Solomon's Wise Judgment
1 Kings 3:16-28
1 K.3.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אז: ADV
- תבאנה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,pl
- שתים: NUM,f,pl,abs
- נשים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- זנות: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ותעמדנה: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,f,pl
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 17:8-13 (structural): Prescribes procedure for difficult legal cases to be brought before the central authority (priests/judges or the king) — parallels Solomon’s role as the final arbiter when the two women bring their dispute to him.
- Genesis 38:15-30 (thematic): Narrative involving a woman acting as a prostitute (Tamar) and a resulting dispute over identity/sexual encounter — thematically parallels the motif of prostitutes and contested sexual/legal claims in the royal-era story.
- 2 Samuel 12:1-14 (thematic): Nathan brings a case (a parable) before King David that exposes injustice and prompts a royal judgment — parallels the courtroom-style presentation of a morally charged case before the king and the king’s role in delivering wisdom/justice.
- Psalm 72:1-4 (thematic): Prayer for the king to judge the poor with righteousness and defend the needy — reflects the royal-judicial expectation illustrated when the two destitute women seek Solomon’s adjudication.
- Proverbs 31:8-9 (thematic): An exhortation to speak up for those who cannot speak and to defend the rights of the poor and needy — connects to the scene of marginalized women appealing to the king for justice.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.
- Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.
1 K.3.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- האשה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- האחת: NOUN,f,sg,def
- בי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- והאשה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הזאת: DEM,f,sg,def
- ישבת: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- ואלד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עמה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- בבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- 1Kgs.3.16 (structural): Immediate context — the preceding verse introduces the two women and sets up the legal case that the king is asked to decide.
- 1Kgs.3.25-27 (verbal): Resolution of the same episode — Solomon’s famous judgment (ordering the child to be divided) and the revelation of the true mother; completes the narrative begun in v.17.
- 2Chr.1.7-12 (thematic): Parallel account of Solomon’s request for and reception of wisdom from God; explains the divine gift that enables Solomon to decide difficult cases like the two women’s dispute.
- 1Kgs.10.1-3 (thematic): The visit of the Queen of Sheba to test Solomon’s wisdom — another demonstration of Solomon’s renowned discernment in judging difficult matters.
- John 7:24 (thematic): Jesus’ injunction to ‘judge righteous judgment’ resonates with Solomon’s demonstration of wise, discerning judgment in resolving a contested maternal claim.
Alternative generated candidates
- The one woman said, "O my lord, I and this woman live in the same house, and I gave birth in the house."
- The one woman said, 'O my lord, I am the one; this woman and I lived in the same house, and I gave birth in that house.'
1 K.3.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ביום: PREP
- השלישי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- ללדתי: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cs,suff1
- ותלד: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- גם: ADV
- האשה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הזאת: DEM,f,sg,def
- ואנחנו: CONJ+PRON,1,pl
- יחדו: ADV
- אין: PART,neg
- זר: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- אתנו: PRON,1,pl
- בבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- זולתי: PREP
- שתים: NUM,f,pl,abs
- אנחנו: PRON,1,pl
- בבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 (structural): Parallel account of Solomon's request for wisdom and God's grant of exceptional wisdom (Chronicles retells the background for Solomon's wisdom which frames the judgment story).
- 2 Samuel 14:1-20 (thematic): A narrative about a ‘wise woman’ who presents a case involving two parties and a dead/claimed child to move the king — a closely related motif of disputed family matters brought before royal judgment.
- Matthew 12:42 (allusion): Jesus cites Solomon’s wisdom (the reputation established by stories like the child dispute) as the standard by which later listeners will be judged, alluding to Solomon’s famed judgments.
- Proverbs 8:12-16 (thematic): Personified Wisdom portrayed as counselor and judge of kings; connects the episode’s theme of divinely granted wisdom enabling just royal decision-making.
Alternative generated candidates
- On the third day after I had borne, this woman also gave birth; we were together—no stranger was with us in the house, only the two of us in the house.
- On the third day after I had borne, that woman also gave birth, and we were together—there was no stranger with us in the house, only the two of us.
1 K.3.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וימת: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- האשה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הזאת: DEM,f,sg,def
- לילה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- שכבה: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 12:18-23 (thematic): A royal infant dies after God’s judgment (Nathan’s oracle); both passages record the sudden death of a child connected to the royal household and the grief that follows.
- 2 Kings 4:18-37 (thematic): The Shunammite’s son dies and is later restored by Elisha; parallels 1 Kgs 3:19 by treating the motif of a child’s sudden death while also providing a contrasting resurrection/recovery narrative.
- Job 1:18-19 (thematic): Job’s children are killed suddenly in a disaster; like 1 Kgs 3:19, this passage depicts unexpected, overnight loss of children and the shock of bereavement.
- Judges 11:34-40 (thematic): Jephthah’s daughter dies as the tragic outcome of a vow; both texts involve the sudden death of a young person and the theme of tragic loss within Israelite narrative contexts.
Alternative generated candidates
- And during the night the other woman's son died because she lay on him.
- But the son of that other woman died in the night, because she lay on him.
1 K.3.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותקם: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בתוך: PREP
- הלילה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ותקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- מאצלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- ואמתך: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs-2ms
- ישנה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- ותשכיבהו: CONJ+VERB,hiph,impf,3,f,sg+PRON,3,m,sg
- בחיקה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,f,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- בנה: NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF,3,f,sg
- המת: NOUN,m,sg,def
- השכיבה: VERB,hiph,perf,3,f,sg
- בחיקי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kings 3:16-28 (structural): Immediate context: the full narrative of the two women and Solomon’s famous judgment (the proposed dividing of the child and the true mother’s compassion).
- 1 Kings 4:29-34 (thematic): Broader description of Solomon’s God‑given wisdom and understanding, which explains his capacity to decide difficult cases like the infant dispute.
- Deuteronomy 1:16-17 (thematic): Moses’ charge to adjudicate disputes fairly and distinguish between parties—parallels the judicial role and concern for righteous resolution shown in Solomon’s judgment.
- Exodus 18:13-27 (thematic): Jethro’s advice to Moses to appoint judges to settle people’s disputes—sets the background expectation of the king or leader as arbiter of difficult cases.
- Isaiah 11:3-4 (allusion): Prophetic image of a ruler who judges with wisdom, equity and concern for the poor and meek—echoes the ethical and judicial ideals embodied in Solomon’s decision.
Alternative generated candidates
- She rose in the night and took my son from beside me—your servant was sleeping—and she laid him at her breast, while her dead son she laid in my bosom.
- She arose at midnight and took my son from beside me, while my maid was asleep, and placed him at her breast and laid her dead son in my bosom.
1 K.3.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואקם: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg
- בבקר: PREP
- להיניק: VERB,qal,inf,_,_,_
- את: PRT,acc
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- והנה: ADV
- מת: ADJ,m,sg
- ואתבונן: VERB,hithpael,impf,1,c,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- בבקר: PREP
- והנה: ADV
- לא: PART_NEG
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ילדתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 12:15-18 (thematic): A royal infant falls ill and dies after a prophet's word (Nathan's oracle); both passages depict the sudden death of a child in a kingly household and the ensuing parental grief.
- 1 Kings 17:17-24 (structural): Elijah confronts the death of a widow's son and (by prophetic action) restores him to life; structurally parallels the motif of a child's unexpected death and a decisive response that reveals authority over life and death.
- 2 Kings 4:18-37 (structural): Elisha revives the Shunammite woman's son after he dies; like 1 Kgs 3:21 this episode centers on a dead child and highlights competing claims on life, but here the prophet effects restoration rather than a legal judgment.
- Luke 7:11-17 (thematic): Jesus raises the widow's only son at Nain—another narrative in which a public, sudden death of a young person elicits a decisive, revealing intervention by a central figure (prophet/teacher), underscoring authority and compassion in the face of death.
Alternative generated candidates
- I arose in the morning to nurse my son, and behold—he was dead. I looked at him in the morning, and behold—it was not the son I had borne.
- I rose in the morning to nurse my son, and behold—he was dead; and when I looked at him in the morning, behold, it was not the son I had borne.
1 K.3.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- האשה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- האחרת: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- כי: CONJ
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- החי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- ובנך: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs-2ms
- המת: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וזאת: CONJ+DEM,f,sg
- אמרת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- כי: CONJ
- בנך: NOUN,m,sg,cstr+poss,2,m,sg
- המת: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ובני: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- החי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- ותדברנה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,pl
- לפני: PREP
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- 1 Kgs 3:16-18 (structural): Immediate context: the opening scene that introduces the two women and the disputed infant, setting up the confrontation described in v.22.
- 1 Kgs 3:25-27 (verbal): Continuation and climax of the same case—Solomon's proposal to divide the child and his subsequent ruling that reveals the true mother.
- 1 Kgs 3:9-12 (structural): Solomon's prior request for an understanding heart and God's grant of wisdom, which frames his ability to decide the difficult dispute in vv.16–27.
- 2 Chr 1:7-12 (allusion): Parallel account of Solomon asking God for wisdom at the start of his reign; provides a second-biblical witness to the origin of Solomon's judicial wisdom reflected in the case.
- Matt 12:42 (allusion): New Testament reference to Solomon's wisdom (the Queen of the South/solomon motif), later tradition invoking Solomon's famous judgment as emblematic of his wisdom.
Alternative generated candidates
- But the other woman said, "No—the living child is mine and the dead child is yours." And the first said, "No—the dead child is yours and the living child is mine." Thus they argued before the king.
- The other woman said, 'No—the living son is mine, and your son is the dead one.' But the first said, 'No—your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.' Thus they disputed before the king.
1 K.3.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- זאת: DEM,f,sg
- אמרת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- החי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- ובנך: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs-2ms
- המת: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וזאת: CONJ+DEM,f,sg
- אמרת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- כי: CONJ
- בנך: NOUN,m,sg,cstr+poss,2,m,sg
- המת: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ובני: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- החי: ADJ,m,sg,def
Parallels
- 1 Kings 3:16-28 (structural): The immediate narrative context of the disputed-mother judgment; verse 23 is part of this larger pericope showing Solomon’s wise adjudication.
- 1 Kings 3:25-27 (verbal): Direct continuation and climax of the episode (the offer to divide the living child and Solomon’s final decision), closely linked in wording and outcome to v.23.
- Deuteronomy 1:16-17 (thematic): Moses’ charge to appoint judges to settle disputes impartially parallels the theme of wise, discerning adjudication embodied in Solomon’s ruling.
- Genesis 44:1-34 (thematic): Joseph’s staged test of his brothers to reveal truth in a family dispute parallels Solomon’s use of a decisive procedure to expose the true maternal claim and ascertain moral character.
- 2 Samuel 14:1-20 (thematic): The ‘wise woman’ of Tekoa’s parable and David’s discerning response present a similar pattern of sagacious handling of fraught familial/legal cases, echoing Solomon’s wisdom in resolving the two women’s conflict.
Alternative generated candidates
- The king said, "This one says, 'This is my living child and your dead child,' while that one says, 'No—your dead child is yours and my living child is mine.'"
- The king said, 'This one says, "This is my living son, and your son is the dead one," and that one says, "No; your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one."'
1 K.3.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- קחו: VERB,qal,impv,2,pl
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- חרב: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויבאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- החרב: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לפני: PREP
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- 1Kgs.3.25 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same judicial scene: Solomon orders the child to be divided, the threatened use of the sword is the crux of his wisdom-judgment.
- 1Kgs.3.26 (structural): Resolution of the episode: the true mother offers to give up the child, vindicating Solomon’s test that began with the command to fetch a sword.
- Isa.11.4 (thematic): Imagery of a righteous ruler executing just, decisive judgment; the sword functions here as a symbol of authoritative, discerning justice similar to Solomon’s act.
- Luke 22.36 (verbal): Jesus’ imperative to procure a sword echoes the language of obtaining a weapon before a decisive or crisis moment—parallel verbal imagery of ‘get/buy/bring a sword’ prior to consequential action.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword before the king.
- Then the king said, 'Bring me a sword.' So they brought a sword before the king.
1 K.3.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- גזרו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- הילד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- החי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- לשנים: PREP+NUM,m,du,abs
- ותנו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- החצי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לאחת: PREP+NUM,f,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- החצי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לאחת: PREP+NUM,f,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kings 3:16-28 (structural): Immediate narrative context: the full account of the two women and Solomon’s famous decision (cutting the child) is contained in these verses; 3:25 is the decisive pronouncement within that passage.
- 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 (structural): Parallel report of God granting Solomon wisdom and discernment; provides a Chronistic retelling of the background that makes Solomon's judgment intelligible.
- 2 Samuel 14:1-20 (thematic): A different royal judgment narrative in which a woman brings a case involving family homicide and appeals to the king’s wisdom—shares motifs of pleading mothers, two brothers/sons, and a sagacious royal decision.
- Matthew 12:42 (allusion): New Testament appeal to Solomon’s renowned wisdom (the ‘queen of the South’ coming to hear him) uses Solomon’s judgment as the cultural exemplar of extraordinary wisdom.
- Luke 11:31 (allusion): Parallel to Matthew 12:42: Luke likewise cites the queen of the South’s visit to Solomon as evidence of Solomon’s fame for wisdom, implicitly invoking the same tradition behind the 1 Kings narrative.
Alternative generated candidates
- The king ordered, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other."
- The king commanded, 'Divide the living child—give half to the one and half to the other.'
1 K.3.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- האשה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בנה: NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF,3,f,sg
- החי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- נכמרו: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,pl
- רחמיה: NOUN,f,pl,abs+3fs
- על: PREP
- בנה: NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF,3,f,sg
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- בי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- תנו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- לה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הילוד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- החי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- והמת: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- תמיתהו: VERB,qal,juss,2,m,sg+3ms
- וזאת: CONJ+DEM,f,sg
- אמרת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- גם: ADV
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- גם: ADV
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- יהיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- גזרו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
Parallels
- 1 Kings 3:16-28 (structural): Immediate narrative context: the full account of Solomon's disputed‑child judgment (the living/ dead child, the proposed division, and Solomon's verdict) of which v.26 is a part.
- 2 Samuel 14:1-17 (thematic): A crafty woman's petition to the king (the woman of Tekoa) designed to move David to a just/merciful decision; parallels the motif of a woman's pleading used to elicit royal judgment and wisdom.
- Daniel 13 (Susanna) (thematic): Two male accusers threaten a woman's life and a wise judge (Daniel) exposes the truth and secures justice; similar theme of life‑and‑death adjudication and judicial discernment between rival testimonies.
- Deuteronomy 1:16-17 (thematic): Law concerning judges' duty to distinguish between disputing parties and render just decisions; provides the legal/ideological background for a king's role in adjudicating cases like the one before Solomon.
Alternative generated candidates
- But the woman whose child was living spoke up before the king—her maternal compassion was moved for her son—and she said, "Please, my lord, give her the living child; do not put him to death." The other said, "Let him be neither mine nor yours; divide him."
- The woman whose child was alive pleaded to the king, for her heart yearned for her son; she said, 'O my lord, give her the living child—do not kill it.'
1 K.3.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויען: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- תנו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- לה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הילוד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- החי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- והמת: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- לא: PART_NEG
- תמיתהו: VERB,hiph,imp,2,m,pl+OBJ,3,m,sg
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- אמו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 12:1-7 (thematic): Nathan’s parable before David uses a fictional dispute to provoke a royal judgment and expose moral truth—parallel method of testing wisdom and eliciting the true response of a ruler.
- 2 Samuel 14:1-20 (thematic): The wise woman of Tekoa presents a crafted story to King David to influence his judgment—similar use of a narrative tableau to prompt wise, discerning royal decision-making.
- Exodus 2:6-10 (thematic): Pharaoh’s daughter’s decision to spare and adopt an infant parallels Solomon’s determination to preserve the living child—both depict a ruler intervening to protect an infant’s life against threatened death.
- Psalm 72:12-14 (thematic): A royal ideal of defending the needy and rescuing the oppressed ('redeem their life') resonates with Solomon’s verdict to save the living child and vindicate the true mother.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the king answered, "Give her the living child; do not put him to death—she is his mother."
- The king answered, 'Give her the living child; do not put it to death—she is its mother.'
1 K.3.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישמעו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כל: DET
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- המשפט: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- שפט: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויראו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- מפני: PREP
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- ראו: VERB,qal,impv,2,pl
- כי: CONJ
- חכמת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בקרבו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRS,3,sg
- לעשות: VERB,qal,inf
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kings 4:29-34 (verbal): Explicitly expands on Solomon's God-given wisdom, describing its surpassing nature and how people came to hear his wisdom—parallels the recognition and authority expressed in 3:28.
- 2 Chronicles 1:11-12 (allusion): God grants Solomon wisdom and knowledge in response to his request, underscoring the divine source of the king's ability to administer justice (cf. 'wisdom of God in him').
- 1 Kings 10:1-9 (thematic): The Queen of Sheba comes to test Solomon's wisdom; on seeing it she praises and is overwhelmed—similar public acknowledgement and reverence for the king's God-given wisdom and justice.
- Psalm 72:1-4 (thematic): A royal prayer that the king judge the people with righteousness and defend the afflicted—connects the ideal of a king exercising justice (as Solomon does) with divine blessing and honor.
- Proverbs 8:15-16 (thematic): Wisdom is portrayed as the power behind kings' rule ('By me kings reign'), linking the presence of wisdom with rightful, just governance as in 1 Kgs 3:28.
Alternative generated candidates
- All Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they feared the king, for they saw that God's wisdom was in him to administer justice.
- All Israel heard of the judgment the king had given, and they stood in awe of the king, for they perceived that God had given him wisdom to administer justice.
Now two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.
One woman said, 'Please, my lord, I and this woman dwell in the same house, and I gave birth in the house.'
On the third day after I gave birth she also gave birth; we were together—there was no stranger with us in the house, only the two of us in the house. And in the night the son of the other woman died, because she lay upon him. And she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me while your servant slept, and she laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast.
I arose in the morning to nurse my son—and behold, he was dead; and when I looked at him in the morning, behold, it was not the son that I had borne. But the other woman said, 'No—the living child is mine and the dead child is yours.' Yet the first said, 'No—the dead child is yours and the living child is mine.' And they disputed before the king.
The king said, 'This says, "The living is yours, and the dead is hers," and that says, "No—the dead is yours, and the living is hers."'
Then the king said, 'Bring me a sword.' So they brought a sword before the king.
The king said, 'Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.'
Then the woman whose child was living spoke to the king—because her compassion was stirred for her son—'Please, my lord, give her the living child, and do not put him to death.' But the other said, 'Let him be neither mine nor yours; divide him!'
Then the king answered and said, 'Give her the living child, and do not kill him; she is his mother.'
When all Israel heard the judgment that the king had given, they feared the king, because they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.