Berean Standard Bible
1 Kings 3:16-28
16At that timeH227 twoH8147 prostitutesH802H2181 cameH935 toH413 the kingH4428 and stoodH5975 before himH6440.
17OneH259 womanH802 saidH559, “PleaseH994, my lordH113, thisH2063 womanH802 and IH589 liveH3427 in the sameH259 houseH1004, and I gave birthH3205 while sheH5973 was in the houseH1004. 18On the thirdH7992 dayH3117 after I gave birthH3205, this womanH802H2063 alsoH1571 had a babyH3205. WeH587 were aloneH3162, withH854 noH369 oneH2114 in the houseH1004 butH2108 the twoH8147 of usH587H1004. 19During the nightH3915 thisH2063 woman’sH802 sonH1121 diedH4191 becauseH834 she rolled overH7901 on himH5921. 20So she got upH6965 in the middleH8432 of the nightH3915 and tookH3947 my sonH1121 from my sideH681 whileH519 I was asleepH3463. She laid himH7901 in her bosomH2436 and putH7901 her deadH4191 sonH1121 at my bosomH2436. 21The next morningH1242, when I got upH6965 to nurseH3243 my sonH1121, I discoveredH2009 he was deadH4191. But when I examined himH995H413, I realizedH2009 that he wasH1961 notH3808 the sonH1121 I had borneH3205.”
22“NoH3808H3588,” saidH559 the otherH312 womanH802, “the living oneH2416 is my sonH1121 and the dead oneH4191 is your sonH1121.”
But the first womanH2063 insistedH559, “NoH3808H3588, the dead oneH4191 is yoursH1121 and the living oneH2416 is mineH1121.” So they arguedH1696 beforeH6440 the kingH4428.
23Then the kingH4428 repliedH559, “ThisH2063 woman saysH559, ‘My sonH1121 is aliveH2416 and yoursH1121 is deadH4191,’ but thatH2063 woman saysH559, ‘NoH3808H3588, your sonH1121 is deadH4191 and mineH1121 is aliveH2416.’”
24The kingH4428 continuedH559, “BringH3947 me a swordH2719.” So they brought himH935 a swordH2719, 25and the kingH4428 declaredH559, “CutH1504 the livingH2416 childH3206 in twoH8147 and giveH5414 halfH2677 to oneH259 and halfH2677 to the otherH259.”
26Then the womanH802 whoseH834 sonH1121 was aliveH2416 spokeH559 toH413 the kingH4428 becauseH3588 she yearnedH3648 with compassionH7356 forH5921 her sonH1121. “PleaseH994, my lordH113,” she saidH559, “giveH5414 her the livingH2416 babyH3205. Do notH408 kill himH4191!”
But the otherH2063 woman saidH559, “He will beH1961 neitherH3808 mine norH1571 yours. Cut him in twoH1504!”
27Then the kingH4428 gave his rulingH559H6030: “GiveH5414 the livingH2416 babyH3205 to the first woman. By no meansH3808 should you kill himH4191; sheH1931 is his motherH517.”
28When allH3605 IsraelH3478 heardH8085 of the judgmentH4941 the kingH4428 had givenH8199, they stood in aweH3372 ofH6440 him, forH3588 they sawH7200 thatH3588 the wisdomH2451 of GodH430 was in himH7130 to administerH6213 justiceH4941.
Commentaries on 1 Kings 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries