Chapter 3
1 Solomon 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 .
2 However , the people sacrificed in the high places , because there was not yet a house built for the LORD ’s name .
3 Solomon loved the LORD , walking in the statutes of David his father, except that he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places .
4 The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there , for that was the great high place . Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar .
5 In Gibeon , the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night ; and God said, " Ask for what I should give you ."
6 Solomon 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 .
7 Now , 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 .
8 Your servant is amongst your people which you have chosen, a great people , that can ’t be numbered or counted for multitude .
9 Give 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 ?"
10 This request pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing .
11 God 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 ,
12 behold , 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 .
13 I 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 .
14 If you will walk in my ways , to keep my statutes and my commandments , as your father David walked , then I will lengthen your days ."
15 Solomon 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 .
16 Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king , and stood before him .
17 The one woman said, "Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house . I delivered a child with her in the house .
18 The 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 .
19 This woman’s child died in the night , because she lay on it .
20 She 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 .
21 When 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 ."
22 The 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 .
23 Then 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 .’"
24 The king said, " Get me a sword ." So they brought a sword before the king .
25 The king said, " Divide the living child in two , and give half to the one , and half to the other ."
26 Then 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 ."
27 Then the king answered , " Give the first woman the living child , and definitely do not kill him . She is his mother."
28 All 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 .