1 Kings 3:23-28

23 Then the king said, "The one says, 'This is my son who is living, and your son is the dead one'; and the other says, 'No! For 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 child was the living one spoke to the king, for ¹she was deeply * stirred over her son and said, "Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him." But the other said, "He shall be neither * mine nor yours; divide him!"

27 Then the king said, "Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother."

28 When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for ²they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.

1 Kings 3:23-28 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST KINGS 3

This chapter relates the marriage of Solomon with Pharaoh's daughter, 1Ki 3:1; his piety and devotion, 1Ki 3:2-4; his prayer for wisdom and understanding, which was acceptable to God, who promised to grant his request, with an addition to it, 1Ki 3:5-15; an instance and proof of the wisdom given him in determining a case between two harlots brought before him, which greatly raised his reputation, and gave him reverence among his people, 1Ki 3:16-28.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 43:30; Isaiah 49:15; Jeremiah 31:20; Hosea 11:8
• 2. 1 Kin 3:9, 11, 12; Daniel 1:17; Colossians 2:2, 3

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "this one"
• [b] Lit "this one"
• [c] Lit "her compassion grew warm"
• [d] Lit "her the living child"
• [e] Lit "judged"
• [f] Lit "do"