Solomon marries Pharaoh's daughter. At Gibeon God appears to him in a dream, and Solomon asks for an understanding heart to judge God's people. Solomon's wisdom is shown when two women dispute over a baby.
1 And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt , and took Pharaoh's daughter , and brought her into the city of David , until he had made an end of building his own house , and the house of the LORD , and the wall of Jerusalem round about .
2 Only the people sacrificed in high places , because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD , until those days .
3 And Solomon loved the LORD , walking in the statutes of David his father : only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places .
4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place : a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar .
5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night : and God said , Ask what I shall give thee.
6 And Solomon said , Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy , according as he walked before thee in truth , and in righteousness , and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness , that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne , as it is this day .
7 And now, O LORD my God , thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father : and I am but a little child : I know not how to go out or come in .
8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen , a great people , that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude .
9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people , that I may discern between good and bad : for who is able to judge this thy so great a people ?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord , that Solomon had asked this thing .
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing , and hast not asked for thyself long life ; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies ; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment ;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words : lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart ; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked , both riches , and honour : so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days .
14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways , to keep my statutes and my commandments , as thy father David did walk , then I will lengthen thy days .
15 And Solomon awoke ; and, behold, it was a dream . And he came to Jerusalem , and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD , and offered up burnt offerings , and offered peace offerings , and made a feast to all his servants .
16 Then came there two women , that were harlots , unto the king , and stood before him.
17 And the one woman said , O my lord , I and this woman dwell in one house ; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house .
18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered , that this woman was delivered also: and we were together ; there was no stranger with us in the house , save we two in the house .
19 And this woman's child died in the night ; because she overlaid it.
20 And she arose at midnight , and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept , and laid it in her bosom , and laid her dead child in my bosom .
21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck , behold, it was dead : but when I had considered it in the morning , behold, it was not my son , which I did bear .
22 And the other woman said , Nay; but the living is my son , and the dead is thy son . And this said , No; but the dead is thy son , and the living is my son . Thus they spake before the king .
23 Then said the king , The one saith , This is my son that liveth , and thy son is the dead : and the other saith , Nay; but thy son is the dead , and my son is the living .
24 And the king said , Bring me a sword . And they brought a sword before the king .
25 And the king said , Divide the living child in two , and give half to the one , and half to the other .
26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king , for her bowels yearned upon her son , and she said , O my lord , give her the living child , and in no wise slay it. But the other said , Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
27 Then the king answered and said , Give her the living child , and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged ; and they feared the king : for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him , to do judgment .