The Wisdom of King Solomon
Before
reading this segment, I would like to encourage the reader to first glance
through the passages of 1 Kings 3:5-28, from the bible. In doing so, you will
have greater understanding of the following written work.
King
Solomon asked for wisdom above all else and the Lord gave him wisdom and the
Lord was pleased, as He told Solomon He would grant his request. It wasn’t long
after, King Solomon was asked to judge a case, between two women, who each
claimed that the one child was hers.
Neither of
the women’s names were mentioned in these passages; either due to their low
standing in society, or the fact that the names weren’t needed to mark the
story. King Solomon’s name wasn’t used either and this could be attributed to
the fact that 1 Kings had mentioned him already, in relation to gaining wisdom,
but also due to the King being so high and mighty; perhaps the writer didn’t
feel the need to mention his name again, for everyone would know just who King
Solomon was and who the author was referring to.
King
Solomon was placed in an extremely unique situation. Having been given a dream
where God bestowed wisdom upon him, that wisdom was soon to be tested. The fact
that Solomon came out of that test, with all of Israel fearing the King for the
wisdom to judge, acknowledging that the Lord had given this wisdom to him,
settled it in the eyes of the Israelites.
As
Christians, we are to never doubt the bible and the biblical accounts they
represent. So how do we reconcile today’s view, upon yesterday’s happenings?
Not to take
away from the wisdom God imparted to King Solomon, we must remember Solomon had
been raised by a warrior King, his father, King David. Solomon knew how to
intimidate. Although not a man of battle himself, he’d have no doubt heard the
war stories his father told around the dinner table at night. He’d heard of the
strategies used in battle, of what worked and what didn’t.
Solomon
also had 300 concubines and 700 wives. Do you think it stopped there? Do you
not consider for a minute, that he may have used (to refer
to the biblical writings in this section) ‘harlots’ to appease his manly
appetites, whenever the mood struck him? Why so many concubines and wives? Were
the women afraid of his retaliation, if they refused his advances? Perhaps his
father’s reputation preceded King Solomon and perhaps women were afraid to say
no to the King.
Women in
the Arabic regions weren’t allowed out on their own (many still aren’t allowed
out on their own today). Women had to be accompanied by a male; a brother,
uncle, husband. Why would two unaccompanied women; two harlots, come to the
King and ask him to judge their case?
Did they
know him personally, or had they just heard of his great wisdom and felt they
could get an answer to their dilemma: Whose child is it, the One or the Other?
Could it
have been the King’s child? Could the King have been so flippant, as to decide
to cut the child in two, especially if it was his? Was he sick of all the
bickering of a thousand women around him? And so just quickly decided the
matter, with no empathy to the plight of the women he so readily used, if he
had used them? Maybe they weren’t part of his harem, but maybe he still felt
the same way; demeaning women in general, as they held so little value to him.
The story
leaves a lot out and it’s not our job to make things up as we go along, so
there are no answer to these questions. All I’m wanting to do is to bring
clarity and understanding, with the knowledge we have.
A man,
lording it over his concubines, his wives and possibly all women. A man with a
reputation to uphold. Do you not think, Solomon asking his servant to bring his
sword, that wouldn’t be a slight bit intimidating to the young women? Did they
fear his anger, fear a reprisal, for coming to him seeking answers?
‘Working
women.’ Women, shall we say, coming from a shadier side of life, regardless of
their choice to do so, or perhaps their forced circumstances.
With their
names withheld, these women were referred to as the One woman and the Other
woman. One woman was made to be the good, honest woman and the Other woman to
be the liar, or the bad woman in the story. What if there is no good or bad? What
if intimidation was a factor?
Strong
women might stand up to a King, whereas a weaker woman probably won’t. Was the
King truly justified in judging the case in the manner in which he did? From a
legal standpoint today, the answer would be no. The Other woman may have
thought it better the child be killed, than he be raised by another mother.
Whereas the One woman may have been more empathetic to the child’s plight, than
to allow him to be cut in half by the sword, whether or not she was the mother
of the child.
Life in
King Solomon’s era was barbaric. And while today, we wouldn’t settle an
argument in such a manner, it wasn’t uncommon to threaten and carry-out brutal
treatment in biblical times. And so, while we do believe the account of the
story of 1 Kings 3:5-28, today we certainly wouldn’t judge a case based on
intimidation, fear, love and empathy, but on fact and evidence; evidence that
wasn’t available in King Solomon’s day.
*Bible
quotes from NKJV
About the author:
Alexandra Grose –
An investigative photojournalist and author for over twenty years. Writing is
her passion and her dream and helping others achieve their dreams, through her
written work, is Alexandra's greatest aspiration.
#Integrity;
truthfulness, honesty and reliability, in all things.
I believe one
should....be truthful in everything you say and do. Keep all relationships open
and honest. Be reliable, punctual and organised and if you say you'll do it -
do it.
If you want to soar
like an eagle, make an effort, not an excuse.
©2023
This work is based
on the belief of the writer. All she asks, is that you study and form your own
opinion, as to the validity of her beliefs. You can’t assume you’re right on
any given topic, you have to prove it.
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