1 Kings 3

1 Kings 3

1Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt . He took Pharaoh ’s daughter and brought her into David ’s city until he had finished building his own house , the LORD ’s house , and the wall around Jerusalem .

2However , the people sacrificed in the high places , because there was not yet a house built for the LORD ’s name .

3Solomon loved the LORD , walking in the statutes of David his father, except that he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places .

4The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there , for that was the great high place . Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar .

5In Gibeon , the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night ; and God said, “Ask for what I should give you .”

6Solomon said, “You have shown to your servant David my father great loving kindness , because he walked before you in truth, in righteousness , and in uprightness of heart with you . You have kept for him this great loving kindness , that you have given him a son to sit on his throne , as it is today .

7Now , LORD my God , you have made your servant king instead of David my father. I am just a little child . I don’t know how to go out or come in .

8Your servant is amongst your people which you have chosen, a great people , that can ’t be numbered or counted for multitude .

9Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people , that I may discern between good and evil ; for who is able to judge this great people of yours ?”

10This request pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing .

11God said to him , “Because you have asked this thing , and have not asked for yourself long life , nor have you asked for riches for yourself , nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice ,

12behold , I have done according to your word . Behold , I have given you a wise and understanding heart , so that there has been no one like you before you , and after you none will arise like you .

13I have also given you that which you have not asked , both riches and honour , so that there will not be any amongst the kings like you for all your days .

14If you will walk in my ways , to keep my statutes and my commandments , as your father David walked , then I will lengthen your days .”

15Solomon awoke ; and behold , it was a dream . Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the LORD ’s covenant , and offered up burnt offerings , offered peace offerings , and made a feast for all his servants .

16Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king , and stood before him .

17The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house . I delivered a child with her in the house .

18The third day after I delivered , this woman delivered also . We were together . There was no stranger with us in the house , just us two in the house .

19This woman’s child died in the night , because she lay on it .

20She arose at midnight , and took my son from beside me while your servant slept , and laid it in her bosom , and laid her dead child in my bosom .

21When I rose in the morning to nurse my child , behold , he was dead ; but when I had looked at him in the morning , behold , it was not my son whom I bore .”

22The other woman said , “No ! But the living one is my son , and the dead one is your son .”

The first one said , “No ! But the dead one is your son , and the living one is my son .” They argued like this before the king .

23Then the king said, “One says, ‘This is my son who lives , and your son is the dead one;’ and the other says, ‘No ! But 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 the living child was spoke to the king , for her heart yearned over her son , and she said, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child , and in no way kill him !”

But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours . Divide him .”

27Then the king answered , “Give the first woman the living child , and definitely do not kill him . She is his mother.”

28All Israel heard of the judgement which the king had judged ; and they feared the king , for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice .

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