1 Kings 3:16–28

¹⁶Then there came two women that were harlots, to the king, and stood before him.

¹⁷And one of them said: I beseech thee, my lord, I and this woman dwelt in one house, and I was delivered of a child with her in the chamber.

¹⁸And the third day after I was delivered, she also was delivered; and we were together, and no other person with us in the house; only we two.

¹⁹And this woman’s child died in the night: for in her sleep she overlaid him.

²⁰And rising in the dead time of the night, she took my child from my side, while I, thy handmaid, was asleep, and laid it in her bosom: and laid her dead child in my bosom.

²¹And when I arose in the morning, to give my child suck, behold it was dead: but considering him more diligently, when it was clear day, I found that it was not mine which I bore.

²²And the other woman answered: It is not so as thou sayst, but thy child is dead, and mine is alive. On the contrary, she said; Thou liest: for my child liveth, and thy child is dead. And in this manner they strove before the king.

²³Then said the king: The one saith, My child is alive, and thy child is dead. And the other answereth: Nay; but thy child is dead, and mine liveth.

²⁴The king therefore said: Bring me a sword. And when they had brought a sword before the king,

²⁵Divide, said he, the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.

²⁶But the woman, whose child was alive, said to the king; (for her bowels were moved upon her child) I beseech thee, my lord, give her the child alive, and do not kill it. But the other said: Let it be neither mine nor thine; but divide it.

²⁷The king answered, and said: Give the living child to this woman, and let it not be killed; for she is the mother thereof.

²⁸And all Israel heard the judgment which the king had judged, and they feared the king, seeing that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment.