Berean Standard Bible

1 Kings 3:9-28

9Therefore giveוְנָתַתָּ֨ve.na.ta.TaH5414Your servantלְעַבְדְּךָ֜le.'av.de.KhaH5650an understandingשֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙sho.Me.a'H8085heartלֵ֤בlevH3820to judgeלִשְׁפֹּ֣טlish.PotH8199אֶֽת־'et-H853Your peopleעַמְּךָ֔'a.me.KhaH5971and to discernלְהָבִ֖יןle.ha.VinH995betweenבֵּֽין־bein-H996goodט֣וֹבTovH2896and evilלְרָ֑עle.Ra'H7451.Forכִּ֣יkiH3588whoמִ֤יmiH4310is ableיוּכַל֙yu.KhalH3201to governלִשְׁפֹּ֔טlish.PotH8199אֶת־'et-H853thisהַזֶּֽה׃ha.ZehH2088greatהַכָּבֵ֖דha.ka.VedH3515people of Yoursעַמְּךָ֥'a.me.KhaH5971?”

10Now itהַדָּבָ֖רha.da.VarH1697pleasedוַיִּיטַ֥ב בְּעֵינֵ֣יvai.yi.Tav be.'ei.NeiH3190 H5869the Lordאֲדֹנָ֑י'a.do.NaiH136thatכִּ֚יkiH3588Solomonשְׁלֹמֹ֔הshe.lo.MohH8010אֶת־'et-H853הַדָּבָ֖רha.da.VarH1697had made this requestשָׁאַ֣ל הַזֶּֽה׃sha.'Al ha.ZehH7592 H2088.

11So Godאֱלֹהִ֜ים'E.lo.HimH430saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to himאֵלָ֗יו'e.LavH413, “Sinceיַעַן֩ya.'AnH3282אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834you have asked forשָׁאַ֜לְתָּsha.'Al.taH7592אֶת־'et-H853הַדָּבָ֣רha.da.VarH1697thisהַזֶּ֗הha.ZehH2088instead ofוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808requestingשָׁאַ֨לְתָּsha.'Al.taH7592longרַבִּ֗יםra.BimH7227lifeיָמִ֣יםya.MimH3117orוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808שָׁאַ֤לְתָּsha.'Al.taH7592wealthעֹ֔שֶׁר'O.sherH6239for yourself orוְלֹ֥א שָׁאַ֖לְתָּve.Lo' sha.'Al.taH3808 H7592deathנֶ֣פֶשׁNe.feshH5315for your enemiesאֹיְבֶ֑יךָ'o.ye.Vei.khaH341—but you have askedוְשָׁאַ֧לְתָּve.sha.'Al.taH7592for discernmentהָבִ֖יןha.VinH995to administerלִשְׁמֹ֥עַlish.Mo.a'H8085justiceמִשְׁפָּֽט׃mish.PatH4941—

12beholdהִנֵּ֥הhi.NehH2009,I will doעָשִׂ֖יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213what you have askedכִּדְבָרֶ֑יךָ הִנֵּ֣ה׀kid.va.Rei.kha hi.NehH1697 H2009.I will giveנָתַ֣תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414youa wiseחָכָ֣םcha.KhamH2450and discerningוְנָב֔וֹןve.na.VonH995heartלֵ֚בlevH3820,so thatאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834there will neverלֹא־lo'-H3808have beenהָיָ֣הha.YahH1961לְפָנֶ֔יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440anotherוְאַחֲרֶ֖יךָve.'a.cha.Rei.khaH310like youכָּמ֙וֹךָ֙ka.Mo.khaH3644,norלֹא־lo'-H3808will there ever beיָק֥וּםya.KumH6965כָּמֽוֹךָ׃ka.Mo.khaH3644.

13Moreoverוְגַ֨םve.GamH1571,I will giveנָתַ֣תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414youwhatאֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834you did notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808requestשָׁאַ֙לְתָּ֙sha.'Al.taH7592—bothגַּם־gam-H1571richesעֹ֖שֶׁר'O.sherH6239andגַּם־gam-H1571honorכָּב֑וֹדka.VodH3519—so thatאֲ֠שֶׁר'a.SherH834during allכָּל־kol-H3605your daysיָמֶֽיךָ׃ya.Mei.khaH3117noלֹא־lo'-H3808manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376in any kingdomבַּמְּלָכִ֖יםba.me.la.KhimH4428will beהָיָ֨הha.YahH1961your equalכָמ֥וֹךָkha.Mo.khaH3644.

14So ifוְאִ֣ם׀ve.'ImH518you walkתֵּלֵ֣ךְte.LekhH1980in My waysבִּדְרָכַ֗יbid.ra.KhaiH1870and keepלִשְׁמֹ֤רlish.MorH8104My statutesחֻקַּי֙chu.KaiH2706and commandmentsוּמִצְוֹתַ֔יu.mitz.vo.TaiH4687,just asכַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka.'a.SherH834your fatherאָבִ֑יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1Davidדָּוִ֣ידda.VidH1732didהָלַ֖ךְha.LakhH1980,I will prolongוְהַאַרַכְתִּ֖יve.ha.'a.rakh.TiH748אֶת־'et-H853your daysיָמֶֽיךָ׃ סya.Mei.khaH3117.”

15Then Solomonשְׁלֹמֹ֖הshe.lo.MohH8010awokeוַיִּקַ֥ץvai.yi.KatzH3364,and indeed it had beenוְהִנֵּ֣הve.hi.NehH2009a dreamחֲל֑וֹםcha.LomH2472.So he returnedוַיָּב֨וֹאvai.ya.Vo'H935to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֜םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,stoodוַֽיַּעֲמֹ֣ד׀vai.ya.'a.ModH5975beforeלִפְנֵ֣י׀lif.NeiH6440the arkאֲר֣וֹן'a.RonH727of the covenantבְּרִית־be.rit-H1285of the Lordאֲדֹנָ֗י'a.do.NaiH136,and offeredוַיַּ֤עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927burnt offeringsעֹלוֹת֙'o.lOtH5930and peace offeringsוַיַּ֣עַשׂ שְׁלָמִ֔יםvai.Ya.'as she.la.MimH8002 H6213.Then he heldוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213a feastמִשְׁתֶּ֖הmish.TehH4960for allלְכָל־le.kholH3605his servantsעֲבָדָֽיו׃ פ'a.va.DavH5650.

16At that timeאָ֣ז'azH227twoשְׁתַּ֛יִםshe.Ta.yimH8147prostitutesנָשִׁ֥ים זֹנ֖וֹתna.Shim zo.NotH802 H2181cameתָּבֹ֗אנָהta.Vo.nahH935toאֶל־'el-H413the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428and stoodוַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖דְנָהva.ta.'a.Mo.de.nahH5975before himלְפָנָֽיו׃le.fa.NavH6440.

17Oneהָֽאַחַת֙ha.'a.ChatH259womanהָאִשָּׁ֤הha.'i.ShahH802saidוַתֹּ֜אמֶרva.To.merH559, “Pleaseבִּ֣יbiH994,my lordאֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.NiH113,thisהַזֹּ֔אתha.ZotH2063womanוְהָאִשָּׁ֣הve.ha.'i.ShahH802and Iאֲנִי֙'a.NiH589liveיֹשְׁבֹ֖תyo.she.VotH3427in the sameאֶחָ֑ד'e.ChadH259houseבְּבַ֣יִתbe.Va.yitH1004,and I gave birthוָאֵלֵ֥דva.'e.LedH3205while sheעִמָּ֖הּ'i.MahH5973wasin the houseבַּבָּֽיִת׃ba.Ba.yitH1004.

18וַיְהִ֞יvay.HiH1961On the thirdהַשְּׁלִישִׁי֙ha.she.li.ShiH7992dayבַּיּ֤וֹםbai.YomH3117after I gave birthלְלִדְתִּ֔יle.lid.TiH3205,this womanהָאִשָּׁ֣ה הַזֹּ֑אתha.'i.Shah ha.ZotH802 H2063alsoגַּם־gam-H1571had a babyוַתֵּ֖לֶדva.Te.ledH3205.Weוַאֲנַ֣חְנוּva.'a.Nach.nuH587were aloneיַחְדָּ֗וyach.DavH3162,withאִתָּ֙נוּ֙'i.Ta.nuH854noאֵֽין־'ein-H369oneזָ֤רzarH2114in the houseבַּבַּ֔יִתba.Ba.yitH1004butזוּלָתִ֥יzu.la.TiH2108the twoשְׁתַּֽיִם־she.ta.yim-H8147of usאֲנַ֖חְנוּ בַּבָּֽיִת׃'a.Nach.nu ba.Ba.yitH587 H1004.

19During the nightלָ֑יְלָהLa.ye.lahH3915thisהַזֹּ֖אתha.ZotH2063woman’sהָאִשָּׁ֥הha.'i.ShahH802sonבֶּן־ben-H1121diedוַיָּ֛מָתvai.Ya.motH4191becauseאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834she rolled overשָׁכְבָ֖הsha.khe.VahH7901on himעָלָֽיו׃'a.LavH5921.

20So she got upוַתָּקָם֩va.ta.KamH6965in the middleבְּת֨וֹךְbe.TokhH8432of the nightהַלַּ֜יְלָהha.Lay.lahH3915and tookוַתִּקַּ֧חva.ti.KachH3947אֶת־'et-H853my sonבְּנִ֣יbe.NiH1121from my sideמֵֽאֶצְלִ֗יme.'etz.LiH681whileוַאֲמָֽתְךָ֙va.'a.ma.te.KhaH519I was asleepיְשֵׁנָ֔הye.she.NahH3463.She laid himוַתַּשְׁכִּיבֵ֖הוּva.tash.ki.Ve.huH7901in her bosomבְּחֵיקָ֑הּbe.chei.KahH2436וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853and putהִשְׁכִּ֥יבָהhish.Ki.vahH7901her deadהַמֵּ֖תha.MetH4191sonבְּנָ֥הּbe.NahH1121at my bosomבְחֵיקִֽי׃ve.chei.KiH2436.

21The next morningבַּבֹּ֛קֶרba.Bo.kerH1242,when I got upוָאָקֻ֥םva.'a.KumH6965to nurseלְהֵינִ֥יקle.hei.NikH3243אֶת־'et-H853my sonבְּנִ֖יbe.NiH1121,I discoveredוְהִנֵּה־ve.hi.neh-H2009he was deadמֵ֑תMetH4191בַּבֹּ֔קֶרba.Bo.kerH1242.But when I examined himוָאֶתְבּוֹנֵ֤ן אֵלָיו֙va.'et.bo.Nen 'e.LavH995 H413,I realizedוְהִנֵּ֛הve.hi.NehH2009that he wasהָיָ֥הha.YahH1961notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808the sonבְנִ֖יve.NiH1121אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834I had borneיָלָֽדְתִּי׃ya.La.de.tiH3205.”

22“Noלֹ֣א כִ֗יlo' KhiH3808 H3588,”saidוַתֹּאמֶר֩va.to.MerH559the otherהָאַחֶ֜רֶתha.'a.Che.retH312womanהָאִשָּׁ֨הha.'i.ShahH802, “the living oneהַחַי֙ha.ChaiH2416ismy sonבְּנִ֤יbe.NiH1121and the dead oneהַמֵּ֔תha.MetH4191isyour sonוּבְנֵ֣ךְu.ve.NekhH1121.”But the first womanוְזֹ֤אתve.ZotH2063insistedאֹמֶ֙רֶת֙'o.Me.retH559, “Noלֹ֣א כִ֔יlo' KhiH3808 H3588,the dead oneהַמֵּ֖תha.MetH4191isyoursבְּנֵ֥ךְbe.NekhH1121and the living oneהֶחָ֑יhe.ChaiH2416ismineוּבְנִ֣יu.ve.NiH1121.”So they arguedוַתְּדַבֵּ֖רְנָהva.te.da.Be.re.nahH1696beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428.

23Then the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428repliedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Thisזֹ֣אתzotH2063woman saysאֹמֶ֔רֶת'o.Me.retH559זֶה־zeh-H2088, ‘My sonבְּנִ֥יbe.NiH1121is aliveהַחַ֖יha.ChaiH2416and yoursוּבְנֵ֣ךְu.ve.NekhH1121is deadהַמֵּ֑תha.MetH4191,’but thatוְזֹ֤אתve.ZotH2063woman saysאֹמֶ֙רֶת֙'o.Me.retH559, ‘Noלֹ֣א כִ֔יlo' KhiH3808 H3588,your sonבְּנֵ֥ךְbe.NekhH1121is deadהַמֵּ֖תha.MetH4191and mineוּבְנִ֥יu.ve.NiH1121is aliveהֶחָֽי׃ פhe.ChaiH2416.’”

24The kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428continuedוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Bringקְח֣וּke.ChuH3947mea swordחָ֑רֶבCha.revH2719.”So they brought himוַיָּבִ֥אוּvai.ya.Vi.'uH935a swordהַחֶ֖רֶבha.Che.revH2719לִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428,

25and the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428declaredוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Cutגִּזְר֛וּgiz.RuH1504אֶת־'et-H853the livingהַחַ֖יha.ChaiH2416childהַיֶּ֥לֶדhai.Ye.ledH3206in twoלִשְׁנָ֑יִםlish.Na.yimH8147and giveוּתְנ֤וּu.te.NuH5414אֶֽת־'et-H853halfהַחֲצִי֙ha.cha.TziH2677to oneלְאַחַ֔תle.'a.ChatH259וְאֶֽת־ve.'EtH853and halfהַחֲצִ֖יha.cha.TziH2677to the otherלְאֶחָֽת׃le.'e.ChatH259.”

26Then the womanהָאִשָּׁה֩ha.'i.ShahH802whoseאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834sonבְּנָ֨הּbe.NahH1121was aliveהַחַ֜יha.ChaiH2416spokeוַתֹּ֣אמֶרva.To.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428becauseכִּֽי־ki-H3588she yearnedנִכְמְר֣וּnikh.me.RuH3648with compassionרַחֲמֶיהָ֮ra.cha.mei.HaH7356forעַל־'al-H5921her sonבְּנָהּ֒be.NahH1121. “Pleaseבִּ֣יbiH994,my lordאֲדֹנִ֗י'a.do.NiH113,”she saidוַתֹּ֣אמֶר׀va.To.merH559, “giveתְּנוּ־te.nu-H5414herאֶת־'et-H853the livingהַחַ֔יha.ChaiH2416babyהַיָּל֣וּדhai.ya.LudH3205.Do notאַל־'al-H408kill himוְהָמֵ֖תve.ha.MetH4191תְּמִיתֻ֑הוּte.mi.Tu.huH4191!”But the otherוְזֹ֣אתve.ZotH2063womansaidאֹמֶ֗רֶת'o.Me.retH559, “He will beיִהְיֶ֖הyih.YehH1961neitherלֹ֥אlo'H3808גַּם־gam-H1571minenorגַם־gam-H1571yours.Cut him in twoגְּזֹֽרוּ׃ge.Zo.ruH1504!”

27Then the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428gave his rulingוַיַּ֨עַן וַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Ya.'an vai.Yo.merH559 H6030: “Giveתְּנוּ־te.nu-H5414the livingהַחַ֔יha.ChaiH2416babyהַיָּל֣וּדhai.ya.LudH3205to the first womanאֶת־'et-H853.By no meansלֹ֣אlo'H3808should you kill himH4191;sheהִ֖יאhi'H1931is his motherאִמּֽוֹ׃'i.MoH517.”

28When allכָל־khol-H3605Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478heardוַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּvai.yish.me.'UH8085אֶת־'et-H853of the judgmentהַמִּשְׁפָּט֙ha.mish.PatH4941אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428had givenשָׁפַ֣טsha.FatH8199,they stood in aweוַיִּֽרְא֖וּvai.yir.'UH3372ofמִפְּנֵ֣יmi.pe.NeiH6440himהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,forכִּ֣יkiH3588they sawרָא֔וּra.'UH7200thatכִּֽי־ki-H3588the wisdomחָכְמַ֧תcha.khe.MatH2451of Godאֱלֹהִ֛ים'E.lo.HimH430wasin himבְּקִרְבּ֖וֹbe.kir.BoH7130to administerלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213justiceמִשְׁפָּֽט׃ סmish.PatH4941.

Read all of 1 Kings 3

Commentaries on 1 Kings 3