1 Kings 3:19
“This woman’s child died in the night, because she lay on it.”
What does 1 Kings 3:19 mean?
This tragic moment comes from King Solomon's famous wisdom test. Two mothers brought a dispute to him: both had newborns, but one child had died. The grieving mother here is explaining how her infant died, likely by accident during sleep, and then describing what she believes the other woman did next (she switched the living babies to claim the surviving child as her own). Solomon uses this heartbreaking situation to see into each woman's heart and determine who the true mother is, ultimately revealing his legendary discernment through his judgment.