TheYeshiva.net - Rabbi YY Jacobson

Two Women & a Baby: The Wisdom of King Solomon

Uncovering the Subplot Behind the Famous Biblical Story of Shlomo’s Verdict

1 hr 38 min

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Class Summary:

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 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.

The story is filled with riddles and questions. This fascinating class analysis the thought process behind the king’s decision, the behavior of the two women, one of them obviously lying, and what so impressed the people about this decision. It also explains the story from a psychological and spiritual perspective.

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BW
Basya Woonteiler -2 years ago
NOT Kings II. The story is in Kings I.
Melachim I, Perek 3, Pasuk 16.... NOT Melachim II
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JB
John Buchan -3 years ago
a darker, but I think more realistic view of the prostitute who wanted to steal the baby
Rabbi Jacobson, I really enjoyed your reasoning in your video. Unlike most of the paintings of this scene, you perceive, as I do, that Solomon, not the soldier, was holding the sword. May I offer a different idea regarding why the lying prostitute didn't accept the baby when it was offered to her? Because it appeared that the baby would soon die. I think Solomon’s totally unexpected "offer" to kill the baby was a huge relief for her, because it would save her from having to kill the baby herself. I think this situation began when the lying prostitute, realizing she was pregnant, chose to continue as a prostitute (which required her to first give birth, then murder her baby) rather than to live as a single mother in poverty. But the other mother, likely less experienced as a prostitute, appeared to have decided to become an "unemployed" single mother. To dissuade the younger prostitute from leaving the two-prostitute business I think the lying prostitute decided to steal and murder that baby also. Solomon's wisdom enabled him to see through the lying prostitute’s plan. He pretended to "offer" to kill the second baby for her, setting the stage for her, in a highly emotional state, to unintentionally express her true feelings. This rather dark view of prostitution, I think reflects God's deep respect for the sanctity of marriage. How does this sound to you?
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F
Fred -3 years ago
http://www.shemayisrael.co.il/parsha/kornfeld/archives/miketz.htm Seems to have preceded YY
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- Anonymous -3 years ago
  That's so ironic, re-listen to the story about 50 minutes and 30 seconds in...
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Z
zev -4 years ago
Can you provide the reference for the Lubavitcher Rebbe's insight on 'splitting the child' not to be meant literally but rather to divide the child's upbringing between the 2 women.

I once heard a chinuch lecture from Rabbi AM Segal where he mentioned this idea in the name of the Rebbe but I am unable to locate it.
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- Anonymous -4 years ago
  I heard it years ago but I do not know the source. Can you ask Rabbi Segal?
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  - NZ
    Nissan Zibell -3 years ago
    See this article note 12 similar concept explained in this article, but not as an explanation of the story rather as a lesson to learn from it.
    https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/3551851/jewish/On-the-Haftarah-Are-You-Cutting-Your-Baby-in-Half.htm
    
    see here for the tshurah http://www.teshura.com/teshurapdf/Wolf%20-%20BM%20-%20Nissan%206%2C%205776.pdf
    
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- F
  Fred -3 years ago
  Sefer HaSichos 5750 volume 2 p.594
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Y
Yaacov -5 years ago
Your citation in Tanach is wrong...
It’s Kings I 3:16, not Kings II 3:16.
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