1 Kings 3:22
And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king. And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
The dispute belongs to Solomon's early reign, when he restored a helpless babe to its unfortunate mother. In that act was displayed his early wisdom and sympathetic care. It revealed at that time moral efficiency, fine sensibility, and a clear conscience. This compassionate wisdom stands in sharp contrast to his later ruin and approval of idolatry involving the sacrifice of children. That later fall came after separation from God through communication and association with idolaters, when he lost mastery of himself and sank so low as to consent to the erection of an idol to whom living children were offered as sacrifices.