Two desperate women, prostitutes actually, gave birth at the same time. Sadly, one of the babies died. The grieving mother stole the living baby from her housemate in the night and claimed him for her own. The real mother quickly discovered the ruse and desperately fought to get her baby back. News of this intractable dispute reached the palace, and curious court officials ushered the women before King Solomon. How would this freshly crowned monarch solve the case?

As he began his reign, Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom: Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours? A few days later these two ladies walked through the door.

We all know the story. Taking a sword, Solomon threatened to cut the living child in half. The false mother sneered, but the true mother plead with the king, willing even to lose her baby so the child might live. Solomon, of course, ruled in favor of the true mother and launched his reputation for wisdom.

In the aftermath of this drama, I wonder what happened to the boy? How did he grow up? Being an infant at the time he wouldn’t remember this situation, but he later would have heard stories. Or did he even live to adulthood?

I like to think the boy came of age and served King Solomon. Perhaps in the army, or as a laborer on the magnificent temple Solomon built. Simply my imagination as no stories exist about the child beyond this one incident, but I wouldn’t put it past the Lord to bring such a sparkling story full circle.

1 Kings 3 in Through the Bible in 2024

The Judgement of Solomon by Gaspar de Crayer, c. 1620