1 Kings 3:16-28

1 Kings 3:16-28

[16] Then came  there two  women,  unto the king,  and stood  before  [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  [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.  [26] Then spake  the woman  whose the living  child  was unto the king,  for her bowels  yearned  upon her son,  and she said,  O  my lord,  give  her the living  child,  and in no wise  it. But the other said,  Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide  it. [27] Then the king  answered  and said,  Give  her the living  child,  and in no wise  it: she is the mother  thereof. [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. 

What does 1 Kings 3:16-28 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This incident demonstrates that God did indeed give Solomon the unusual wisdom He had promised ( 1 Kings 3:28). [1] The writer did not specify when during Solomon"s reign this event took place, but probably it occurred shortly after God appeared to the king at Gibeon ( 1 Kings 3:4-15).
"The chronology of the reign of Solomon does not pose nearly the difficulty as does that of David. With the exception of the narrative passages, which appear as usual to be inserted topically, the order found in both1Kings and2Chronicles reflects the general flow of events. It does seem, however, that Solomon"s alliance with Siamun of Egypt ( 1 Kings 3:1) did not come to pass until after he had begun negotiations with the Tyrians to help on the temple. This in turn presupposes Solomon"s having sought and been granted Wisdom of Solomon , for Hiram takes note of that fact ( 1 Kings 5:7)." [2]
Solomon demonstrated insight into basic human nature, here maternal instincts. This insight enabled him to understand why people behave as they do and how they will respond. This was a gift from God and is an aspect of wisdom.
"The fact that the two mothers were prostitutes is important in this story ... because it shows how the wise king would act on behalf of the very lowest of his subjects..." [3]
This incident resulted in the Israelites having great respect for their king (v31). Solomon became a blessing to the people because he related properly to Yahweh.
Wisdom in Israel and the ancient Near East was not synonymous with knowledge or education. It involved the ability to live life in a skillful way, so at the end, one"s life would amount to something worthwhile. To the Israelites this was possible only if a person knew and responded appropriately to (i.e, feared) Yahweh. [4]