1Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the Lord, and the wall around Jerusalem.2The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the Lord.3Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.4The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’6Solomon answered, ‘You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.7‘Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.8Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.9So 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?’10The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.11So God said to him, ‘Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,12I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.13Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for – both wealth and honour – so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.14And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.’15Then Solomon awoke – and he realised it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.
A wise ruling
16Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.17One of them said, ‘Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me.18The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no-one in the house but the two of us.19‘During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him.20So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast.21The next morning, I got up to nurse my son – and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.’22The other woman said, ‘No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.’ But the first one insisted, ‘No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.’ And so they argued before the king.23The king said, ‘This one says, “My son is alive and your son is dead,” while that one says, “No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.” ’24Then the king said, ‘Bring me a sword.’ So they brought a sword for the king.25He then gave an order: ‘Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.’26The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, ‘Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!’ But the other said, ‘Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!’27Then the king gave his ruling: ‘Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.’28When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.
1 Kings 3
King James Version
1And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh' 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.2Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.3And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.4And 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.5In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.6And 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.7And 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.8And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.9Give 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?10And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.11And 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;12Behold, 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.13And 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.14And 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.15And 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.16Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.17And 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.18And 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.19And this woman' child died in the night; because she overlaid it.20And 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.21And 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.22And 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.23Then 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.24And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.25And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.26Then 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 .27Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.28And 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.
Salomos Heirat – Sein Gebet um Weisheit – Gottes Verheißung
1Und Salomo wurde Schwiegersohn des Pharao, des Königs von Ägypten, und nahm die Tochter des Pharao und brachte sie in die Stadt Davids, bis er den Bau seines Hauses und des Hauses des HERRN und der Mauer rings um Jerusalem vollendet hatte. (De 23:8; 1Ki 2:10; 1Ki 7:1; 1Ki 7:8; 1Ki 9:1; 1Ki 9:15; 1Ki 9:16; 1Ki 11:1; 2Co 6:14)2Jedoch opferte das Volk auf den Höhen; denn bis zu jenen Tagen war dem Namen des HERRN ⟨noch⟩ kein Haus gebaut worden. (Le 17:5; 1Sa 9:12; 1Ki 14:23; 1Ki 15:14; 1Ki 22:44; 2Ki 12:4; 2Ch 15:17)3Und Salomo liebte den HERRN, sodass er in den Ordnungen seines Vaters David lebte[1]. Jedoch brachte er auf den Höhen Schlachtopfer und Rauchopfer dar. (Le 17:5; 1Sa 9:12; 1Ki 3:14; 1Ki 8:25; 1Ki 9:4; 1Ki 11:4; 1Ki 14:8; 1Ki 14:23; 1Ki 15:3; 1Ki 15:14; 1Ki 22:44; 2Ki 12:4; 2Ki 14:3; 2Ch 1:2; 2Ch 15:17; 2Ch 17:3; Joh 14:21)4Und der König ging nach Gibeon, um dort Schlachtopfer darzubringen[2], denn das war »die große Höhe«; tausend Brandopfer opferte Salomo auf jenem Altar. (1Ch 16:39)5In Gibeon erschien der HERR dem Salomo in einem Traum bei Nacht. Und Gott sprach: Bitte, was ich dir geben soll! (Nu 12:6; 1Ki 9:2; 1Ki 11:9; Mt 7:7; Joh 16:24)6Und Salomo sagte: Du selbst hast ja an deinem Knecht David, meinem Vater, große Gnade erwiesen, weil er vor dir gelebt hat[3] in Treue[4], in Gerechtigkeit und in Aufrichtigkeit des Herzens gegen dich; und du hast ihm diese große Gnade bewahrt und ihm einen Sohn gegeben, der auf seinem Thron sitzt, wie ⟨es⟩ am heutigen Tag ist. (Ge 24:40; 2Sa 22:21; 1Ki 1:48; 2Ki 20:3)7Und nun, HERR, mein Gott, du selbst hast deinen Knecht zum König gemacht anstelle meines Vaters David. Ich aber bin ein kleiner Junge, ich weiß nicht aus- noch einzugehen[5]. (1Ch 22:5; Pr 18:12)8Und dein Knecht ist inmitten deines Volkes, das du erwählt hast, eines großen Volkes, das wegen ⟨seiner⟩ Menge nicht gezählt noch berechnet werden kann. (Le 26:9; De 7:6; 1Ki 4:20)9So gib denn deinem Knecht ein hörendes[6] Herz, dein Volk zu richten, zu unterscheiden zwischen Gut und Böse. Denn wer vermag dieses dein gewaltiges[7] Volk zu richten? (2Sa 14:17; 1Ch 22:12; Ps 72:1; Col 1:9; Heb 5:14)10Und das Wort war gut in den Augen des Herrn, dass Salomo um diese Sache gebeten hatte.11Und Gott sprach zu ihm: Weil du um diese Sache gebeten hast und hast dir nicht viele Tage erbeten und hast dir nicht Reichtum erbeten und hast nicht um das Leben[8] deiner Feinde gebeten, sondern hast dir Verständnis erbeten, um auf das Recht zu hören[9],12siehe, ⟨hiermit⟩ habe ich nach deinen Worten getan. Siehe, ich habe dir ein weises und verständiges Herz gegeben, sodass es vor dir keinen wie dich gegeben hat und nach dir keiner wie du aufstehen wird. (De 34:9; 1Ki 2:6; 1Ki 5:9; 1Ki 10:3; 1Ch 29:25; Da 1:17; 1Jo 5:14)13Und auch das, was du nicht erbeten hast, habe ich dir gegeben, sowohl Reichtum als auch Ehre[10], sodass es unter den Königen keinen wie dich gibt alle deine Tage. (1Ki 10:14; Ne 13:26; Pr 3:16; Pr 4:9; Mt 6:29; Lu 12:31)14Und wenn du auf meinen Wegen gehst, indem du meine Ordnungen und meine Gebote bewahrst, so, wie dein Vater David ⟨auf ihnen⟩ gegangen ist, dann werde ich ⟨auch⟩ deine Tage verlängern. (De 5:33; 1Ki 3:3; 1Ki 11:34; 1Ch 28:7; Ps 21:5)15Da erwachte Salomo, und siehe, es war ein Traum gewesen. Und er ging nach Jerusalem, und er trat vor die Lade des Bundes des Herrn und opferte Brandopfer und bereitete Heilsopfer[11] und bereitete für alle seine Knechte ein ⟨Fest⟩mahl. (Ge 40:20; Ge 41:7; 1Ch 16:1; 1Ch 16:3)
Salomos weises Urteil
16Damals kamen zwei Huren zum König und traten vor ihn.17Und die eine Frau sagte: Bitte, mein Herr! Ich und diese Frau wohnen in ein ⟨und demselben⟩ Haus; und ich habe bei ihr im Haus geboren.18Und es geschah am dritten Tag, nachdem ich geboren hatte, gebar auch diese Frau, und wir waren beieinander, kein Fremder war bei uns im Haus, nur wir beide waren im Haus.19Da starb der Sohn dieser Frau eines Nachts, weil sie sich auf ihn gelegt hatte.20Sie aber stand mitten in der Nacht auf und nahm meinen Sohn von meiner Seite weg, während deine Sklavin schlief, und legte ihn an ihren Busen[12]; ihren toten Sohn aber legte sie an meinen Busen[13]. (Job 24:13)21Als ich nun am Morgen aufstand, um meinen Sohn zu stillen, siehe, da war er tot. Am Morgen sah ich ihn mir genau an, und siehe, es war nicht mein Sohn, den ich geboren hatte.22Da sagte die andere Frau: Nein, sondern mein Sohn ist der lebende, und dein Sohn ist der tote. Jene aber sagte: Nein, sondern dein Sohn ist der tote, und mein Sohn ist der lebende. So stritten[14] sie vor dem König.23Da sagte der König: Diese sagt: Das ⟨hier⟩ ist mein Sohn, der lebende, dein Sohn ist der tote. Und jene sagt: Nein, sondern dein Sohn ist der tote und mein Sohn der lebende.24Und der König sprach: Holt mir ein Schwert! Und man brachte das Schwert vor den König.25Und der König sprach: Zerschneidet das lebende Kind in zwei Teile und gebt der einen die ⟨eine⟩ Hälfte und der anderen die ⟨andere⟩ Hälfte!26Da sagte die Frau, deren Sohn der lebende war, zum König, denn ihr Innerstes[15] wurde erregt wegen ihres Sohnes, sie sagte also: Bitte, mein Herr! Gebt ihr das lebende Kind, aber tötet es ja nicht! Jene aber sagte: Weder mir noch dir soll es gehören, zerschneidet ⟨es⟩! (Isa 49:15)27Da antwortete der König und sprach: Gebt der Ersten[16] das lebende Kindchen[17] und tötet es ja nicht! Sie ist seine Mutter.28Und ganz Israel hörte das Urteil, das der König gefällt hatte, und sie fürchteten sich vor dem König. Denn sie sahen, dass die Weisheit Gottes in ihm war, ⟨rechtes⟩ Gericht zu halten. (Jos 4:14; 2Sa 8:15; 2Sa 20:23; 1Ki 10:9; Ezr 7:25; Ps 72:2; Pr 8:15; Pr 25:2; Isa 28:6)