The Bible In Paintings, #124: GOD WISES UP SOLOMON, WHO PROMPTLY CUTS A BABY IN HALF - Part 3

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
Abrdgd – the complete text is in your Bible
OR
TO READ 1^ST KINGS 3 IN FULL, Click Here
TO HEAR MAX McLEAN READING IT, Click Here
TO HEAR A DRAMATIZATION OF IT, Click Here
TO WATCH AN OVERVIEW OF 1^ST KINGS, Click Here

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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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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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HERE ARE 15 RELIEFS & SCULPTURES,
5 TAPESTRIES AND 9 WINDOWS

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72 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ARTUS QUELLINUS
“The Judgment of Solomon”
Palace on the Dam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

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73 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
“Judgment of Solomon”
Ivory codex binding, c.900

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74 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
“Judgment of Solomon”
Edelmann Palace, Olomouc, Czech Republic

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75 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by HANS JAMNITZER
“Judgment of Solomon”

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76 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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77 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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78 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by FRANÇOIS-FRÉDÉRIC LEMOT
“Judgment of Solomon”

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79 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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80 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
“The Judgment of Solomon”
State Capitol, Lincoln, Nebraska

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81 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt, Germany

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82 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
Palais de Justice, Bruxelles, Belgium

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83 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
after F. LEMOT
“The Judgment of Solomon”
Musée de la Révolution Française, Vizille, France

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84 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ANDRÉ SCHALLER
“The Judgment of Solomon”
Courthouse, Arnhem, Netherlands

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85 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
“The Judgment of Solomon”
La Cathédrale de Strasbourg, France

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86 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmm

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87 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
“The Judgment of Solomon”
Église abbatiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste,
Saint-Jean-lès-Saverne, France

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88 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ANTOON SALLAERT
“Judgement of Solomon”

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89 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
after Simon Vouet
“The Judgment of Solomon”

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90 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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91mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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92 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
“Judgment of Solomon”
Kirche Saint-Jean-au-Marché, Troyes, France

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93 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JEAN CHASTELLAIN
“Solomon's Judgment” (see detail below)
Eglise St-Gervais, Paris, France

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94—DETAIL mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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95 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JOHN HARDMAN POWELL
“Solomon's Judgement”
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland

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96 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
“Judgment of Solomon”
#1 of 3, Cathédrale de Strasbourg, France

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97 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
“Judgment of Solomon”
#2 of 3, Cathédrale de Strasbourg, France

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98 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
“Judgment of Solomon”
#3 of 3, Cathédrale de Strasbourg, France

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99 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
“Judgment of Solomon”
Église Notre-Dame, Saint-Lô, Manche, Normandie, France

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→ a n d…. f i n a l l y ←

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100 mmmmmmm Image Sourcemmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
“Judgment of Solomon”
Strasbourg Cathedral, France
Solomon & True Mother….....Soldier & Untrue Mother

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֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

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SNEAK PEEK: Next time,

SOLOMON BEGINS
BUILDING GOD’S TEMPLE

If you're sensing the Holy Spirit is suggesting
that you read ahead, we'll be in 1^ST KINGS 4-8

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֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

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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 123 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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[Quality_Not_Quantity]

Solomon did NOT cut a baby in half. Why would you post such a lie? Seriously, I would like to know your thought process.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Hello, Q_N_Q! Welcome to The Bible in Paintings!

YOU are the very reason for my headline.

It's not a lie, it's a joke, designed to attract the attention of those who have ignored this series previously: "Hey, everybody knows that Solomon did not actually divide that baby, so why is this fool claiming he did? I'd better check this out." And here you are. By the way, why didn't you complain Thursday or Friday, when I used the exact same headline? We had 72 great paintings that apparently you missed out on.

So now that you've finally clicked on this series--with that distinctive screenname, I'd remember if you'd commented previously--do you have any comments about the art which you've just scrolled down through? Any fresh insights on the text which the art has inspired?

Dan

[left that other site]

Oooo...Sculpture, Tapestry and Stain Glass!

Love it, FRiend.

And I’m not offended by your title...reminds me of the Babylon Bee.

[Hebrews 11:6]

What’s in a name?!

[Quality_Not_Quantity]

Then, well done, sir. Sorry for coming on too hard.

[ConorMacNessa]

What a display of pigmented, stone and glass depictions of your theme - thank you so very much, Dan!

"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

"God save all here!"

[Hebrews 11:6]

Surprise is the trigger to humor. I do a lot of deliberately provocative stuff here. Indeed, isn't that the essence of art? Artists slap paint onto a canvas in order to get us to react.

Please don't be a stranger! God may have something for you here, quite beyond--or rather, below--the headline.

[Hebrews 11:6]

I could have interspersed them with the canvases, as indeed I must when there are very few. But where I find 29, it seems to me superior to segregate and group them. Perhaps I’m wrong—probably I should conduct a poll among you viewers, and then get Philadelphia to tabulate the results....

[Hebrews 11:6]

By the way, I stand second to no one in my admiration of your posting signature. It is a lovely and clever way to offer the translation of your most-important hail. But I am left wondering about the identities of the two flanking personages, as well as that distinctive central cross, which I suspect is of special meaning. Care to divulge? One who offers a translation surely does not value mystery above all else....

[ConorMacNessa]

On the left, St. Columba, on the right, St. Patrick and in the center, a Celtic Cross. A concession to my Irish ancestry.

"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

"God save all here!"

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks. I’m 1/4 McDonald. Also, 1/4 Lewis (Welsh), 1/4 Scheffel and 1/4 Schnitzler (both German).

[T. P. Pole]

You could always try the trusted “Solomon tried to cut a baby in half. You won’t believe what happened next.”

Thanks for the ongoing series. I keep wanting to find the right time to comment on how they all look and dress like 1600’s europe, or all the men used the same model that they used for Jesus, or the amount of bare breasts. But I am also amazed at the quality of some of these.

[ConorMacNessa]

I have a small admixture of Scottish.

"Nemo me impune lacessit!"

[Hebrews 11:6]

I will refrain from pointing out that you are yet another roped in by my scandalous title. Welcome! Anyway, this was Part 3 of 3, so there's no need to repeat it--although if there were to be a Part 4, you can be sure it would appear again, as is. Meanwhile, I am busy nefariously cooking up dastardly new headlines for future episodes--I have a beaut ready for Solomon's 700 wives and 300 concubines.

The ignorance of Biblical times and customs by these artists is on full display, as you pointed out. And yet, as you also observe, their talent and effort also shines through.

Now that you've broken the ice, hope to hear from you again!

Dan

[Hebrews 11:6]

A traitor in the family tree?

[ConorMacNessa]

One of my 4-greats-grandfathers left Scotland for the New World during the Highland Clearances.

"Nemo me impune lacessit!"

[T. P. Pole]

Nah, I wasn’t roped in. I was just pointing out if you were going for click-bait, then fully commit.

[etabeta]

One beauty after the other! But I love the simplicity of #85, the anguished expression of the righteous mother holding her baby strikes our hearts, very emotional.