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!”
1 Kings 3:26
1 Kings 3 [15.] Solomon awoke; and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, and offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.
1 Kings 3 [16.] Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king, and stood before him. The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house. I delivered a child with her in the house. 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. This woman’s child died in the night, because she lay on it. 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. When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, it was dead; but when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I bore.”
1 Kings 3 [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.” Thus they spoke before the king.
1 Kings 3 [23.] Then the king said, “One says, ‘This is my son who lives, and your son is the dead;’ and the other says, ‘No; but your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’”
1 Kings 3 [24.] The king said, “Get me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king.
1 Kings 3 [25.] The king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.”
1 Kings 3 [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.”
1 Kings 3 [27.] Then the king answered, “Give her the living child, and definitely do not kill him. She is his mother.”
1 Kings 3 [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.
1 Kings 4 [1.] King Solomon was king over all Israel. These were the princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest; Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, the king’s friend; Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.
Meaning:
- The Dilemma Presented:
Two women who were prostitutes came to the king: The narrative begins with two women presenting a heartbreaking dilemma before King Solomon. Both claim to be the mother of a living child, and their dispute requires Solomon's wisdom.
- Test of Wisdom:
The king said, 'Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other:' Solomon proposes a seemingly harsh solution to expose the true mother. This decision serves as a test of the women's motives and love for the child.
- The True Mother Revealed:
Then the woman whose the living child was spoke to the king... 'Give her the living child, and in no way kill it!': The true mother is revealed in her selfless plea to spare the child's life, even if it means relinquishing her claim.
- Wisdom Acknowledged:
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: The outcome of Solomon's judgment becomes widely known, leading to a recognition of the divine wisdom bestowed upon him.
- Significance:
Discernment and Justice: Solomon's discernment in this case reflects a deep understanding of human nature and a commitment to justice. The narrative illustrates the king's ability to make wise decisions in complex situations.
Motherly Love: The sacrificial love of the true mother, willing to give up her claim to protect the child, highlights the powerful bond between a mother and her child.
Relevance for Today:
Seeking Wisdom: In our decision-making, we can draw inspiration from Solomon's pursuit of wisdom. Seeking divine guidance and discernment ensures that our choices align with God's principles.
Selfless Love: The selfless love exhibited by the true mother challenges us to prioritize the well-being of others above our personal desires.
In Our Daily Lives: Reflecting on 1 Kings 3:16-28 prompts us to consider how we approach conflicts and challenges. Do we seek God's wisdom in our decisions? Are we willing to prioritize love and justice even when faced with difficult choices?
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