Before understanding and determining the meaning and meaning of the expression “judgment of Solomon”, we will plunge into the most ancient history and turn to the Bible for help to find out who Solomon was and what he became so famous for. And here it is immediately necessary to note that the name Solomon (Shlomo) from Hebrew translates as “peacemaker”.
Just saying about Solomon and his court is worth a lot and it sounds like this: “The main thing is wisdom, acquire wisdom and acquire intelligence with all your possessions. Appreciate her highly, and she will exalt you. ”
King Solomon
Solomon was the third king of Judah, whose reign dates from approximately 967–928 BC. He was the son of King David and Bathsheba. Even at birth, the prophet Nathan singled him out of all the sons of David, who later became the most intelligent and unemotional ruler. It was he who built the First Jerusalem Temple on Mount Zion. He had a talent for foresight and was very sensitive, so many legends and fairy tales are associated with his name.
The court of Solomon was always fair and wise. There is a legend that when God, appearing to him in a dream, promised to fulfill his every desire, Solomon asked himself a rational heart to judge his people correctly and to be able to distinguish between good and evil. Solomon became the king of peace, for forty years of his reign there was not a single major war. He was an excellent diplomat, trader and builder, with him chariots, cavalry and merchant fleets appeared in the Jewish army. He strengthened and rebuilt his Jerusalem, which began to be buried in luxury and wealth. King Solomon made silver equal to simple stones.
Price of disobedience
But, like any king, he also made mistakes, and therefore, after his death, his state collapsed. One of the reasons was the construction by the king of temples and pagan idols for his many wives, who were often from different races and religions. He even swore to participate personally in some pagan cults.
In the oral torus of Midrash, it is described that when King Solomon married the daughter of the Egyptian pharaoh, the archangel Gabriel came down from heaven to the earth and stuck his pole in the depths of the sea, Rome was later built on this site, which later will conquer Jerusalem.
The biblical Book of Kingdoms says that at the end of his life God again appeared before Solomon and told him that his kingdom would be torn away from him, since he had not fulfilled His covenants and charters, but would not do this because of his father David. After the death of Solomon, his once strong and powerful kingdom fell into two weak states of Israel and Judah, which began to fight among themselves.
The court of Solomon: meaning
There is such a popular expression in the people - “Solomon’s court” or “Solomon’s decision”. It implies a quick, witty and at the same time unexpected decision that helps to deftly get out of some difficult and very controversial situation. This phraseology “the court of Solomon” is used in the meaning of “quick and wise.”
Examples of Solomon's Wise Decisions
Once Solomon began to judge two women who could not divide the baby among themselves. They lived in the same house, and almost at the same time they had a baby. At night, one of the women slept her child, and he died. Then she took away from another living child and transferred her dead to her. The next morning, a fierce debate arose between women. So they came to the court to Solomon. He, after listening to their story, ordered to chop the child in half and distribute the halves to the mothers. One of the women immediately decided: it would be better if no one got it. Another prayed not to kill the baby, and immediately allowed the other woman to take the child, so that he would remain alive. Having identified a real mother in her, King Solomon immediately ordered the child to be given to this woman.
Pharaoh's help
Once Solomon married the daughter of the pharaoh when he built the Holy of Holies - a temple to his Lord, and once decided to send an ambassador to his father-in-law asking him to help him. Pharaoh immediately sent six hundred people to Solomon to help, whom death fell upon the horoscope. Thus, he wanted to test the wisdom of the king of Israel. Solomon, seeing them from afar, ordered them to sew up shrouds, and then he assigned his ambassador to them and handed over to his father-in-law that if he had nothing to bury his dead, then they should have their robes and let him bury them in his place.
