Two prostitutes appear before Solomon, bickering over a baby boy. They each claim to be the child’s mother. The wise king asks for a sword so that he may cut the child in half and split it between the two claimants. One of the women begs him to not harm the boy and to instead give him to her rival. Her reaction gives Solomon enough reason to believe that she is the true mother and he hands the woman her son. The Israelites are excited and amazed to hear of their king’s insightful wisdom.
“And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. 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. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. 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” (1 Kings 3:25-28)
When we treat others as we ourselves wish to be treated, fairness prevails.
