Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom
(2 Chronicles 1:1–13; Psalm 45:1–17; Psalm 72:1–20)

And Solomon joined in marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he took the daughter of Pharaoh and brought her in to the City of David, until his completing to build his own house, and the house of YHWH, and the wall all around Jerusalem.

2Only, the people sacrificed at the high places, because there had not been built a house for the name of YHWH until those days. 3And Solomon loved YHWH, walking in the statutes of David his father; only at the high places he sacrificed and burned incense.

4And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.

5At Gibeon YHWH appeared to Solomon in a dream by the night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give to you.”

6And Solomon said, “You have shown to Your servant David my father great loving devotion, because he walked before You in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You, and You have continued for him this great loving devotion, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

7And now, O YHWH my God, You have made Your servant to reign in place of David my father, and I am a little child. I do not know going out or coming in. 8And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a people numerous that is not to be numbered and not to be counted for multitude.

9And give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

10And the word was good in the eyes of the Lord,† that Solomon had asked this thing. 11And God said to him, “Because that you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, and not have asked for yourself riches, and not have asked the life of your enemies, and you have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice— 12behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given to you a wise heart and understanding, so that there has been none like you before you, and after you shall none arise like you.

13And also what you have not asked, I have given to you, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 14And if you walk in My ways to keep My statutes and My commandments, as David your father walked, I will prolong your days.”

15And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the face of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and he offered up burnt offerings, and he made peace offerings, and he made a feast for all his servants.

Solomon Judges Wisely

16Then came two women, prostitutes, to the king, and they stood before his face.

17And one woman said, “Please my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house, and I gave birth while she was in the house. 18And it came to pass, the third day of my bringing forth, that this woman also brought forth, and we were together. No one was with us in the house except the two of us in the house. 19And the son of this woman died in the night, because she lay on him. 20And she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from my side—and your maidservant slept—and laid him in her bosom, and her dead child she laid in my bosom. 21And I rose in the morning to nurse my son, and there he was dead. And I considered concerning him in the morning, and behold, he was not my son whom I had borne.”

22And the other woman said, “No, but my son is the living one, and your son is the dead one.”

And this woman said, “No, but your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.” And they spoke before the face of the king.

23And the king said, “This one says, ‘This is my son who lives, and your son is the dead one,’ and this one says, ‘No, but your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’”

24And the king said, “Bring me a sword.” And they brought a sword before the face of the king. 25And the king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to one and half to one.”

26And the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for with compassion she yearned for her son, and she said, “Please my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him.”

And this one said, “Let him be not even unto me or unto you; divide him!”

27And the king answered and said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.”

28And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they feared the face of the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to administer justice.