The Bible In Paintings, #122: GOD WISES UP SOLOMON, WHO PROMPTLY CUTS A BABY IN HALF - Part 1

Bing Images ^ | c. 2200 BC -- c. 95 AD | by the Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[Hebrews 11:6]

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GOD WISES UP SOLOMON…

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1^st. K I N G S . 3
New International Version, emphases added
TO READ 1^ST KINGS 3 IN FULL
TO HEAR MAX McLEAN READING IT
TO HEAR A DRAMATIZATION OF IT
TO WATCH A BRIEF ANIMATION OF 1^ST KINGS

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9 6 7 . B. C.

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3 Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David.

5 The Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream.

He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.

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HERE ARE THE FIRST 33 PAINTINGS
OF 72 OVERALL—MORE TOMORROW!

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1 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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2 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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3 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
“Golden Children’s Bible”

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4 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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5 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GOVERT FLINCK
“Solomon Asks for Wisdom”

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…AND HE PROMPTLY
CUTS A BABY IN HALF

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16 Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 One of them said, “Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me. 18 The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby.

19 “During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him. 20 So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. 21 The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.”

22 The other woman said, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.”

But the first one insisted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.” And so they argued before the king.

23 The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,’ while that one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.’”

24 Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king. 25 He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”

26 The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!”

But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”

27 Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”

28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.

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6 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmm
by JEAN FRANCOIS DE TROY
“Judgment of Solomon”

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7 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmm
by FRANCESCO FONTEBASSO
“Judgment of Solomon”

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8 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmm
by WILLIAM DYCE
“The Judgment of Solomon”

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9 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by LEONAERT BRAMER
“Judgment of Solomon”

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10 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by PETER PAUL RUBENS
“Judgment of Solomon”

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11 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by NICOLAS POUSSIN
“The Judgment of Solomon”

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12 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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13 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by FREDERIC HENRI SCHOPIN
“The Judgment of Solomon”

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14 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ANTOON CLAEISSENS
“The Judgment of Solomon”

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15mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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16 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ARTHUR SUSSMAN
“King Solomon and the Baby”

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17 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JULIUS SCHNORR VON KAROLSFELD
“Judgment of Solomon”

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18 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by WILLIAM BLAKE
“The Judgment of Solomon”

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19 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by FRANS FLORIS
“The Judgment of Solomon”

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20 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by GASPAR DE CRAYER
“The Judgment of Solomon”

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21 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by School of GIORGIONE
“The Judgment of Solomon”

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22 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
“The Judgment of Solomon”

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23 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JAMES TISSOT
“Wisdom of Solomon ”

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24 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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25 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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26 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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27 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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28 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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29 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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30 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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31 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by RAPHAEL
“Judgment of Solomon”

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32 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by LUCA GIORDANO
“The Judgment of Solomon”

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→ a n d…. f i n a l l y ←

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33 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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SNEAK PEEK: Next time, Part 2:

39 MORE PAINTINGS!

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R E S O U R C E S

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If you'd like to see for yourself the Bing page
which yielded most of the works above, here is the link:

Solomon Asks God for Wisdom
Solomon and the Baby

Image Sources are provided for most individual works.
Where no attribution appears below a work,
the source did not provide the artist's name.
Works are numbered to facilitate your commenting.

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Links to three masters who painted Biblical scenes prolifically:

REMBRANDT HARMENSZOON van RIJN

GUSTAV DORÉ
241 wood engravings for
La Grande Bible de Tours

JAMES TISSOT
180 watercolors depicting Bible scenes

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Links to two Bibles with comprehensive illustrations:

The Art Bible (1896)

The Maciejowski-Morgan Bible (c.1245)

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This series keeps moving from one Bible passage to another,
so here is a fascinating and enjoyable link to assist in following along:
BIBLE TIMELINE

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Finally, here are links to the
PREVIOUS 121 POSTS IN THIS SERIES
with descriptive titles to assist you in finding those which interest you

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SPECIAL THANKS
to FReeper left that other site,
who allowed God to make her His conduit
for incomparable enthusiasm, encouragement,
education, advice and technical assistance!

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NOTES ON MY SELECTION CRITERIA

Q u a l i t y The Bible and its Author are my focus, not the art:
this is The Bible in Paintings, not “Great Paintings” nor even “Good Paintings.” So, works need not be masterpieces to qualify for inclusion here—they don’t need to be housed at the Louvre nor auctioned by Sotheby’s. They only need to illustrate successfully some aspect of the Biblical text or, frankly, just tickle my fancy, which I'm asking the Holy Spirit to guide. Often, artists misrepresent the Scripture, but unless the error is material, licentious or heretical I usually include the artwork, trusting that the Spirit is perfectly capable of defending Himself. So, with such forgiving filters, it means that you're seeing practically everything I'm finding.

P a c i n g

The pace may seem appallingly snail-like
to those eager to see their favorite events illustrated. My commission is to search for art on each Bible passage in sequence: if I find enough, then it becomes the next installment, even if undramatic; but where there is little or no art, that Bible passage goes untold here. The Bible is a thick book, as you know; but we'll get there eventually, Lord willing—this is His project, after all. Always remember:
love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control is a fruit of the Spirit!

S e q u e n c i n g

The Protestant Canon does not (indeed, cannot)
follow a strictly chronological sequence. There are many examples where, for God's good purposes, stories are told out-of-order. Nevertheless, for the sake of simplicity, clarity, and my sanity, I have chosen to proceed linearly and methodically from Genesis onward, illustrating each Bible passage as we come to it. Where two passages cover the same incident I omit the second telling, excepting the four Gospels which I will treat synoptically. Now, onward!

Art is merely the Toy Department of Bible study,
so I’m just having fun here—I hope you are, too!
Thank you for your understanding.

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YES, WE DO HAVE A

P I N G… .L I S T

for "The Bible In Paintings" series

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To be alerted to each new posting,
either reply here or FRmail me.

No contracts, startup charges or monthly fees;
no hazing or initiation rituals; cancel anytime.

[Hebrews 11:6]

At the Holy Spirit's prompting, I am surveying "Bible art" to give God glory, as many of these artists have done, and for my own amusement and learning; and I thought others might enjoy it and be blessed by it, too. My plan is to proceed methodically from left-to-right, Genesis to Revelation, as the Lord wills. Back soon with another.

The Bible encourages us to meditate on it (Ps. 1:1-3, 119:11-16, etc.); these artists have done so, and their works can assist us and enrich our own thoughts about biblical characters, incidents and concepts, and increase our faith in He who is behind it all. As you encounter and consider these images and the related Scriptures and the Spirit enlightens your understanding, please share it with us!

But it is not only oil-on-canvas that can so help us; I refer to the astonishing video series The Chosen, which strolls through the four Gospels at the most leisurely pace. The eight episodes of Season 1 are finished, and the second of a planned seven seasons is being filmed right now. I say "leisurely" because after an entire year’s viewing Jesus still has only seven of the apostles (although He's preparing to call up Thomas from the minor leagues--but Thomas is skeptical, of course). Anticipating a canvas of fifty-plus hours instead of a movie's paltry two hours, The Chosen turns the characters (especially including Jesus!) into three-dimensional humans and brings the Gospels alive--you have never seen anything even remotely like it! Here is the Official Trailer.

Here is a link for free viewing of The Chosen: “Works with your phone, tablet, and you can cast to your Roku or Chromecast.” Last fall I paid $34.98 for DVDs and ongoing internet access—best 35 bucks I’ve ever spent (I don’t recall how much our marriage license cost, but then it was 43 years ago).

[Hebrews 11:6]

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F o r . . y o u r

CONSIDERATION

ENJOYMENT

& BLESSING

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[Red Badger]

Well, at least he didn’t throw the baby out with the bath water........................

[Hebrews 11:6]

Nor, thankfully, did our parents.........................

[golux]

This is a magnum opus, what you’re doing. Thank you!
I hope you are preparing to write a book!

[left that other site]

Solomon was using “reverse Psychology” on the two women. He was able to discern their character, and was confident that the liar would reveal herself.

It was a huge gamble, but he was correct in his “personality analysis”.

I remember hearing this story as a young child, and I remember thinking Solomon was absolutely brilliant.

He was.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Actually, I have no plans or expectations beyond this FR series, for the simple reason that God told me to do this but has not given me any other direction. He calls all the shots.

Anyway, golux, I'm so very glad that you like it so far--Lord willing, we still have a LONG way to go. The New Testament is so far barely a shimmering silhouette on the distant horizon.

[Hebrews 11:6]

This story, placed as it is immediately after God’s granting to him of unparalleled wisdom, is presented to us as the proof of it. The granting-and-the-proof makes this a favorite Bible story to so many, as attested eloquently by the HUNDRED-PLUS images I am presenting over three days.

[left that other site]

100+? AWESOME!

[applpie]

What is with the UNTRUTHFUL title? Solomon was already wise! He used his wisdom to PROPOSE cutting the baby in half to both women. Because of his wise ruse, the real mother offered the baby to the other woman to save its life. He knew exactly what he was doing.

It’s one thing to collect and share bible art (which is a great idea) but another thing to sensationalize and fictionalize it. Just like with the hymns of faith, its better to understand the context in which the hymn was written to fully comprehend its meaning. Same with bible art—you should also be faithful to the story.

[etabeta]

As an admirer of Slava Groshev, my choice is your last picture. I love the fact that the baby is resting in Solomon’s arm; and Solomon, his eyes closed in peaceful detachment, absorbed in divine inspiration.

[ConorMacNessa]

Thanks very much for the bounty of Judgment, Dan. The Poussin is my favorite of these.

"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

"God save all here!"

[Hebrews 11:6]

Well, then, since you say so.... I'm assuming you prayed fervently and carefully for Solomon-like wisdom for yourself before launching into my public dressing-down (as I did before posting my heretical headline). Do you have any other corrections and instructions from Him for me? Don't hold back.

I don't recall seeing you, applpie, replying to any of the previous 121 threads in this series. Perhaps I'm mistaken. If, indeed, this is your first such foray, welcome to the thread!

Now that I know what it takes to get a rise out of you, I'll continue being deliberately provocative, just as the Holy Spirit prompts me to be. In fact, although you have not yet noticed it, that is precisely what this series is, has been, and will continue to be, all about. Maybe I'll rename it: "Deliberate Provocations, featuring The Holy Bible." Watch this space for further developments.

Please don't be a stranger!

[Hebrews 11:6]

That’s why I placed it last, to emphasize Solomon’s intimate concern for the baby. Wish I had twenty more like it to post. I always love it when an artist climbs out of the box, into the story—and the mind of Christ—and produces something no one else can.

[Hebrews 11:6]

the bounty of Judgment

I was astonished at the near-unanimity of the artists in naming their offerings "The Judgment of Solomon." It was as though the Artists' Union passed a work-rule mandating it.

The Poussin is very likable: expressive and dramatic, it tells the story very, very well. No one ever asks which is my favorite, and generally I don't volunteer it; but I'm partial to #6, de Troy's, which is why I placed it first.

[golux]

Well, I’m a Red Sea Pedestrian so this is the “good stuff” for me.

Well done!

[Hebrews 11:6]

39 more paintings tomorrow—and then something a bit different on Saturday.

[left that other site]

“Red Sea Pedestrian”

Brilliant! I LOVE that.

Shalom to you. :-)

[Maudeen]

If only our elected officials would seek God’s Wisdom without ceasing!

[applpie]

Sorry if you took it that way I didn’t mean it as such. Honestly I think your idea is a great one. Okay think of this....have you ever reviewed the background on some of the old hymns? Once you do, they mean so much more. Why would that not be so for these masterpieces? And why is it bad to know the story relating to the masterpieces?

I did not intend to do a public “dressing-down” however that said, there were other comments that your title was not accurate and that was my biggest concern—why give only me grief?

I guess I come from a background where my writing is critiqued all the time and I try to view it positively. If you are a Christian, why would you deliberately provoke anyone? Don’t worry I will be sure to never review your thread again.