Solomon’s Judgment

Before David died, he appointed his son Solomon to succeed him as king. Solomon had a dream in which God asked him what he wished for. Solomon asked God for wisdom and knowledge to govern his people fairly and to act wisely. The Lord was very pleased and granted Solomon a wise and discerning heart. The Lord also promised that if he consistently obeyed God, he would enjoy wealth, glory, and a long life.

On one occasion, two prostitutes argued over a male infant. One night, a prostitute discovered she had accidentally suffocated her own child. In her grief and jealousy, she swapped her dead child with the other prostitute’s living child. The next morning, the second prostitute quickly realized the dead infant in her arms was not her own son but the other woman’s. Both women claimed to be the child’s true mother. Seeing their impasse, King Solomon commanded a sword be brought and declared what seemed like the fairest solution: divide the living child in two, with each woman receiving half. One prostitute agreed, but the other immediately pleaded with Solomon to give the child to her rival instead. Solomon clearly saw that this compassionate prostitute was the child’s true mother and gave the baby to her. Soon, this judgment spread throughout Israel, and everyone knew that Solomon had God’s wisdom in his heart.

This case had no witnesses, making it difficult to resolve through normal legal procedures. Therefore, judges at all levels found it intractable, which is why it was brought before Solomon. This case could have been taken to the high priest (Deuteronomy 17:8-12) to be resolved using the Urim and Thummim. However, from Solomon’s time onward, the Bible no longer records the use of the Urim and Thummim. Moreover, Mosaic Law explicitly stated: “No Israelite woman is to be a shrine prostitute” (Deuteronomy 23:17; Leviticus 19:29), yet now “two prostitutes came and stood before the king.” The author, using a subtle prophetic style, allows us a glimpse into the spiritual state of the people at that time. Although Israel was unprecedentedly powerful during Solomon’s reign, its material prosperity gradually caused the people to stray from God’s path.