[1] Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh`s
daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end
of building his own house, and the house of Yahweh, and the wall of
Jerusalem round about. [2] Only the people sacrificed in the high places,
because there was no house built for the name of Yahweh until those days.
[3] Solomon loved Yahweh, walking in the statutes of David his father: only
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: a thousand
burnt offerings did Solomon offer on that altar. [5] In Gibeon Yahweh
appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall
give you. [6] Solomon said, You have showed to your servant David my father
great lovingkindness, according as he walked before you in truth, and in
righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you; and you have kept for
him this great lovingkindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his
throne, as it is this day. [7] Now, Yahweh my God, you have made your
servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child; I
don`t know how to go out or come in. [8] Your servant is in the midst of
your people which you have chosen, a great people, that can`t be numbered
nor 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 your great people? [10] The speech 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, neither
have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked 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 an
understanding heart; so that there has been none like you before you,
neither after you shall any arise like you. [13] I have also given you that
which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be
any among the kings like you, all your days. [14] If you will walk in my
ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David did
walk, then I will lengthen your days. [15] Solomon awoke; and, behold, it
was a dream: and he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the
covenant of Yahweh, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered
peace-offerings, and made a feast to all his servants. [16] Then there came
two women who were prostitutes, to the king, and stood before him. [17] The
one woman said, Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was
delivered of a child with her in the house. [18] It happened the third day
after I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also; and we were
together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we 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
handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my
bosom. [21] When I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it
was dead; but when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my
son, whom I bore. [22] The other woman said, No; but the living is my son,
and the dead is your son. This said, No; but the dead is your son, and the
living is my son. Thus they spoke before the king. [23] Then said the king,
The one says, This is my son who lives, and your son is the dead: and the
other says, No; but your son is the dead, and my son is the living. [24]
The king said, Get me a sword. 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 spoke the woman whose the living child was
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 it. But the other said, It
shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it. [27] Then the king answered,
Give her the living child, and in no way kill it: she is the mother of it.
[28] All Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they
feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do
justice.
