1Ki 3 | ABEn | STEP | And the kingdom solidified in the hand of Solomon. And Solomon contracted a marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt. And he took the daughter of Pharaoh, and he brought her into the city of David, until he completed building his house, and the house of the lord at first, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.

‏ 1 Kings 3

CHAPTER 3 Solomon Seeks Understanding in Judgment

1 And the kingdom solidified in the hand of Solomon. And Solomon contracted a marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt. And he took the daughter of Pharaoh, and he brought her into the city of David, until he completed building his house, and the house of the lord at first, and the wall of Jerusalem round about. 2 Except the people were burning incense upon the high places, for [²was not ³built ¹a house] to the name of the lord until now. 3 And Solomon loved the lord, to go in the orders of David his father; only [⁴in ⁵the ⁶high places ¹he sacrificed ²and ³burned incense]. 4 And he rose up and went into Gibeon to sacrifice there, for it was highest and great. [²a thousand ³whole burnt-offerings ¹Solomon offered] upon the altar in Gibeon. 5 And the lord appeared to Solomon in sleep at night. And the lord said to Solomon, Ask any request for yourself! 6 And Solomon said, You did [³with ⁴your servant ⁵David ⁶my father ²mercy ¹great], as he went before you in truth, and in righteousness, and in straightness of heart with you. And you guarded him [³mercy ²great ¹by this], to grant to him a son sitting upon his throne as this day. 7 And now, O lord, my God, you gave reign to your servant in place of David my father. And I am [²boy ¹a small]; and I do not know my entering and my exiting. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you chose, [²people ¹a populous] who cannot be counted. 9 And you shall give to your servant a heart to hear and to litigate your people in righteousness, to perceive between good and bad. For who shall be able to judge [²for your people ¹this weighty thing]? 10 And [³was pleasing ¹the ²word] before the lord, that Solomon asked this thing. 11 And the lord said to him, Because you asked this thing from me, and you did not ask [³for yourself ²days ¹many], and you did not ask for riches, nor asked for the lives of your enemies; but you asked for yourself understanding to hear judgment; 12 behold, I have done according to your word; behold, I give to you [⁴heart ¹an intelligent ²and ³wise]. [²as ³you ¹There has not been one] before you, and after you there shall not rise up one likened to you. 13 And indeed what you have not asked, I have given to you, even riches and glory, as there is not a man likened to you among the kings. 14 And if you should have gone in my way, to guard my commandments, and my orders, as [³went ¹David ²your father], then I will prolong your days. 15 And Solomon woke up and knew the dream. And he rose up and came unto Jerusalem, and he stood in front of the altar, of the one in front of the ark of the covenant of the lord, and he led up whole burnt-offerings, and made peace offerings, and made a banquet to all his servants.

The Justice of Solomon

16 Then there appeared two women harlots unto the king, and they stood before him. 17 And [⁴said ¹the ³woman ²one], Hear me, O my master. I and this woman live in [²house ¹one], and we gave birth in the house. 18 And it came to pass in the [²day ¹third] of my giving birth, [³gave birth ²also ¹this woman]. And we were in the same place, and there was no one with us, only both of us in the house. 19 And [⁴died ¹the ²son ³of this woman] in the night, as she rested upon it. 20 And she rose up in the middle of the night, and she took my son from my embrace, and your maidservant rested, and she rested it in her bosom, and the son having died she rested in my bosom. 21 And I rose up in the morning to nurse my son, and that one was the one having died. And behold, I contemplated him in the morning; and behold, he was not my son whom I gave birth. 22 And [⁴said ³woman ¹the ²other], Not so, for my son is the one living, and your son is the one having died. And she said, Not so, your son is the one having died, and my son is the one living. And they spoke before the king. 23 And [³said ¹the ²king] to them, You here say, This my son is the one living, and this one's son is the one having died. And you there say, Not so, but my son is the one living, and this one's son is the one having died. 24 And [³said ¹the ²king], Take for me a sword! And they brought the sword before the king. 25 And [³said ¹the ²king], Divide [³child ¹the ²living] into two, and give the one half of him to this one, and the other half of him to this other one! 26 And [³answered ¹the ²woman] of whom was the mother of the [²son ¹living], and she said to the king, for [³was disturbed ²womb ¹her] over her son, and she said, Hear me, O master. give to her the child, and to death let [²not ³be put to death ¹it]! And she the other said, Neither to me nor to her let it be, divide it! 27 And [³responded ¹the ²king] and said, Give the [²child ¹living] to the one having said, Give it to her! and unto death you should not put it to death -- she is his mother. 28 And [³heard ¹all ²Israel] this ordinance which [³passed judgment ¹the ²king], and they feared from the presence of the king, for they knew that intellect of God was in him to do justice.