King Solomon and the Two Mothers Story for Kids
Today I want to share with you one of the most fascinating stories from the Bible about King Solomon and the Two Mothers Story for Kids. This amazing tale shows us how Solomon, the wisest king who ever lived, solved an incredibly difficult problem.
Jesus Loves Me & Other Bible Songs - Christian Sound Book for Toddlers | Interactive Board Book w/ 6 Songs & Lyrics | Faith-Based Learning
$10.55 (as of May 19, 2025 16:25 GMT +01:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
The Action Bible: God's Redemptive Story
$16.43 (as of May 19, 2025 16:25 GMT +01:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)The story comes from the book of 1 Kings and shows us why God's gift of wisdom to Solomon was so special. It's a story about two women, one baby, and a king who needed to discover the truth when there were no witnesses or evidence.
Quiz of the Day
Who rolled away the tomb stone?
What did Joseph's brothers do to deceive their father to cover up that they had sold Joseph into slavery?
Which apostle, who was described as "full of grace and power, and doing great wonders and signs among the people," was stoned to death?
In prison, for whom did Joseph interpret dreams?
Who wrote the letter to Philemon?
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King Solomon and the Two Mothers
Chapter 1: Solomon Becomes King
Before we dive into our main story, let me tell you a bit about Solomon. He was the son of King David, one of Israel's greatest kings. When David was very old, he chose Solomon to become the next king of Israel.
Shortly after becoming king, Solomon had a special dream. God appeared to him and said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you" (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon could have asked for riches, long life, or victory over enemies. Instead, he replied: "Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong" (1 Kings 3:9).
God was pleased with Solomon's request for wisdom rather than selfish things. He told Solomon, "I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be" (1 Kings 3:12). God also gave Solomon wealth and honor because he hadn't asked for them.
Soon after receiving this gift of wisdom, Solomon faced a challenging situation that would put his discernment to the test.
Chapter 2: The Two Women and Their Problem
One day, two women came to King Solomon's court with a serious problem. The Bible tells us they lived in the same house and both had recently given birth to baby boys.
"Then two women who were harlots came to the king and stood before him" (1 Kings 3:16). The word "harlots" means these women were not respected in society. They were poor, had no husbands, and lived together for support.
The first woman spoke to King Solomon: "My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. The 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" (1 Kings 3:17-18).
She continued with a heartbreaking story: "During the night this woman's son died because she lay on him. So 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" (1 Kings 3:19-20).
According to this first mother, when she woke up in the morning and looked at the baby beside her, she realized it wasn't her child: "The 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" (1 Kings 3:21).
Chapter 3: Two Claims, One Baby
The second woman immediately disagreed: "No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours" (1 Kings 3:22).
But the first woman insisted: "No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine" (1 Kings 3:22).
And so they argued before the king. Both women claimed to be the mother of the living baby boy. There were no witnesses to say which woman was telling the truth. There was no evidence Solomon could examine. Both women were equally determined and emotional in their claims.
The situation seemed impossible to resolve. One woman was telling the truth, and one was lying—but which was which? How could Solomon discover the truth when there were no clues to follow?
Everyone in the court watched and waited to see what the young king would do. This case would test the wisdom God had given him.
Chapter 4: Solomon's Surprising Solution
After listening to both women, Solomon made a shocking announcement: "Bring me a sword" (1 Kings 3:24).
The court attendants quickly brought a sword to the king. Then Solomon declared his judgment: "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other" (1 Kings 3:25).
The people in the court must have been stunned by this seemingly cruel decision. How could the wise king suggest something so terrible? But Solomon wasn't planning to harm the child—he was setting a trap to reveal the truth.
His unusual command produced immediate and dramatically different reactions from the two women.
Chapter 5: The True Mother Revealed
The first woman, the one whose son was alive, was filled with love and compassion for her baby: "The 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!'" (1 Kings 3:26).
This mother would rather give up her child to another woman than see him harmed. Her love was so great that she was willing to lose her son if it meant he would live.
But the second woman had a very different response: "But the other said, 'Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!'" (1 Kings 3:26).
This woman was willing to see the baby die rather than let the other woman have him. Her reaction revealed a heart without true maternal love.
Solomon immediately knew which woman was the real mother. "Then the king gave his ruling: 'Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.'" (1 Kings 3:27).
The true mother's love was proven by her willingness to give up her child rather than see him hurt. In contrast, the false mother's jealousy was revealed by her willingness to see the baby die.
Chapter 6: Solomon's Fame Spreads
This remarkable judgment impressed everyone who heard about it: "When 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 3:28).
Solomon's clever test revealed the truth without any evidence or witnesses. He understood that a real mother's love would prioritize her child's life above all else. By threatening the baby, he exposed both women's true feelings.
News of this wise decision spread throughout Israel and to neighboring nations. People began to see that God had indeed given Solomon extraordinary wisdom, just as He had promised. This was just the beginning of Solomon's reputation as the wisest king who ever lived.
As Solomon continued to rule Israel, he used his wisdom to judge other difficult cases, write proverbs of wisdom, and govern his kingdom with justice and understanding. His wisdom eventually became so famous that rulers from distant lands traveled to Jerusalem just to hear him speak and test his knowledge.
King Solomon and the Two Mothers Moral Lessons
- True love is selfless - The real mother was willing to give up her baby to save his life, showing that genuine love puts others' needs before our own desires.
- Wisdom looks beyond appearances - Solomon didn't judge by what each woman said but devised a test to reveal their hearts. True wisdom sees deeper than surface claims.
- God's gifts are meant to help others - Solomon used his God-given wisdom not for personal gain but to solve problems and bring justice to his people.
- The truth can be discovered in unexpected ways - When there seemed to be no way to determine who was telling the truth, Solomon found a creative solution that revealed the facts.
- Leadership requires discernment - Solomon's ability to judge wisely made him an effective leader. Good leaders need wisdom to navigate complex situations and make fair decisions.
5 Trivia Quiz about King Solomon and the Two Mothers
Who was Solomon's famous father?
Solomon was the son of King David, who defeated the giant Goliath and wrote many of the Psalms in the Bible. Solomon became king after his father David died.
What special gift did Solomon ask God to give him?
Solomon asked God for wisdom and a discerning heart to govern the people well and tell right from wrong. He didn't ask for riches or long life, which pleased God.
How many babies were the women arguing about?
The women were arguing about one living baby boy. One baby had died during the night, and both women claimed the living baby was theirs.
What did Solomon threaten to do to the baby?
Solomon ordered his servants to bring him a sword and threatened to cut the living baby in two, giving half to each woman. This wasn't his real plan but a test to find the true mother.
How did Solomon know which woman was the real mother?
Solomon knew the real mother was the woman who was willing to give up her baby rather than see him harmed. The true mother's love made her choose her baby's life over her own happiness.
If you enjoyed learning about King Solomon and the Two Mothers, next time I'd love to tell you about The Wise and Foolish Builders, another exciting Bible story about making wise choices and laying strong foundations. It’s a great lesson on the importance of building our lives on solid principles.
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