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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 3:16-28

An 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, though there no doubt he excelled, but from the trial and determination of a cause between party and party, which princes, though they devolve them upon their judges, must not think it below them to take cognizance of. Observe, I. The case opened, not by lawyers, but by the parties... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 3:17

And the one woman said ,.... Who was the plaintiff: O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house ; pointing to the defendant, who stood by her: and I was delivered of a child with her in the house ; she being present at the delivery, and she only, as it should seem. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 3:18

And it came to pass, the third day after I was delivered ,.... Of a child, as before expressed: that this woman was delivered also ; of another child; and being both of the same sex, both sons, as afterwards appears; and being so nearly of an age, it was difficult to distinguish them; and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house , save we two in the house ; so that in this trial no evidences could be produced on either side. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 3:19

And this woman's child died in the night ,.... Whether the same night following the day it was born is not certain; because she overlaid it ; or laid upon it, being heavy through sleep, and not knowing what she did, turned herself upon it, and smothered it; because it had no previous illness, or any marks of any disease it could be thought to die of, and perhaps there might be some of its being overlaid. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 3:20

And she arose at midnight ,.... Perceiving what she had done, that she had overlaid her child, and it was dead; either through fear of punishment inflicted on persons thus negligent, or because of the disgrace of it, taking no more care of her child, she made use of the following stratagem: and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept ; this served to puzzle the cause, for how could she know what she did when she was asleep? this she could not prove, it was only conjecture:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 3:21

And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck ,.... As she used to do: behold, it was dead ; her own child, as she thought at first: but when I had considered it in the morning ; it was towards morning, or just at break of day, when she arose to suckle it, and found it dead: but when it was broad day, and the light of the morning was increased, she more narrowly viewed it, and by its features, or some marks she had observed; behold, it was not my son which I did bear : she... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 3:22

And the other woman said ,.... The defendant: nay, but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son ; she denied what the other said, but offered nothing in proof of it: and this said ; she who was the plaintiff replied in the same language: no: but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son ; without being able to add anything in confirmation of what she had deposed: thus they spake before the king ; several times, over and over again, what is before expressed,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 3:17

And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 3:18

And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. [Emphasis is laid on this fact, as showing the possibility of the fraud and the impossibility of producing proof. Hebrew women have always required but little assistance in childbearing. That which is written in Exodus 1:19 is true to this day. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 3:19

And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it. read more

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