A DRAMA: KING

SOLOMON
CHARACTERS:
1. God
2. King Solomon
3. Court moderator
4. Guard 1
5. Guard 2
6. Harlot 1
7. Harlot 2
8. Narrator

THE DRAMA

Narrator: King Solomon is the 4th son of King David, son of Bathsheba. Solomon was named as
successor of the throne of Israel after his father, King David. Following the death of King David, Solomon
becomes new king of Israel and Judah.

Scene 1: Solomon’s Wisdom

Narrator: One night early in his reign, the LORD gave Solomon a dream. In the dream, God told Solomon
to ask for something — anything he wanted.
(King Solomon lay asleep and God enters and stand at the head of bed in which Solomon was lying)
God: Ask! What shall I give you?

King Solomon: God, You have made me king but I am a little child. Therefore, give your servant an
understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil.

God: Because you did not asked for long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but asked for wisdom
sufficient for the job that I had called you to do; I have given you a wise and understanding heart. There
will be no one like you. And I have also given you what you have not asked.

Narrator: The LORD was pleased with Solomon’s request. He could have asked for wealth, political or
military security, long life or fame, but instead he asked for wisdom to carry out the responsibilities God
had given him. And so God promised he would give Solomon exceptional wisdom, unlike anyone else
before or after him, and he would also give him those things he hadn’t asked for — wealth, respect,
security.

Scene 2: A Difficult Legal Case

Narrator: God had promised to give King Solomon exceptional wisdom. It wasn’t long before God’s
promise was tested, and Solomon judged a court case of unusual difficulty. Two women, plaintiff and
defendant, each had a baby. One baby had died, and each woman claimed to be the mother of the
surviving infant. Clearly one woman was lying, but which one? And failure to provide justice in this difficult
case would set the tone for the rest of his administration.
Moderator: Everybody come to order. Court is in session now.
(King Solomon sitting on his throne, two guards stand beside him. Then two women who were harlots came to the
king and stood before him)
King Solomon: What brings both of you here?

Harlot 1: our Honor, Your Majesty. She and I lived together. I gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Three
days later, she had a son also.

King Solomon: So, what’s the problem?

Harlot 1: This woman’s son died in the night because she lay on him. So she took my son from my side
and replaced it with her dead son in the middle of the night. When I woke up in the morning, there lay the
dead child. But when I had examined him, he was not my son whom I had borne.

Harlot 2: That was not my son. My son is in my arms!

King Solomon: Quiet! You (Point to Harlot 2) will have your turn to speak! Please, go on.
Harlot 1: There are no witnesses to prove what I’m saying. We were the only two people in the house
that night. I can only plead with you, that the baby she is holding today is my child.

(King Solomon nods his head and turns his attention to Harlot 2)
King Solomon: And what do you have to say?

Harlot 2: She gave birth to a child, a son. I helped her. Three days later she returned the favor, helping
me deliver my son. Neighbors were there to help and celebrate both births. When her child died I felt
sorry for her but this child I am holding is mine. Her grief must be affecting her mind, to make up such a
story as she’s telling that it was my child that was dead and I am now holding her child.

King Solomon: Hmmmm….

Harlot 1: Your Majesty, what she says is wrong! The living child is mine! The dead child is hers!

(Harlot 1 went near Harlot 2 and tried to take away the baby from her)
Harlot 2: No! The dead child is yours. The living child is mine! Take your hands off my baby!

King Solomon: Ladies, stop that fighting right now! One of you says, this is my son that lives, and yours
is the dead child. The other says, No, your son is dead, my son lives. I must go off to consider the
evidence, what little there is of it.

(He exits and goes off stage to his private area.)

King Solomon (in his office): Oh God, I asked you for the gift of wisdom and this is the case you give me
to test your gift. How on earth or in heaven can I resolve this case? Where is your wisdom now? How can
we prove who is the rightful mother of this child? (He was quiet, pondering and listening, for a while.) Oh,
thank you God, for such wisdom! I think now I know how to determine who the real mother is, and who is
the liar! I’ll go out to the squabbling women and settle this now.
Harlot 2: Oh, your majesty, know that this child is mine.

Harlot 1: No! No! The child is mine!

King Solomon: Will someone bring me a sword?

(One of the guards comes with a sword)

King Solomon: NOW…Thank you. Now, court moderator, take the sword and divide the living child in
two. Give half to one, and half to the other.

Harlot 2: That’s great!

Harlot 1: Oh, your majesty, NO! Please, give the living child to her and do not kill him. Please, let him
live. She can have him.

Harlot 2: Go ahead, my King. Let this child be neither hers nor mine. Divide it, and then neither of us will
have a child! We will be equal again!

(Silence covered the entire as King Solomon prepared to announce his decision)
King Solomon: Lower that sword! Remove it from the courtroom! Send the child with her (Pointed to
Harlot 1), and by no means kill him because she is the child’s mother. Only the real mother would make
any sacrifice, even letting her child go to someone else, rather than going through the pain of seeing him
slain by the sword. The words of these women have told me the truth.

Harlot 1: Thank you, O King!

(Everyone exit the stage)

Narrator: And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king for
they saw that the wisdom if God was in him to administer justice. So, King Solomon was king over all
Israel and Judah.

THE END