1 Kings 3:18

And it came to passe the third day after that I was deliuered, that this woman was deliuered also: and wee were together; there was no stranger with vs in the house, saue we two in the house. 1 Kings 3:18 (KJV)

Context: This verse is found in Genesis 38:28‑29 and relates to the story of Judah and Tamar, not to King Solomon’s famous judgment recorded in 1 Kings 3. In the narrative, Tamar disguises herself and becomes pregnant by Judah. After giving birth, she tells Judah that the child is hers, and the verse marks the timing of the births and the fact that the two women were alone in the house. The Timing of the Third Day: The reference to “the third day” serves as a chronological detail indicating when the deliveries occurred. While the number three can carry symbolic weight elsewhere in Scripture, this passage does not explicitly assign a special symbolic meaning to the third day. Equality of Circumstances: The verse notes that no one else was present in the house—”there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.” This establishes that both women were alone, which is relevant to the unfolding events but does not, by itself, imply equal opportunity to act. Judgment and Insight: The wisdom and discernment highlighted in the later Solomon story are not part of this Genesis account. Instead, the focus here is on Judah’s response to Tamar’s claim and the subsequent resolution of the situation. Overall Significance: This verse functions as a narrative bridge within the Judah‑Tamar account, emphasizing the intimate setting of the births and setting the stage for the revelations that follow. It does not pertain to Solomon’s judgment, nor does it directly illustrate themes of maternal sacrifice as presented in the Solomon narrative.

King Solomon was known for his God‑given wisdom and ability to render righteous judgments. In this story, two women came before him with a dispute regarding a child. Both women had recently given birth, but one of the babies died. The surviving woman claimed that the other woman had switched the babies while she was asleep, while the other woman vehemently denied it. Solomon, as the king and judge, had to discern the truth and determine who the real mother was. The dispute centered on which woman was the true mother of the living child. The true mother, upon hearing Solomon’s proposal to divide the child, showed selfless love by saying, ‘Give the living child to the other woman, for she is not my son.’ Solomon then declared her the real mother, recognizing her willingness to sacrifice her claim to protect the child’s life. This story highlights the importance of wisdom, honesty, and sacrificial love.