Judgement of Solomon

From Kings 3:16-28

16 Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 One of them said, "My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. 18 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.

19 "During the night this woman's son died because she lay on him. 20 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. 21 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."

22 The 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.

23 The 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.' "

24 Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword for the king. 25 He then gave an order: "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other."

26 The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion 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!"

27 Then the king gave his ruling: "Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother."

28 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.

This is a well known story, anyone who's grown up anywhere near a bible will recognize it, and so will many of those who have not. To me, it's a particularly beautiful one, too. It shows the triumph of selfless compassion over jealous attachment, and praises Solomon for his clear and just decision. But like most things biblical, this is just a story, an ideal for us to make room for in our hearts. Reality is often much more harsh.

Not all Kings are as wise as Solomon. A disinterested King may have said '"Fine, if you are willing to give up the baby, problem solved." No blood would be shed, but the damage would still be done. It seems to me that in our society, not many value the kind of selflessness and willingness to sacrifice that this story portrays. Has the world really changed so much since the time of Solomon?

Or maybe the problem is actually a different one. Maybe there just aren't very many kings at all any more. How would this story change if these two women were left to resolve this issue on their own? One thing is for sure, the claim of the first woman would be put to the test. How likely is it that the second woman, after hearing this selfless proclamation, would give up her jealousy and attachment in the name of what was truly right for the child? How likely is it that the first woman, if faced with actually having to give up her child, would actually do it even if she knew that she was the right one to take care of the child? Could her selfless words transform into selfless action? This story gives us no insight into that.

What of the child? Would he know the difference one way or another? If all the baby craved was milk and a warm arm to cuddle in, the two 'mothers' would appear about the same to him. Without preference, without a basis for comparison, the baby would be lost to fate, having no ability to know who he truly belonged with.

When I say that I think the story of Solomon's Judgement is beautiful, I mean it. But most of what makes it beautiful to me is how complicated the situation gets when you take out the wise ruler and the triumph of compassion over selfishness, and you begin to look at what it means to really let go in the name of love. It is a risky road to walk, and doesn't always have a happy ending.

The question is whether it is a path worth taking in the first place, and though I believe in my heart it is, that's a tough hand of cards to play when dealt.