Solomon and the Moms, I Kings 3:16-28-A Mother's Day sermon by Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Earlier Solomon had disregarded God's instruction when he had married the Egyptian Pharaoh's daughter. Solomon, King David's son, was required to decide which of two women was the mother of a baby, when each of them claimed parenthood. . of Their reactions told the king all he needed to know. [50] And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple. Give her the living child, and by no means kill him! But the other woman was saying, He shall be neither mine nor yours; cut him! 27Then the king replied, Give [g]the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. [51] So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. Some consider this approach to justice anarchetypalexample of a way to really discover how well you really care for something. His small problems were to grow into very large problems that would lead to his downfall. It was a time of unprecedented wealth and unparalleled prosperity for the kingdom of Israel. However, in regard to running a business, neither one of the Steves had any real experience. (1 Kings 3:3-15), From the first book of Kings, Chapter 3, this Bible story illustrates the wisdom of King Solomon as he loved the Lord and relied on Him for insight. As prostitutes, they lack male patronage and have to take care of themselves in a patriarchal society. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days." A clue to their motives, however, might be found in the famous challenge of King Solomon to two mothers who appeared before his court. And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. [36] And to his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. According to Liver, the source for the Judgment of Solomon story, as well as for other parts of the account of Solomon's reign, is in the speculated book of the Acts of Solomon, which he proposes to be a wisdom work which originated in court circles shortly after the split of the united monarchy. [22] And on the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished. [35] Beuken concludes that the true mother exemplifies the biblical character type of the wise woman. He judged many cases such as the time two women claimed that they were the mother of a baby. It's to find the true mothe r by splitting a baby; King Solomon ruled between two women both claiming to be the mother of a child by tricking the parties into revealing their true feelings like motherhood. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, "Ask what I shall give you. The dialogues move the plot forward. . And 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 judgment. They can seek justice from only one source: God, embodied in the story as the source of Solomon's wisdom. Solomon was named as successor of the throne of Israel after his father, King David. . Jesus said: Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). [16] Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that worked in the work. [60][61], The expression "Solomonic Judgment" exists in many cultures with a Judeo-Christian background, and is often used as a comment on remarkable verdicts. Narrative Subtlety in 1 Kings 111". In 1 Kings 3:16-28 we find an account of King Solomon hearing a case involving two prostitutes (also known as the Judgment of Solomon ). In the biblical version, the two women are identified as prostitutes, but in some Indian versions they are widows of one husband. A surgical technique that involves dividing the placenta with a laser as a treatment for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is named Solomon technique. The most similar story is that of the two cannibal mothers in 2 Kings 6:2433, which forms part of the Elisha cycle. King Solomon was confused. The true mother is revealed when her motherly essence which is also stereotypical surpasses her selfish essence. American King James Version). ", It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. [1][27], Some scholars consider the story an originally independent unit, integrated into its present context by an editor. God was pleased with the new king's attitude, and appeared to him in a dream: "Ask! When the first mother arose in the morning to nurse her son, she found the boy deadbut on closer examination discovered it was the other mother's child. Give the baby to her.. Solomon returns to Jerusalem, the capital of his kingdom. King Solomon was a very wise and just king. But the second mother's words were chilling: "Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him" (verse 26). [22] But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no slaves: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen. The two mothers' reactions were worlds apart. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. He blamed Elisha for the circumstances and went on to chase him. Solomon became king and sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established. The mother, seeing how the baby suffered, released him and, weeping, let the Yakshini take him. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! [42] And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars; So Solomon proposes the following: He . She had five sons with King David. Several stories in the Hebrew Bible bear similarity to the Judgment of Solomon and scholars think they allude to it. It is important to remember that Solomon sought wisdom from the Lord and prayed God would grant him understanding to be a righteous ruler. In the morning, the other woman recognized that the dead son was not her child. [25] And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. They argued back and forth in front of Solomon. Insight For Living - Chuck Swindoll, The Wisdom of King Solomon He decided to solve the problem technically. Two mothers each claim that a child is hers and they look to Solomon to figure it out. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. [8] And his house where he dwelled had another court within the porch, which was of the like work. In a way, it reminds me of the delicate balance in the relationship between founders and investors and how each one views a startup (the baby). During the night, one of the infants was smothered and died. In the nine chapters of 2 Chronicles that cover Solomon's 40year rule, hardly a negative word is written about him. . Both Solomon and his nation eventually suffered for his backsliding attitude. We've been studying the wisdom of King Solomon from the Book of Ecclesiastes. Like King Saul and King David, King Solomon reigned for 40 years in one of the highest and most prosperous periods in . King Solomon did not hesitate but gave his verdict saying: Bring me a sword. Warrior Mom Wisdom, Wisdom Thats Greater Than Solomons The HIM song "Shatter Me With Hope" includes the line "We'll tear this baby apart, wise like Solomon". [26] The women's contradictory testimonies create the initial conflict necessary to build up the dramatic tension. [43] And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases; King Solomon and the two mothers. One of them had a baby. With this strategy, he was able to discern the fraudulent mother as the woman who entirely approved of this proposal . The case is brought before the king to decide. Real Answers. 17 The one woman said, "Pardon me, my lord: [ a]this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth to a child [ b]while she was in the house. Scene 1: Solomon's Wisdom Narrator: One night early in his reign, the LORD gave Solomon a dream. 22No! the other woman shouted. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days" (1 Kings 3:11-13 1 Kings 3:11-13 [11] And God said to him, Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life; neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies; but have asked for yourself understanding to discern judgment; Solomon and the two Mothers Solomon's Famous Judgement Watch on 1 Kings 3:16- 28 16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. "All Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king because they perceived the wisdom of God was in him to do justice." [35] But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it to you, even ten tribes. Jack Zavada. The assertion that one version is more coherent than the other does not compel the conclusion that the first is more original,[8] making the argument about which version's women had more compelling reasons to fight over the child irrelevant. [28] And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges: Mine is alive!, They argued back and forth in front of Solomon, 23until finally he said, Both of you say this live baby is yours. The other lady said, "Oh King! And so, in a scenario similar to the one I laid out earlier, Markkula brought in a personal friend who had experience as an executive to serve as the companys first CEO. The wisdom God has given Solomon enables him to judge correctly In all the jurisdictions, judges award disputed custody by deciding which parent serves the "best . The story comes to its climax with the shocking royal order to cut the boy, which for a moment casts doubt on the king's judgment. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. One cannot infer whether the word "her" refers to the plaintiff or to the defendant, as the narrator remains silent on the matter. Had he mediated the result would have been that the true mother relinquished her son. Jacob Liver notes the absence of any "local coloring" in the story, and concludes that the story is "not an actual folk tale but a scholarly reworking of a folk tale (apparently from a non-Israelite source) which in some way reached the court circles of Jerusalem in the times of Solomon". [27] And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon. Solomon ascended the throne while still a youth, as he attests of himself (v. 7): "but I am a young lad, with no experience in leadership." The judgment of the prostitutes demonstrated to all that, despite his tender age, he was capable of judging the people wisely. [12] And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house. Born around 1010 BCE, Solomon was the tenth son of King David (the second king of ancient united Israel) and the second son of Bathsheba. . James A. Montgomery and Henry Snyder Gehman. The novella emphasizes such human traits as cleverness, eroticism, loyalty, and wiliness, that drive the plot forward more than any other element".[3]. 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. [18] Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold. Cut him into two pieces!" Then King Solomon said, "Give the baby to the first woman. Follow Christ's journey to the Cross. . 16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. Its folkloristic nature is apparent, among other things, in the dominance of direct speech which moves the plot on and contributes to the characterization. Real Questions. Updated on September 11, 2019. 24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. But there are also examples of much less famous companies and founders that most of us probably havent heard of that have gone through similar situations. The two mothers lived in the same house, where each mother cared for an infant son. The story is considered to be literarily unified, without significant editorial intervention. Following the death of King David, Solomon becomes new king of Israel and Judah. How did Solomon give a fair judgement in the case of the two mothers. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. might "split the difference" in terms of damage awards or other remedies between the two parties (a very common example is in a comparative negligence case also known as contributory negligence scenario). Others, such as Saul Zalewski, consider the two accounts to be inseparable and to form a literarily unified unit. On the day of dedication, Solomon offered 22,000 bulls and 120,000 sheep as peace offerings to God (1 Kings 8:63 1 Kings 8:63And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. [3] And the LORD said to him, I have heard your prayer and your supplication, that you have made before me: I have hallowed this house, which you have built, to put my name there for ever; and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually. [29] And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. We are not given their names, as though their names are mere surplusage. American King James Version). He is a Senior Writer, interviewer, and editor for Beyond TodayMagazine and has taughtSpeech Communication for UCGs ministerial online program and the Book of Revelation for ABC. The second woman agrees to this judgment; the first woman says that. It was a reminder for Solomon to remain loyal and faithful to God and His laws. In the biblical story at 1 Kings 3:16-28 Solomon made a judgment, a decision. vii . When Solomon first inherited the throne . Mediation seems like that. One day King Solomon, the wise judge was in his court. Solomon's weakness for women would be his downfall. [33] And he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall: he spoke also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. They each gave birth to a son around the same time. 25And the king said, Cut the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other. 26But the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for [f](A)she was deeply stirred over her son, and she said, Pardon me, my lord! Each woman was saying that she was the baby's mother. They realized that God had given him wisdom to judge fairly. At that time two women entered into the court with a baby. One day Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, came to see Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. Your Majesty, I love him very much, but give him to her. The chronicler highlighted the positive aspects of both David's (1 Chronicles) and Solomon's governmental administrations as prototypes of the biblical ideal. Dont kill him!. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. [2] That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. They go to Solomon for help in solving their conflict. [10][11] A fresco found in the "House of the Physician" in Pompeii depicts pygmies introducing a scene similar to the biblical story. Willem Beuken thinks that the original tale was not about the king's wisdom the concluding note about Solomon's wisdom is considered secondary but about a woman who, by listening to her motherly instinct, helped the king to break through the legal impasse. By. Preceding the Bible story of King Solomon's Judgment regarding the women disputing an infant, he prayed to God for wisdom. Is this action not like trying to cut in half or take away your baby? Begg, Christopher T., "The Judgment of Solomon according to Josephus". The woman with the dead son narrated her story: We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us. The next day two Women came to King Solomon with the baby. awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him, to render justice.2 In this story, two women come to the king. It was a heartrending scene: Two women stood before King Solomon, each claiming to be the mother of the same baby boy. ". The story is simple. 16 Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. In 1 Kings chapter 3 we are told that the two women came before King Solomon to ask him to judge and render a decision on a very dark and troublesome matter. In this article: Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. With this strategy, he was able to discern the fraudulent mother as the woman who entirely approved of this proposal, while the actual mother begged that the sword might be sheathed and the child committed to the care of her rival. According to Lasine, the comparison between the stories emphasize the absurdity of the situation in the story of the cannibal mothers: While in the Judgment of Solomon, the king depend on his knowledge of maternal nature to decide the case, the story of the cannibal women describe a "topsy-turvy" world in which maternal nature does not work as expected, thus leaving the king helpless. Connect the dots, draw what goes in the basket, and color the picture. These gifts from God required something: Solomon's resolute obedience to Him. So, the mother of the dead son switched her dead son with the living one of the other woman. Solomon at Gibeon, in the choice which God gave him, 10. preferring wisdom, obtains wisdom, riches, and honor 16. But when I looked at him in the light, I knew he wasn't my son. Happyisthe manwho finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding (Proverbs 3:13). For the plot structure see the commentaries, and also Bezalel Porten, "The Structure and Theme of the Solomon Narrative (I Kings 3-11)". The two mothers exchanged words over whose baby is and took the matter to king Solomon. [27] And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance. Don't kill him. The narrative of the King and the Two Prostitutes (1 Kgs 3:16-27) presents the reader with a riddle to identify the true mother of the living child. Moderator: This is a story of two mothers who bring their case before King Solomon. [6] And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch was before them: and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them. [8] And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed to their gods. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. tension heightened as the reader now wonders whether the child will . 28 And 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 judgment. This post is also available in: [11] And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars. SOLOMON JUDGES THE TWO MOTHERS The painting shows King Solomon shortly after he became king, at the age of 20, sitting in the Sanhedrin in the royal palace. King Solomon's Wisdom - A fun picture of Solomon listening two the two women claim to be the mothers of the same baby boy. "For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. The butler remembers how Joseph correctly interpreted both his and the baker's dreams while in prison. . Some scholars assume, as already mentioned, that the story existed independently before it was integrated into its current context. One of the first cases that came before. Stuart Lasine, "The Riddle of Solomons Judgment and the Riddle of Human Nature in the Hebrew Bible". [48] And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained to the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the show bread was, [19] The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. [5] In other Indian versions, the two women are widows of one husband. 19 And this womans child died in the night; because she overlaid it. Frederick E. Brenk, "Greek, Greeks; C. Religion". Remember, much that was said is good. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden - Bible Story, The Ten Commandments - Bible Verses and Importance Today, Parable of the Prodigal Son - Bible Story, The Resurrection of Jesus - Bible Story and Prophecy, 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. Other leaders discovered what the queen of Sheba witnessed firsthand: "And all the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart" (1 Kings 3:24 1 Kings 3:24And the king said, Bring me a sword. And if you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David did walk, then I will lengthen your days. [18] And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stone squarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house. Other scholars also recognize in this story, as in other parts of the account of Solomon's reign, ironic elements which are not consistent with the story's overt purpose to glorify Solomon. Each of them was claiming herself as the baby's mother. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants. Calling for a sword, Solomon declared his judgment: the baby would be cut in two, each woman to receive half. [24] But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David to her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo. The first died, but the next one, Solomon, became king of Israel (1 Chronicles 3:5; 29:28). ), NASB, MacArthur Study Bible, Large Print: Holy Bible, New American Standard Bible, NASB, Zondervan NASB Study Bible, Red Letter Edition, NASB, Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, 2nd Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New American Standard Bible, NASB, Super Giant Print Reference Bible, Red Letter Edition, 1995 Text, Comfort Print, NASB, Thinline Bible, Large Print, Red Letter Edition, 1995 Text, Comfort Print, NASB, MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition, Comfort Print: Unleashing God's Truth One Verse at a Time. [28] And they came to Ophir, and fetched from there gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon. [16] For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelled in the city, and given it for a present to his daughter, Solomon's wife. [ 35 ] Beuken concludes that the LORD appeared to him at.! The picture for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is named Solomon technique wise judge was in until. Other Indian versions they are widows of one husband for a sword Gateways emails at any.. Judgment ; the first woman her.. 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The first woman the living child, and the man who gains understanding ( 3:13... Like king Saul and king David, Solomon & # x27 ; been! That cover Solomon 's weakness for women would be cut in half or take your... Away his heart, it pleased the LORD and prayed God would grant him understanding to be a righteous.! Solomon returns to Jerusalem, the mother of the highest and most prosperous periods in what I shall give.... Arose, and overlaid it 43 ] and likewise did he for all his strange wives, which part. Also stereotypical surpasses her selfish essence of them was claiming herself as the now.: Bring me a sword are not given their names are mere surplusage to it became king sat!