house. 


Three days later, this woman also had a baby. 


We were alone; there were only two of us, in the house. 


“But her baby died, during the night, when she rolled over on it. 


Then, she got up, in the night, and took my son, from beside me, while I was asleep. 


She laid her dead child, in my arms, and took mine, to sleep beside her. 


And, in the morning, when I tried to nurse my son, he was dead! 


But, when I looked more closely, in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t my son at all.” 


Then, the other woman interrupted, 


“It certainly was your son, and the living child is mine.” 


“No,” the first woman said, “the living child is mine, and the dead one is yours.” 


And so, they argued back and forth, before the king. 


Then, the king said, 


“Let’s get the facts straight. 


Both of you claim, that the living child… is yours, …and each of you says, that the dead one, belongs to the other. 


All right, bring me a sword.” 


So, a sword was brought, to the king. 


Then he said, 


“Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman …and half to the other!” 


Then, the woman, who was the real mother, of the living child, and who loved him very much, cried out, 


“Oh no, my lord! 


Give her the child—please do not kill him!” 


But the other woman said, 


“All right, he will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!” 


Then, the king said, 


“Do not kill the child, but give him, to the woman, who wants him to live, for she is his mother!” 


When all Israel heard the king’s decision, the people were in awe, of the king, for they saw the wisdom God had given him… for rendering justice. 


1 Kings 3:16–28 (NLT)


Praise be to God!


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