It is easy to look at a very familiar story and lose sight of exactly how wise Solomon was because we are so familiar with the outcome. To really appreciate it we must imaging ourselves in his place, not knowing who’s child it was. Would we imagine such a bluff as to say we would cut the child in two?
I am also intrigued to think a level deeper. These are two harlots. That is someone steeped in sexual sin… a prostitute. Solomon did not put them both to death for their sin, perhaps it did not even come up. He remained focused on the matter at hand and judged wisely for the best interest of the child. The point is that he took time to guide justice for all, not just wealthy or righteous.
Solomon used his gift of wisdom not just for personal gain but for the benefit of YHWH’s people. We should use our gifts likewise, whatever they may be.
I will admit as a side note, I would like to have seen the woman who was lying be held accountable for her deception. It is not mentioned here. Perhaps she was. It may just be it is not really the point of the story.
Solomon Wisely Judges
16Then two women who were harlots came to the king and stood before him. 17The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. 18“It happened on the third day after I gave birth, that this woman also gave birth to a child, and we were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, only the two of us in the house. 19“This woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on it. 20“So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead son in my bosom. 21“When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, behold, he was dead; but when I looked at him carefully in the morning, behold, he was not my son, whom I had borne.” 22Then the other woman said, “No! For the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son.” But the first woman said, “No! For the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son.” Thus they spoke before the king.
23Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son who is living, and your son is the dead one’; and the other says, ‘No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’” 24The king said, “Get me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king. 25The king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.” 26Then the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for she was deeply stirred over her son and said, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him!” 27Then the king said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.” 28When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.
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