Dual Panel1Solomon <08010> made <02859> an alliance <02859> by <0854> marriage with Pharaoh <06547>, king <04428> of Egypt <04714>; he married <03947> Pharaoh’s <06547> daughter <01323>. He brought <0935> her to <0413> the City <05892> of David <01732> until <05704> he could finish <03615> building <01129> his residence <01004> and the temple <01004> of the Lord <03068> and the wall <02346> around <05439> Jerusalem <03389>.
2Now the people <05971> were offering sacrifices <02076> at the high places <01116>, because <03588> in those <01992> days <03117> a temple <01004> had not <03808> yet been built <01129> to honor <08034> the Lord <03068>.
3Solomon <08010> demonstrated his loyalty <0157> to the Lord <03068> by following <01980> the practices <02708> of his father <01> David <01732>, except <07535> that <01931> he offered sacrifices <02076> and burned incense <06999> on the high places <01116>.
4The king <04428> went <01980> to Gibeon <01391> to offer sacrifices <02076>, for <03588> it <01931> had the most prominent <01419> of the high places <01116>. Solomon <08010> would offer up <05927> a thousand <0505> burnt sacrifices <05930> on <05921> the altar <04196> there.
5One night <03915> in Gibeon <01391> the Lord <03068> appeared <07200> to <0413> Solomon <08010> in a dream <02472>. God <0430> said <0559>, “Tell <07592> me what <04100> I should give <05414> you.”
6Solomon <08010> replied <0559>, “You <0859> demonstrated <06213> great <01419> loyalty <02617> to <05973> your servant <05650>, my father <01> David <01732>, as <0834> he served <01980> you faithfully <0571>, properly <06666>, and sincerely <03824> <03483>. You have maintained <08104> this <02088> great <01419> loyalty <02617> to this <02088> day <03117> by allowing <05414> his son <01121> to sit <03427> on <05921> his throne <03678>.
7Now <06258>, O Lord <03068> my God <0430>, you <0859> have made your servant <05650> king <04427> in <08478> my father <01> David’s <01732> place <08478>, even though I <0595> am only a young <06996> man <05288> and am inexperienced <0935> <03318> <03045> <03808>.
8Your servant <05650> stands among <08432> your chosen <0977> people <05971>; they are a great <07227> nation <05971> that is too numerous <07230> to count <04487> or number <05608>.
9So give <05414> your servant <05650> a discerning <08085> mind <03820> so he can make judicial decisions <08199> for your people <05971> and distinguish <0995> right <02896> from wrong <07451>. Otherwise <03588> no one <04310> is able <03201> to make judicial decisions <08199> for this <02088> great <03515> nation <05971> of yours.”
10The Lord <0136> was pleased <05869> <03190> that <03588> Solomon <08010> made <07592> this <02088> request <01697>.
11God <0430> said <0559> to <0413> him, “Because <0834> <03282> you asked <07592> for the ability to make wise <0995> judicial decisions <04941>, and not <03808> for long <07227> life <03117>, or <03808> riches <06239>, or <03808> vengeance <07592> on your enemies <0341>,
12I grant <06213> your request <01697>, and give <05414> you a wise <02450> and discerning <0995> mind <03820> superior to <0834> that of anyone who has preceded <06440> or will succeed <06965> you.
13Furthermore <01571>, I am giving <05414> you what <0834> you did not <03808> request <07592>– riches <06239> and <01571> honor <03519> so that you will be <01961> the greatest king <04428> of your generation.
14If <0518> you follow <01980> my instructions <01870> by obeying <08104> my rules <02706> and regulations <04687>, just as <0834> your father <01> David <01732> did <01980>, then I will grant <0748> you long <0748> life <03117>.”
15Solomon <08010> then woke up <03364> and realized <02009> it was a dream <02472>. He went <0935> to Jerusalem <03389>, stood <05975> before <06440> the ark <0727> of the Lord’s <0136> covenant <01285>, offered up <05927> burnt sacrifices <05930>, presented <06213> peace offerings <08002>, and held <06213> a feast <04960> for all <03605> his servants <05650>.
16Then <0227> two <08147> prostitutes <02185> <0802> came <0935> to <0413> the king <04428> and stood <05975> before <06440> him.
17One <0259> of the women <0802> said <0559>, “My master <0113>, this <02063> woman <0802> and I <0589> live <03427> in the same <0259> house <01004>. I had a baby <03205> while she was with <05973> me in the house <01004>.
18Then three <07992> days <03117> after <01961> I had <03205> my baby <03205>, this <02063> woman <0802> also <01571> had a baby <03205>. We <0587> were alone <03162>; there was no one <0369> else <02114> in <0854> the house <01004> except <02108> the two <08147> of us <0587>.
19This woman’s <0802> child <01121> suffocated <04191> during the night <03915> when <0834> she rolled <07901> on <05921> top of him.
20She got up <06965> in the middle <08432> of the night <03915> and took <03947> my son <01121> from my side <0681>, while your servant <0519> was sleeping <03463>. She put <07901> him in her arms <02436>, and put <07901> her dead <04191> son <01121> in my arms <02436>.
21I got up <06965> in the morning <01242> to nurse <03243> my son <01121>, and there he was, dead <04191>! But when I examined <0995> him carefully in the morning <01242>, I realized <02009> it was <01961> not <03808> my baby <01121>.”
22The other <0312> woman <0802> said <0559>, “No <03808>! My son <01121> is alive <02416>; your son <01121> is dead <04191>!” But the first woman <02063> replied <0559>, “No <03808>, your son <01121> is dead <04191>; my son <01121> is alive <02416>.” Each presented <01696> her case before <06440> the king <04428>.
23The king <04428> said <0559>, “One <02063> says <0559>, ‘My son <01121> is alive <02416>; your son <01121> is dead <04191>,’ while <03588> the other <02063> says <0559>, ‘No <03808>, your son <01121> is dead <04191>; my son <01121> is alive <02416>.’”
24The king <04428> ordered <0559>, “Get <03947> me a sword <02719>!” So they placed <0935> a sword <02719> before <06440> the king <04428>.
25The king <04428> then said <0559>, “Cut <01504> the living <02416> child <03206> in two <08147>, and give <05414> half <02677> to one <0259> and half <02677> to the other <0259>!”
26The real mother <0802> spoke up <0559> to <0413> the king <04428>, for <03588> her motherly instincts <01121> <07356> were aroused <03648>. She said <0559>, “My master <0113>, give <05414> her the living <02416> child <03205>! Whatever you do, don’t <0408> kill <04191> him!” But the other <02063> woman said <0559>, “Neither one <03808> <01571> of us will have him! Let them cut <01504> him in two <01504>!”
27The king <04428> responded <06030>, “Give <05414> the first woman the living <02416> child <03205>; don’t <03808> kill <04191> him. She <01931> is the mother <0517>.”
28When all <03605> Israel <03478> heard <08085> about the judicial decision <04941> which <0834> the king <04428> had rendered <08199>, they respected <03372> the king <04428>, for <03588> they realized <07200> that <03588> he possessed <07130> supernatural <0430> wisdom <02451> to make <06213> judicial decisions <04941>.