The Justice of Solomon
One day, two women came before King Solomon asking him to settle a dispute. Both women lived in the same house and had recently given birth to baby boys. One woman claimed that during the night the other womans baby had died, and that she had secretly exchanged the babies while everyone was asleep.
The second woman denied the accusation. Each woman insisted that the living child belonged to her and that the dead child belonged to the other. Since there were no witnesses, it seemed impossible to know who was telling the truth.
Solomon listened carefully to both sides. Then he ordered a soldier to bring a sword and divide the living baby into two parts so that each woman could receive half. The real mother immediately begged the king not to harm the child. She was willing to give up her claim if the baby could live.
The other woman agreed with Solomon's suggestion and wanted the child divided. Solomon then understood who the true mother was. He declared that the woman who wanted to save the baby was the real mother and ordered that the child be given to her. The people were amazed by Solomon's wisdom and justice.
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BIble verse
NIV
"Then the king gave his ruling: Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother." — 1 Kings 3:27 (NIV)
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Questions & Answers (QA)
1. How many women came before Solomon?
2. Why did they come to Solomon?
3. What happened to one of the babies?
4. What did the first woman accuse the other woman of doing?
5. Why was the case difficult?
6. What did Solomon ask a soldier to bring?
7. What did Solomon propose to do with the baby?
8. How did the real mother respond?
9. What did Solomon decide?
10. How did the people react?
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