{"id":61321,"date":"2018-07-09T17:44:08","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-290\/"},"modified":"2023-03-16T09:13:08","modified_gmt":"2023-03-16T07:13:08","slug":"wall-290","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-290\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-I Kings-3"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"290","date":"20261008","book":"I Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"290","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"61250","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible - I Kings Chapter 3 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible - I Kings Chapter 3","slug":"jps-audio-bible-i-kings-chapter-3","old_id":"61250","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"290","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"I Kings Chapter 3","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"Hear the daily chapter","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/JPS_Audio_Bible_I_Kings_Chapter_3","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"290","date":"20261008","wall_id":"290"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"113546","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Split-Second Decision","post_title":"Split-Second Decision","slug":"split-second-decision","old_id":"113546","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. 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Chapter 3 tells the famous story of the two women fighting over a baby. After an introduction highlighting Solomon\u2019s wisdom, the chapter jumps directly into the story as the ultimate example of this quality of his.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Two prostitutes come before Solomon with a dilemma. One of the women gives the background. The two gave birth around the same time in the same house. One night while they were sleeping, according to the first woman, the other woman\u2019s baby died because its mother lied down on it. (It is unclear if this was intentional or an accident). According to the first woman, the second woman then secretly snuck into her room and switched her dead baby with the other woman\u2019s live one. When the first woman woke up, she was startled to see her son dead, but then realized it was not her baby. The first woman asks Solomon to force the second woman to give her the baby. The second woman protests that the first woman is lying.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Solomon immediately asks for a sword. He tells the two women that he will cut the baby in half and give each woman a half. The second, accused, woman cries out and tells Solomon to give the baby to the first woman. She would rather the baby live than it be killed, even if it goes to the other woman. The first woman is fine with neither of them having the child.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Solomon decrees that the baby remain with the second woman. Her compassion for the child revealed that she is the true mother.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When all Israel heard the decision that the king had rendered, they stood in awe of the king; for they saw that he possessed divine wisdom to execute justice (verse 28).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why does this story send such shockwaves through the land that it is the ultimate sign of Solomon\u2019s wisdom? Malbim explains that the people were impressed with how swiftly Solomon figured out the dilemma. His immediate call for the sword showed that he quickly figured out the problem. Metzudat David explains that the people were impressed by the creative sword test. Radak points to the second part of the verse as the key revelation. The people feared Solomon\u2019s wisdom because they believed that his judgment was divinely inspired.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is also possible that the people were impressed that Solomon would give his time to dispense justice in a dispute between two prostitutes. He cared for the result, even for these two women and their (bastard) child. It is also possible that the people were in awe with how Solomon did not flinch when he decreed that a child should be cut in half. Solomon did not deliberate or even ask for advice.This showed that he had complete confidence in his decree and the expected result.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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Jeremy Benstein is the editor of 929 English. \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":61701,"alt":"","title":"ah and jb","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/ah-and-jb.jpg","width":950,"height":637,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/ah-and-jb-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/ah-and-jb-300x201.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":201,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/ah-and-jb-768x515.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":515,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/ah-and-jb.jpg","large-width":950,"large-height":637,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/ah-and-jb.jpg","1536x1536-width":950,"1536x1536-height":637,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/ah-and-jb.jpg","2048x2048-width":950,"2048x2048-height":637,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/ah-and-jb.jpg","post_full_size-width":950,"post_full_size-height":637,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/ah-and-jb-626x420.jpg","home_baner-width":626,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"290","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And it\u2019s between two women\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

Many read the story of Solomon\u2019s judgment regarding the two women and their single surviving baby as one of Solomon\u2019s divine, almost miraculous, wisdom, and his uncanny ability to get at the absolute truth. The wise king uses a clever ruse to divine the secret and reveal to the crowd and to all Israel: who is the <\/span>real <\/span><\/i>mother (and in so doing, reveal as well, who is the wise king).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But that would be misreading both the Tanakh, and the nature of the institution of the law.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What Solomon did was not adjudicate the truth, or mete out absolute justice, by discovering the hidden identity of the true mother. Rather, he ruled in a custody battle and used an emotional test to try and decide which of the mothers was <\/span>more worthy <\/span><\/i>of being awarded the baby. The one who put the baby\u2019s welfare over her own, or at least over her own sense of right, the baby <\/span>deserved <\/span><\/i>her as a mother. And so therefore - that woman ipso facto becomes the mother.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The text tells us in verse 26 that the woman who \u201cwas overcome with compassion\u201d was indeed the real mother. But Solomon does not know that, and neither does anyone else. There is absolutely no corroborating evidence brought to prove one woman\u2019s case or the other. The test is brought in absence of proof, as a substitute for it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What the test does is determine a standard of motherhood, and then adjudicate according to it. Note that we have no idea if it is the plaintiff, the one who brought the case, claiming her (live) baby had been kidnapped, or the defendant, the one who claims that she did no wrong, is the real mother. The story is interested in neither truth nor justice - just in what constitutes worthy motherhood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The woman who loses the case is not punished. We don\u2019t know which one she is - plaintiff or defendant - but it seems that someone who tries to pawn off another\u2019s baby as her own, knowingly perjuring herself in the process, in a court of law, in front of the king no less, would receive some sort of punishment for her serious crimes. But no - she simply loses the custody battle and goes her way. She too is a mother, a grieving one, and truth and justice are not relevant here: the deciding factor is mercy and compassion for the maternal pain she has experienced.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So what we have here is neither divine oracle or miraculous wisdom, but the bio-power of the king to use high office to make decisions about desserts, motherhood and custody of a baby whose welfare will be cared for.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Peter Paul Rubens, The Judgement of Solomon, c. 1617 \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61584,"alt":"","title":"1kings3-judgement - Rubens","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens.jpg","width":800,"height":638,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens-300x239.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":239,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens-768x612.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":612,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":638,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":638,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":638,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":638,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens-527x420.jpg","home_baner-width":527,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Child Welfare And The World\u2019s First Custody Battle","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And it\u2019s between two women\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61584,"alt":"","title":"1kings3-judgement - Rubens","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens.jpg","width":800,"height":638,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens-300x239.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":239,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens-768x612.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":612,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":638,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":638,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":638,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":638,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-judgement-Rubens-527x420.jpg","home_baner-width":527,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"290","date":"20261008","wall_id":"290"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"391","name":"In\/Justice","old_id":"791"},{"term_id":"428","name":"Parent","old_id":"828"},{"term_id":"529","name":"Children","old_id":"929"},{"term_id":"646","name":"Court","old_id":"1046"}]},{"order":5,"id":"61554","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Grappling with SIDS ","post_title":"Grappling with SIDS","slug":"grappling-with-sids","old_id":"61554","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":61348,"post_title":"Adam Schogger","slug":"adam-schogger","old_id":"61348","first_name":"Adam ","last_name":"Schogger","description":"Adam Schogger is a family doctor from Manchester, England ","short_description":"Adam Schogger is a family doctor from Manchester, England ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":61354,"alt":"","title":"adam schogger","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/adam-schogger.jpg","width":542,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/adam-schogger-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/adam-schogger-226x300.jpg","medium-width":226,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/adam-schogger.jpg","medium_large-width":542,"medium_large-height":720,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/adam-schogger.jpg","large-width":542,"large-height":720,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/adam-schogger.jpg","1536x1536-width":542,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/adam-schogger.jpg","2048x2048-width":542,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/adam-schogger.jpg","post_full_size-width":542,"post_full_size-height":720,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/adam-schogger-316x420.jpg","home_baner-width":316,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"290","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The suffering of the mother who lost her child","post_main_content_content":"

Later two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him (verse 16)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So reads the introduction to one of the most famous passages in the Tanach; Mishpat Shlomo \u2013 the judgement of Solomon. Why is it necessary to know that the two women were harlots? Perhaps this is to show that the king was willing to listen to all, from the aristocracy to the margins of society and judge fairly.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I would like to focus on the bereaved mother. Of the two women the first is deemed by the commentators to be the mother of the living child. She gives an introduction, the narrative and her shock in finding a dead child at her breast in the morning who probably died a \u2018cot death\u2019 or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. We then read: \u201cNo, the live one is my son, and the dead one is yours!\u201d (verse 22).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That\u2019s all she says. \u201cNo, he\u2019s mine.\u201d For me this speaks volumes. Her bereavement has stunned her into silence. She is unable to say more than a few words. She is barely able to articulate a story, express her feelings nor make a credible defense. It is almost possible to touch her anguish and guilt.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Evidently Solomon could do so. Before him we have a harlot, a woman who has broken several of the Ten Commandments (\u2018You shall not steal\u2019 refers to kidnap, \u2018don\u2019t bear false witness\u2019 and \u2018don\u2019t covet your neighbour\u2019s\u2026..) and all this in in the court of the king.\u00a0 Anybody who has followed the last couple of books of the bible on 929 would have seen that the kings of the day were not exactly averse to the death penalty. But what happens? Solomon returns the child to his mother and the other is never mentioned again. Presumably she leaves dejected and broken and tries to resume her life.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I hope she had another child.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

My son, my son David.\u00a0 David, my son.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In loving memory of my son David Binyamin who died aged four months.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61555,"alt":"","title":"1kings3-sids","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","width":186,"height":278,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","medium-width":186,"medium-height":278,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","medium_large-width":186,"medium_large-height":278,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","large-width":186,"large-height":278,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","1536x1536-width":186,"1536x1536-height":278,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","2048x2048-width":186,"2048x2048-height":278,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","post_full_size-width":186,"post_full_size-height":278,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","home_baner-width":186,"home_baner-height":278}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Grappling with SIDS","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The suffering of the mother who lost her child","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61555,"alt":"","title":"1kings3-sids","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","width":186,"height":278,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","medium-width":186,"medium-height":278,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","medium_large-width":186,"medium_large-height":278,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","large-width":186,"large-height":278,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","1536x1536-width":186,"1536x1536-height":278,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","2048x2048-width":186,"2048x2048-height":278,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","post_full_size-width":186,"post_full_size-height":278,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-sids.png","home_baner-width":186,"home_baner-height":278}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"290","date":"20261008","wall_id":"290"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"383","name":"Death","old_id":"783"},{"term_id":"431","name":"Personal\/memoir","old_id":"831"},{"term_id":"487","name":"Health","old_id":"887"}]},{"order":6,"id":"61479","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Judge With No Evidence\u00a0 - Uses A Sword ","post_title":"A Judge With No Evidence\u00a0 - Uses A Sword","slug":"a-judge-with-no-evidence-uses-a-sword","old_id":"61479","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33692,"post_title":"Alex Israel","slug":"33692-2","old_id":"33692","first_name":"Alex","last_name":"Israel","description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem. His first book \"I Kings - Torn in Two\" was published in 2013. See his website www.alexisrael.org, and his podcasts at https:\/\/elmad.pardes.org\/ and https:\/\/tanachstudy.com\/ \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33693,"alt":"","title":"alex israel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","width":1657,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":679,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","large-width":679,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","1536x1536-width":1018,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","2048x2048-width":1357,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-795x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":795,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-278x420.jpg","home_baner-width":278,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"290","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And cuts through to the heart(s) of the matter, and the mothers","post_main_content_content":"

We will make two brief comments about this highly unusual court hearing in our chapter, concerning the two women arguing over the identity of a newborn baby.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

First, it is notable that this story is about two women from the lowest stratum of society. Two prostitutes present a case, and they receive an audience with the king! This should not be taken for granted; it is apparent that there is a policy of open access to the king in adjudicating civilian disputes (seen also in II Kings 6:26, II Sam. 14:4-5).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A second point of significance is that this dispute is held without a shred of corroborating evidence. While scholars have attempted to decode the deliberately opaque and confusing language, the text is delicately crafted to reflect the case itself \u2014 indecipherable and impossible to resolve. At first, the reader senses, along with Solomon, that the case is at an impasse; there is no conclusive evidence that might expose the identity of the true mother. Upon hearing Solomon's shocking decision, \"Fetch me a sword\" (3:24), the reader becomes confused and alarmed. But as the order is pronounced, \"Cut the live child in two,\" the reader identifies with the terror felt by the mother of the baby:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\"<\/span>Give her the live child, and by no means kill him<\/b>!\" <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>The other insisted: \"He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him!\" <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>The king answered and said: \"<\/span>Give her the live child, and by no means kill him!<\/b> She is his mother.\" (3:26-27)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The fact that Solomon pronounces the identity of the true mother using her own words, a verbatim repetition of her outcry, leaves us with no doubt that his design all along has been to tease this emotional outburst from the women. However, in a marvelous literary stroke, the account of the trial concludes without any verifiable means of deciphering which of the women is the true mother! The reader is deliberately left in the dark as Solomon solves the case, assured that he has discovered the truth and executed justice, even though the resolution is concealed and elusive! This literary device echoes the sense of wonder experienced by the nation as it marveled at the wisdom of the king.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Alex Israel, 1 Kings: Torn in Two<\/em>, Maggid Books, 2013, The Gift of Wisdom\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61437,"alt":"","title":"alex israel - kings 1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1.jpg","width":1020,"height":1304,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-235x300.jpg","medium-width":235,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-768x982.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":982,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-801x1024.jpg","large-width":801,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1020,"1536x1536-height":1304,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1020,"2048x2048-height":1304,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-939x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":939,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-329x420.jpg","home_baner-width":329,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"excerpts from: 1 Kings - Torn in Two","tile_main_caption":"A Judge With No Evidence\u00a0 - Uses A Sword","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And cuts through to the heart(s) of the matter, and the mothers","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61437,"alt":"","title":"alex israel - kings 1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1.jpg","width":1020,"height":1304,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-235x300.jpg","medium-width":235,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-768x982.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":982,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-801x1024.jpg","large-width":801,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1020,"1536x1536-height":1304,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1020,"2048x2048-height":1304,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-939x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":939,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-329x420.jpg","home_baner-width":329,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"290","date":"20261008","wall_id":"290"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"372","name":"Wisdom","old_id":"772"},{"term_id":"391","name":"In\/Justice","old_id":"791"},{"term_id":"646","name":"Court","old_id":"1046"},{"term_id":"838","name":"Solomon","old_id":"1238"}]},{"order":7,"id":"61580","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Solomon\u2019s Heart Of Understanding ","post_title":"Solomon\u2019s Heart Of Understanding","slug":"solomons-heart-of-understanding","old_id":"61580","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"290","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"In dream and reality","post_main_content_content":"

In our chapter, God appears to Solomon in a dream by night and asks what Solomon might request from God. Solomon prays \u201cGrant, then Your servant an understanding mind to judge Your people, to distinguish between good and bad. For who can judge this vast people of Yours?\u201d (1 Kings 3:5-9).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In his dream, Solomon says to God that he is not like other human judges. A king of flesh and blood sits in his place of judgment and passes death-sentences for execution by beheading, strangulation, burning or by stoning (see Mishnah Sanhedrin 7:1) and thinks nothing of it. And if the human king, sitting in judgement, could legally render a fine of one sela\u2019, he takes two, or if two, he takes three. And if by law he could render a fine of one dinar, he takes a maneh (100 dinars = 1 maneh). But, says Solomon, I am not like that. If I should wrongly find a person guilty in monetary matters, I would be judged as if I had committed a capital crime, as it says: \u201cDo not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the Lord will argue their case and may exact the life of the judge\u201d (Proverbs 22:22-23; Sifre Devarim 9) .<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The continuation of our chapter relates the famous story of the Judgement of Solomon (1 Kings 3:16-28). Our chapter presents this rendering of judgement by King Solomon as evidence of his psychological understanding and wise judgement -- \u201cWhen all Israel heard the decision that the king had rendered, they stood in awe of the king; for they saw that he possessed divine wisdom to execute justice\u201d (1 Kings 3:28).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It turns out that the tale of Solomon\u2019s Judgement is one example of a folktale type found in many of the world\u2019s cultures, especially India and the Far East (classified as Aarne-Thompson tale type 926 \u201cChild Custody\u201d). Our biblical story was adapted by the German playwright Bertolt Brecht in his 1944 play \u201cThe Caucasian Chalk Circle\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Luca Giordano \u2013 Dream of Solomon \u2013 God promises Solomon Wisdom, c. 1694-1695 \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61581,"alt":"","title":"1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon.jpg","width":800,"height":552,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon-300x207.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":207,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon-768x530.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":530,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":552,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":552,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":552,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":552,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon-609x420.jpg","home_baner-width":609,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Solomon\u2019s Heart Of Understanding","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"In dream and reality","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61581,"alt":"","title":"1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon.jpg","width":800,"height":552,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon-300x207.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":207,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon-768x530.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":530,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":552,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":552,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":552,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":552,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-Luca_Giordano_-_Dream_of_Solomon-609x420.jpg","home_baner-width":609,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"290","date":"20261008","wall_id":"290"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"372","name":"Wisdom","old_id":"772"},{"term_id":"391","name":"In\/Justice","old_id":"791"},{"term_id":"651","name":"Aggadah","old_id":"1051"},{"term_id":"838","name":"Solomon","old_id":"1238"}]},{"order":8,"id":"61592","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Solomon\u2019s Courage, Grace and Wisdom ","post_title":"Solomon\u2019s Courage, Grace And Wisdom","slug":"solomons-courage-grace-and-wisdom","old_id":"61592","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":56290,"post_title":"Sandra Cohen","slug":"sandra-cohen","old_id":"56290","first_name":"Sandra ","last_name":"Cohen","description":"Rabbi Sandra Cohen teaches, provides pastoral care, and works in mental health outreach. She and her husband live in Denver, Colorado. ","short_description":"Rabbi Sandra Cohen teaches, provides pastoral care, and works in mental health outreach.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":56293,"alt":"","title":"Sandra Cohen","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen.jpg","width":279,"height":303,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen-276x300.jpg","medium-width":276,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen.jpg","medium_large-width":279,"medium_large-height":303,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen.jpg","large-width":279,"large-height":303,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen.jpg","1536x1536-width":279,"1536x1536-height":303,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen.jpg","2048x2048-width":279,"2048x2048-height":303,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen.jpg","post_full_size-width":279,"post_full_size-height":303,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Sandra-Cohen.jpg","home_baner-width":279,"home_baner-height":303}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"290","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Everyone deserves to be judged in truth","post_main_content_content":"

King Solomon\u2019s in Hebrew, Shlomo, means \u201cHis (presumably God\u2019s) peace.\u201d How do we experience this peace? Traditionally, it seems, through Solomon\u2019s wisdom, which he acquires in today\u2019s chapter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God appears to Solomon in a dream and offers him, well, anything.\u00a0 \u201cWhat shall I give you?\u201d But the King does not fall for this ruse. He does not ask for money or power or even long life.\u00a0 Instead, he confesses that he is not sure he is up to the task in front of him. He has just survived a battle to succeed his father and become king of Judah and Israel, no easy task.\u00a0 He is worried, perhaps, that he is no David. Instead of power, however, he asks for a \u201clev shome\u2019a<\/em>,\u201d a \u201clistening heart,\u201d with which to judge God\u2019s own people, to be able to figure out \u201cgood and bad,\u201d right and wrong, \u201cfor who can judge your people?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And thus does Solomon become not only wise, but rich and glorious as well. God is so pleased by the request, that God promises that which the king did not ask for: riches and long life, as long as Solomon walks in God\u2019s ways, following God\u2019s Torah. King Solomon, of course, by tradition, goes on to display his wisdom in the books of Proverbs and Kohelet\/Ecclesiastes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But where is his wisdom first put to the test? Not in grand writings, nor in governance, but in the story of the baby claimed by two mothers \u2014 and prostitutes at that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The text presents this as a run-of-the-mill encounter with the king, but it could not have been. How, in the normal course of things, did two prostitutes, who come from the lowest caste of society, have access to the king, who position is second only to God? The juxtaposition of the lowly and the mighty in this story, following so closely on God\u2019s gift of wisdom to King Solomon, underlines what it means for Solomon to know \u201cright from wrong.\u201d It is, as the king had asked, \u201cto have a listening heart.\u201d Knowledge comes from the learned and power may come from strategic alliances, but wisdom \u2014 and, from wisdom, the ability to \u201cobserve ... mitzvot\u201d \u2014 may come from unexpected places.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

King Solomon\u2019s willingness to be available to two women, whose only livelihood came from selling themselves, who had no other discernible resources, was an act of courage and grace. He saw that they, too, deserved to be judged fairly, according to God\u2019s law. They learned from him; he grew from judging them. And, by so doing, King Solomon\u2019s wisdom was recognized by all Israel; \u201cthey stood in awe of the King.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Everyone deserves to be judged in truth.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image: Simeon Solomon, King Solomon, c. 1873 \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61594,"alt":"","title":"1kings3-King_Solomon","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon.jpg","width":332,"height":599,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon-166x300.jpg","medium-width":166,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon.jpg","medium_large-width":332,"medium_large-height":599,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon.jpg","large-width":332,"large-height":599,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon.jpg","1536x1536-width":332,"1536x1536-height":599,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon.jpg","2048x2048-width":332,"2048x2048-height":599,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon.jpg","post_full_size-width":332,"post_full_size-height":599,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon-233x420.jpg","home_baner-width":233,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Solomon\u2019s Courage, Grace And Wisdom","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Everyone deserves to be judged in truth \u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61594,"alt":"","title":"1kings3-King_Solomon","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon.jpg","width":332,"height":599,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon-166x300.jpg","medium-width":166,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon.jpg","medium_large-width":332,"medium_large-height":599,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon.jpg","large-width":332,"large-height":599,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon.jpg","1536x1536-width":332,"1536x1536-height":599,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon.jpg","2048x2048-width":332,"2048x2048-height":599,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon.jpg","post_full_size-width":332,"post_full_size-height":599,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-King_Solomon-233x420.jpg","home_baner-width":233,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"290","date":"20261008","wall_id":"290"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"372","name":"Wisdom","old_id":"772"},{"term_id":"391","name":"In\/Justice","old_id":"791"},{"term_id":"519","name":"Courage","old_id":"919"},{"term_id":"838","name":"Solomon","old_id":"1238"}]},{"order":9,"id":"61567","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"The Third Woman: A Princess No Less ","post_title":"The Third Woman: A Princess No Less","slug":"the-third-woman-a-princess-no-less","old_id":"61567","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":39842,"post_title":"Avigayil Halpern","slug":"avigayil-halpern","old_id":"39842","first_name":"Avigayil ","last_name":"Halpern ","description":"Avigayil Halpern graduated from Yale in May of 2019 and is beginning study toward rabbinic ordination at the Hadar Institute. Avigayil has written extensively on issues of Jewish observance and gender in the Jewish media, and was an opinion columnist for the Yale Daily News.","short_description":"Avigayil Halpern graduated from Yale in May of 2019 and is beginning study toward rabbinic ordination at the Hadar Institute","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":39843,"alt":"","title":"A. Halpern headshot","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/A.-Halpern-headshot-e1536749058221.jpg","width":1612,"height":1935,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/A.-Halpern-headshot-e1536749058221-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/A.-Halpern-headshot-e1536749058221-250x300.jpg","medium-width":250,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/A.-Halpern-headshot-e1536749058221-768x922.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":922,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/A.-Halpern-headshot-e1536749058221-853x1024.jpg","large-width":853,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/A.-Halpern-headshot-e1536749058221.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/A.-Halpern-headshot-e1536749058221.jpg","2048x2048-width":1612,"2048x2048-height":1935,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/A.-Halpern-headshot-e1536749058221-1000x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/A.-Halpern-headshot-e1536749058221-350x420.jpg","home_baner-width":350,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"290","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Like the two prostitutes with one baby, she too is here not to speak for herself, but to communicate something to us about Solomon\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The best-known women characters from this chapter of 1 Kings are, of course, the two mothers fighting over one baby. But there is another woman who makes an appearance, right at the beginning of the chapter: \u201cSolomon allied himself by marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He married Pharaoh\u2019s daughter and brought her to the City of David [to live there] until he had finished building his palace, and the House of the LORD, and the walls around Jerusalem,\u201d (I Kings 3:1). Pharaoh\u2019s daughter is yet another king\u2019s consort who is voiceless when she is introduced to the reader.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the context of the chapter, King Solomon\u2019s marriage to Pharaoh\u2019s daughter is parallel to the completion of the building of his palace. A great king, the verse implies, builds palaces and political alliances -- and building alliances is sometimes best achieved through marriage. Pharaoh\u2019s daughter is a tool towards a larger end: enhancing and consolidating King Solomon\u2019s authority. She is the first symbol of many that point towards the beginnings of an empire being built.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Like the two distraught mothers later in Chapter 3, Pharaoh\u2019s daughter\u2019s primary function in the narrative is to communicate something about Solomon to the reader. The mothers\u2019 literary purpose, as they stand before the king with their single infant, is ultimately to demonstrate King Solomon\u2019s tremendous wisdom. They act with agency within the text, but nevertheless ultimately serve to highlight Solomon\u2019s power. Even more so, Pharaoh's daughter is even more simply a representation of monarchical strength: she doesn\u2019t speak at all.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Pharaoh\u2019s daughter is almost an afterthought in a Biblical chapter so fraught with drama and suspense. The other women characters in Chapter 3 act with such passion and intent that it is easy to miss the quick mention of one woman, brought far from her home to cement political alliances.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But it is important not to miss her, this nameless figure: the women who do not speak matter too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Princess of Akhenaton family, between 1351 and 1332, Louvre \/ 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Third Woman: A Princess No Less","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Like the two prostitutes with one baby, she too is here not to speak for herself, but to communicate something to us about 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He has written over twenty books, focusing on such topics as the European novel from the 18th century to the present, contemporary American fiction, and modern Hebrew literature. He has also written extensively on the literary aspects of the Bible. His most recent work is his monumental three volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019 - from which the selections in 929 are taken. ","short_description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, and author of the three-volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":54357,"alt":"","title":"robert alter","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","width":184,"height":275,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium-width":184,"medium-height":275,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium_large-width":184,"medium_large-height":275,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","large-width":184,"large-height":275,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","1536x1536-width":184,"1536x1536-height":275,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","2048x2048-width":184,"2048x2048-height":275,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","post_full_size-width":184,"post_full_size-height":275,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","home_baner-width":184,"home_baner-height":275}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"290","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Solomon\u2019s decree may have traveled far and wide","post_main_content_content":"

3:25 \u201cAnd the king said, \u2018Cut the living child in two, and give half to one, and half to the other.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This momentarily shocking decree, which will then be seen to be a manifestation of Solomon\u2019s wisdom, is a clear expression of the fabulous or folktale character of the whole story. There is an approximate equivalent of the Judgement of Solomon in Indian literature that some scholars think may have even been its ultimate source, reaching ancient Israel through oral transmission. In any case, it sounds very much like a tale of surprising wisdom told among the people, or perhaps among many peoples, that was eventually attributed to Solomon.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From: Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible<\/em>, vol. 2: Prophets, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019, ad loc. By permission of the author.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"From Robert Alter's Bible Translation and Commentary","tile_main_caption":"Fairy Tale Wisdom","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Solomon\u2019s decree may have traveled far and wide","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"290","date":"20261008","wall_id":"290"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":11,"id":"61587","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Transparency of Solomon ","post_title":"The Transparency Of Solomon","slug":"the-transparency-of-solomon","old_id":"61587","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34250,"post_title":"Sarah Rudolph","slug":"sarah-rudolph","old_id":"34250","first_name":"Sarah ","last_name":"Rudolph","description":"Sarah Rudolph is a freelance Jewish educator, writer, and editor. She has been sharing her passion for Jewish texts of all kinds for over 15 years, with students of all ages. Sarah\u2019s essays have been published in a variety of internet and print media, including Times of Israel, Kveller, Jewish Action, OU Life, The Lehrhaus, TorahMusings, and more. 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Immediately after Solomon is granted wisdom from God, a court case materializes that famously demonstrates that wisdom: Two roommates show up, arguing over whose baby is dead and whose baby is alive. Solomon\u2019s solution? Split the living baby, so each woman gets half! The sword is ready, one woman is amenable \u2013 but the other declares she\u2019d rather the baby live, even if the other woman gets him, and Solomon declares her the true mother.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

On one hand, the juxtaposition between Solomon\u2019s request for wisdom and the case that demonstrates it is so striking that Malbim suggests God orchestrated the case to make clear \u201cthat God had fulfilled his request.\u201d Malbim\u2019s wording implies the goal was to convince Solomon himself \u2013 and as it happens, by the end of the story, when \u201call Israel heard,\u201d they too were convinced: \u201cthey saw that he possessed divine wisdom to execute justice (v. 28).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

On the other hand, Malbim wonders at the beginning of the section \u2013 as perhaps many of us have \u2013 \u201cWhat was the great wisdom in this judgment? It was already obvious that the [true] mother would have mercy!\u201d It seems similarly obvious that the king wouldn\u2019t really have split \u2013 i.e. killed \u2013 the child, and so Malbim also asks: \u201cWhat would he have done if the second woman had\u2026 understood his deceit, and also asked to keep the child alive?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In answer, Malbim suggests (as do others) that Solomon\u2019s \u201cruling\u201d wasn\u2019t actually a way to determine the truth; he knew that all along, because the women themselves gave it away. One woman insists \u201cthe live one is my son, and the dead one is yours!\u201d \u2013 prioritizing her own, living child \u2013 while the other proclaims in the opposite order, \u201cNo, the dead boy is yours; mine is the live one!\u201d (v. 22). Solomon deduces from their different emphases that one cares for her living child, while the other is only interested in making sure her opponent is <\/span>not<\/b> left with a living child. And he is confident that, fixated as she is on that goal, she won\u2019t see through his rather obvious strategy but will latch onto it eagerly \u2013 as she does.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If Solomon was so sure, however, why bother with the drama? Why not simply declare which was the true mother as soon as he realized?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps the answer lies in that final verse of the story: \u201cAll Israel\u2026 saw that he possessed divine wisdom to execute justice.\u201d While some read that to mean they were confident Solomon would seek the truth, Metzudat David goes a step further: \u201cTo execute justice \u2013 to understand the truth\u2026 <\/span>and<\/b> to clarify it through a trial.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is not enough for a king or judge to simply be certain in his own mind and rule accordingly. What Solomon offered in this first exhibition of his newly enhanced wisdom was transparency: he didn\u2019t simply determine the truth behind the closed doors of his divinely-enhanced mind, but created an opportunity for the world to see, learn, and trust.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Image: Nicolas Poussin: The Judgment of Solomon, c. 1649 \/ 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Snapshots","tile_main_caption":"I Kings 3: Solomon's Political (D)Alliances","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"with Adam Mintz ","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/bB_HWsKeuWU","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I 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Having settled his father\u2019s scores, Solomon set out to consolidate his own kingdom. Beginning with his nearest neighbor, Egypt, he entered into a marriage with Pharaoh\u2019s daughter. He then set about building his palace\u2014a multi-year venture\u2014and, in the absence of a temple, took advantage of a loophole in the law that allowed for sacrifices to be offered on a platform, or shrine (<\/span>bamah<\/span><\/em>) the largest of which, at this point in time, was situated in Gibeon.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

(This marks the debut of a trope that will recur throughout the Book of Kings: A king will be acknowledged for all his meritorious deeds, but a caveat will follow to the effect that \u201chowever, the platforms were not removed; the people continued offering sacrifices and incense on the platforms\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It was in Gibeon and on the occasion of a massive sacrifice that God appeared to Solomon in a dream and offered him whatever he would wish for. Read verses 11-14 closely; you should notice a contradiction, an internal inconsistency. Did you catch it? God mentioned three things for which Solomon could have asked: long life, riches, and victory over his enemies. Then He told Solomon that He would grant him his wish for wisdom, adding: \u201c<\/span>I also grant you what you did not ask for.\u201d However, while the riches and glory seem to be unconditional, the long life is made conditional on his \u201cobserving the commandments.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Radak, our stalwart <\/span>peshat<\/span><\/em> commentator on the Early Prophets, noted the contradiction and, based upon Deut. 17:12, \u201cand lest [the king] stray from the commandments\u2014right or left\u2014in order to extend his rule over his kingdom for many years,\u201d he explained:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This, indeed, came to pass. Because he failed to observe God\u2019s commandments, he did not live long, only 52 years. However, he possessed wealth and glory throughout his life.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Another medieval commentary, attributed to R. Yosef Kara, a disciple of Rashi, draws our attention to the fact that Solomon acquired wealth and glory as a direct consequence of his wisdom, to wit: \u201cThroughout the land, they sought to see Solomon and to hear the wisdom God had implanted in his heart. Each would bring a gift of silver and gold\u2026\u201d (1 Kings 10:24-5).<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61633,"alt":"","title":"1kings3-more","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more.jpg","width":1920,"height":1224,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-300x191.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":191,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-768x490.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":490,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-1024x653.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":653,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":979,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1224,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-1200x765.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":765,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-659x420.jpg","home_baner-width":659,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Solomon Got More Than He Bargained For","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Wealth and glory\u2014yes; longevity\u2014now, that depends...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61633,"alt":"","title":"1kings3-more","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more.jpg","width":1920,"height":1224,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-300x191.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":191,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-768x490.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":490,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-1024x653.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":653,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":979,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1224,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-1200x765.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":765,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings3-more-659x420.jpg","home_baner-width":659,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"290","date":"20261008","wall_id":"290"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"372","name":"Wisdom","old_id":"772"},{"term_id":"387","name":"Sacrifice","old_id":"787"},{"term_id":"735","name":"Gift","old_id":"1135"},{"term_id":"838","name":"Solomon","old_id":"1238"}]},{"order":14,"id":"61271","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Sefaria Source Sheets - I Kings 3 ","post_title":"Sefaria Source Sheets - I Kings 3","slug":"sefaria-source-sheets-i-kings-3","old_id":"61271","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42228,"post_title":"Sefaria","slug":"sefaria","old_id":"42228","first_name":"","last_name":"Sefaria","description":"Sefaria is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future of Jewish learning in an open and participatory way. 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\u201cA Listening Heart: Nurturing a Citizenship of Mutual Responsibility\u201d<\/a> by Josh Feigelson: What is the role of listening in our role as citizens?<\/p>\r\n

\u201cThe Wisdom of King Solomon<\/a>\u201d by Ariel Milan-Polisar: Explore the nature of wisdom.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Source Sheets - I Kings 3","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"290","date":"20261008","wall_id":"290"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":15,"id":"61388","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- I Kings 3 ","post_title":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- I Kings 3","slug":"a-lesson-on-the-daily-chapter-i-kings-3","old_id":"61388","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":40936,"post_title":"David Silber","slug":"david-silber-2","old_id":"40936","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Silber ","description":"Rabbi David Silber is the Founder and Dean of Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. 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    \r\n\t
  1. Marriage and politics<\/em>. Marital alliance between royal houses was common in the ancient world, in order to establish strategic connections between countries. Which of the kingdoms is the stronger? Arguably, in Solomon\u2019s marriage with Pharaoh\u2019s daughter, it is the Israelite kingdom that is the stronger. Proof of this might be found in the valuable dowry given in the form of the important city of Gezer (see chapter 9).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. \u201cBamot\u201d (shrines).<\/em> We\u2019re just at the beginning of Kings, and it\u2019s a good time to get to know the \u201cshrines,\u201d a topic that will be at the center of much attention. Shrines are places to worship God. Except\u2026 outside of the Temple in Jerusalem. Kings will be rated according to the condition of the shrines during their reign. In this chapter, there is not yet a Temple, so Solomon doesn\u2019t lose any points yet.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Solomon the Wise<\/em>. In the previous chapter, we read how Solomon deals wisely with his opponents. In this chapter, his natural abilities get a reinforcement from above: \u201ca wise and discerning mind; there has never been anyone like you before, nor will anyone like you arise again\u201d (verse 12). The coming chapters will further prove that Solomon is the wisest of humans.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. The wisdom of the heart<\/em>. Yes, that is where wisdom lives in the Tanakh. The heart is the seat of understanding and thought - \u201ca wise and discerning heart.\u201d By the way - feelings? They\u2019re in the gut...<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  5. Second guessing<\/em>. What would have happened if the sword test wouldn\u2019t have worked? Wasn\u2019t there a worry that because of the fear of the king - that both would stay silent? And in general - what were the odds?Isn\u2019t it even more natural that both women would want the well being of the child over his death?<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"I Kings 3","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"290","date":"20261008","wall_id":"290"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/61321"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}