The Wisdom of Solomon

Title Options:Wise King Solomon.Which woman does the baby belong to?

After old King David died, his young son Solomon became king. One day, Solomon went and sacrificed an animal on an altar, in order to worship the Lord.

That night, he saw the Lord in a dream. The Lord asked him, “Solomon! What do you want me to give to you?”

Solomon replied, “Lord! I am now king, but I am young, and do not know how to rule as king. So, please, give me wisdom so that I may know right [good] from wrong [bad], and how to lead your people.”

The Lord was glad that Solomon asked for wisdom instead of wealth [money]. So the Lord replied, “Yes, I will give you wisdom. You will become wiser than everyone else.

“I will also give you more wealth [money] and honor than any other king has. And, if you will obey my laws, as your father David did, then I will also give you a long life [many years].”

When Solomon awoke, he knew that the Lord has spoken to him, so he went home to Jerusalem. There he offered another sacrifice to the Lord, and he called together all of his officials and gave them a feast.

One day, two women had a dispute, so they came to [stand before] King Solomon. One said, “O King! We two women live in the same house, and we both gave birth to baby boys.

“During the night, as she slept, she rolled over onto her baby, and it died. As I slept, she took my baby, and put her dead baby in my bed. When I awoke, I saw her dead baby and she had my live baby.”

But the other woman shouted, “No! The live baby is mine, and the dead baby is yours [hers].”

King Solomon listened to both women, then he ordered a servant to bring a sword [big knife]. The King ordered the servant, “Cut the child in two [halves], and give a half to each woman.”

Then the woman who was mother of the live child cried out [shouted], “No! Do not harm the child! Give the child to her [the other woman]!”

But the other woman replied, “Yes! Cut the child in two [halves]!”

Quickly, the King ordered the servant, “Stop! Give the child to the first woman, [for] she is his real mother.”

When the Israelites heard about this wise decision [judgment], they saw [knew] that the Lord had given to Solomon great wisdom.