Two Women and a Baby - The Wisdom of King Solomon

Rabbi YY Jacobson

Uncovering the Subplot behind the Famous Biblical Story of Shlomo's Verdict

For Source Sheets: https://www.theyeshiva.net/jewish/2526

In the very first recorded decision in the history of legal jurisprudence, in the Book of Books (Kings II 3:16), we read about King Solomon's brilliance and how it endeared him at such a tender age to the entire nation of Israel, who willingly accepted him as their monarch. Two women gave birth, one of the children died. Both women came before King Solomon, each one claiming that their child was the living one. The king decreed the child to be cut in half, to which one woman agreed to give up the baby, while the other insisted on the verdict. Solomon rewarded the baby to the first woman. The Tanach says that as a result of this, the entire nation saw the Divine wisdom in the king. 

This class analysis the thought process behind the king’s decision, the behavior of the two woman, one of them obviously lying, and what so impressed the people about this decision.
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