1 Kings 3:15-25

15 And Solomon awoke ; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

16 Then came there two women, that were harlots , unto the king, and stood before him.

17 And the one woman said , O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.

18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered , that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.

19 And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.

20 And she arose at midnight *, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.

21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck , behold, it was dead : but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear .

22 And the other woman said , Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said , No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.

23 Then said the king, The one saith , This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead : and the other saith , Nay; but thy son is the dead , and my son is the living.

24 And the king said , Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.

25 And the king said , Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.

1 Kings 3:15-25 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.