Bible Commentary

1 Kings 3:26

1 Kings 3:26

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

Then spake the woman, whose the living child [was], unto the king,.... In haste, and with great vehemency, lest the executioner should at once dispatch it:(for her bowels yearned upon her son); not being able to bear to see his life taken away:and she said, O my lord: or, "on me , my lord"; let the sin, the lie that I have told, be on me, and the punishment of it; she rather chose to be reckoned a liar, and to endure any punishment such an offence deserved, than that her child should be cut asunder:give her the living child, and in no wise slay it; being willing to part with her interest in it, rather than it should be put to death:but the other said, let it be neither mine nor thine, [but] divide [it]; for as she knew it was not her own, she had no affection for it, nor desire to have it; chose rather to be clear of the expense of keeping and nursing it, and would, by its being put to death, be avenged of her adversary, who had brought this cause before the king.

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1 Kings 3 — Overview1 Kings 3 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleSolomon's reign looked bloody in the foregoing chapter, but the necessary acts of justice must not be called cruelty; in this chapter it appears with another face. We must not think the worse of God's mercy to…1 Kings 3 — Overview1 Kings 3 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledge1 Kings 3:1, Solomon marries Pharaoh’s daughter; 1 Kings 3:2, High places being in use, Solomon sacrifices at Gibeon; 1 Kings 3:5, Solomon at Gibeon, in the choice which God gave him, preferring wisdom, obtains wisdom,…1 Kings 3 — Overview1 Kings 3 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter relates the marriage of Solomon with Pharaoh's daughter, 1Ki 3:1; his piety and devotion, 1Ki 3:2; his prayer for wisdom and understanding, which was acceptable to God, who promised to grant his request,…1 Kings 3:16-281 Kings 3:16-28 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleAn instance is here given of Solomon's wisdom, to show that the grant lately made him had a real effect upon him. The proof is fetched, not from the mysteries of state and the policies of the council-board,…1 Kings 3:16-281 Kings 3:16-28 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION IN this section we see how remarkably the gracious promise of Gibeon (1 Kings 3:12) was fulfilled. The "understanding to discern judgment" has been richly bestowed. And this, no doubt, is the reason why the…1 Kings 3:261 Kings 3:26 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledgeher bowels: Genesis 43:30; Isaiah 49:15; Jeremiah 31:20; Hosea 11:8; Philippians 1:8, Philippians 2:1; 1 John 3:17 yearned: Heb. were hot, Psalms 39:3 give her: Romans 1:31; 2 Timothy 3:3