1Later, Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and married Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her to the city of David, until he had finished building his own palace, and the Temple of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem. 2But the people were still sacrificing in high places, because there was no temple built unto the name of the LORD in those days. 3And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David, his father; except that he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 4And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the most prominent high place: and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings upon that altar.

5In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask for whatever you want Me to give you.” 6And Solomon said, “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David, my father, because he walked before You in truth, righteousness, and uprightness of heart; and You have continued this great kindness to him, by giving him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of David, my father; and I am but a little child: I do not yet know how to go out or come in (carry out my duties). 8And Your servant is here among Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 9So give me, Your servant, a discerning heart to govern Your people, and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who can properly govern this, Your great people?” 10And this pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked for this. 11And God said to him, “Because you have asked for this, and have not asked for yourself long life; or for riches for yourself, or for the life of your enemies; but instead have asked for yourself understanding to discern and administer justice, 12I will do what you ask: I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was never anyone like you before you, nor shall any arise like you after you. 13And I have also given you what you did not ask for - both riches, and honor - so that there shall not be your equal among kings all your days. 14And if you will walk in obedience to Me, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father, David, did, then I will give you long life.” 15And then Solomon awoke, and he realized 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 peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

16Then two women, who were harlots, came before the king to have a dispute settled. 17And the one woman said, “O my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I had a child while she was there in the house. 18And three days after I delivered my child, this woman also delivered a baby. There was no one else in the house with us - just we two. 19And this woman's son died in the night, because she rolled over on him. 20Then she got up in the middle of the night, while I slept, and took my son from beside me, and laid her dead son in my bosom. 21And when I awoke in the morning to nurse my son, behold, it was dead! But when I had looked at it in the morning light, it was not the son I had born.” 22And the other woman said, “No! The living child is my son, and the dead one is yours!” But the first said, “No! The dead child is yours, and the living one is my son!” And they argued this way before the king. 23Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son who lives, and your son is the dead child’; while the other says, ‘No; it is your son that is dead, and my son is the one living.’” 24Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” And they brought a sword to the king. 25And the king said, “Cut the living child in two, and give one half to the one, and half to the other.” 26Then the woman who was really the mother of the living child spoke to the king, for her heart yearned over her son, “O my lord, give her the living child, but do not, by any means, slay it.” While the other said, “Let it be neither yours nor mine, but divide it.” 27Then the king said, “Give the living child to the first woman, and by no means slay it; she is the mother of it.” 28And all Israel heard of that judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king; for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to administer justice.