A Proverb a Day
Wisdom for every aspect of your life, in one short book
Two prostitutes approached the king's bench and presented their cases. The first had given birth to a baby boy, she said. Three days later the other woman, in the same house, also gave birth to a baby boy. During the night, the second woman accidentally rolled over and smothered her own baby. So what did she do? She got up and switched infants. The next morning the first prostitute awakened to a dead child and the other woman claiming her live child.
"She's lying!" the second prostitute cried. "Her baby is dead! This one belongs to me!"
A court session circa 900 BC predates DNA testing, and the king had a long docket. He asked for a sword. A minion disappeared and returned with a sharp blade. Gesturing, the king said: "Cut the child in two and give half to each mother." At that, the first woman cried out, "Please, sir, give the baby to her-don't kill him!" "No," the second yelled, "neither of us should have him-cut him in two!"
The king issued his verdict: "The first woman is the rightful mother. Give her the baby."
Back to Table of ContentsNext Excerpt
Tell a Friend
