Verse 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.

3:16-28 An instance of Solomon's wisdom is given. Notice the difficulty of the case. To find out the true mother, he could not try which the child loved best, and therefore tried which loved the child best: the mother's sincerity will be tried, when the child is in danger. Let parents show their love to their children, especially by taking care of their souls, and snatching them as brands out of the burning. By this and other instances of the wisdom with which God endued him, Solomon had great reputation among his people. This was better to him than weapons of war; for this he was both feared and loved.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.