1 Kings 3:16

Contextual Overview

¹⁶ After this, there came to the king two women who were prostitutes. After presenting themselves to him, ¹⁶ Then came two women, harlots, to the king, and stood before him. ¹⁶ One day two prostitutes came to Solomon and stood before the king. ¹⁶ Then there came two women who were prostitutes, to the king, and stood before him. ¹⁶ Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. ¹⁶ Then there came two women that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. ¹⁶ Then two loose women of the town came and took their places before the king; ¹⁶ Then came there two women that were harlottes, vnto the king, & stoode before him. ¹⁶ Then came two harlots vnto the King, and stoode before him. ¹⁶ Then came there two women who were harlots to plead before King Solomon.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.

two women Leviticus 19:29; Deuteronomy 23:17; Joshua 2:1

harlots

The word zanoth, rendered harlots, is here translated by the Targumist, the best judge in this case, pundekon, "tavern-keepers:" see on Jos 2:1.

Judges 11:1; Had these women been harlots, it is not likely that they would have dared to appear before Solomon; nor is it likely that such persons would have been permitted in the reign of David. Their husbands might at this time have been following their necessary occupations in distant parts.

stood

Exodus 18:13,16; Numbers 27:2

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:26 - the hard causes;  Deuteronomy 17:8 - arise;  2 Samuel 15:2 - came;  2 Chronicles 32:4 - find;  Job 9:33 - that might;  Job 29:16 - the cause

Cross-References

Genesis 3:1
And the serpent was more crafty than any animal of the field which Jehovah Elohim had made. And it said to the woman, Is it even so, that God has said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Genesis 3:1
The snake was the most clever of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. The snake spoke to the woman and said, "Woman, did God really tell you that you must not eat from any tree in the garden?"

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Yes, has God said, 'You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?'"

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman: 'Yea, hath God said: Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?'

Genesis 3:1
Now the snake was wiser than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, Has God truly said that you may not take of the fruit of any tree in the garden?

Genesis 3:1
And the serpent was suttiller then euery beast of the fielde which ye lord God hadde made, and he sayde vnto the woman: yea, hath God saide, ye shall not eate of euery tree of the garden?

Genesis 3:1
Nowe the serpent was more subtill then any beast of the fielde, which the Lord God had made: and he said to the woman, Yea, hath God in deede said, Ye shall not eate of euery tree of the garden?

Genesis 3:1
NOW the serpent was more subtle than all the wild beasts that the LORD God had made. And the serpent said to the woman, Truly has God said that you shall not eat of any tree of the garden?

Genesis 3:1
Now the snake was the most cunning animal that the Lord God had made. The snake asked the woman, "Did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?"

Genesis 3:1
And the two were naked, both Adam and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then came there two women that were harlots unto the king,.... The same day, as Abarbinel thinks, the night before which the Lord had appeared to Solomon; this came to pass through the providence of God, that there should be immediately an instance and proof of the wisdom and understanding the Lord had given to Solomon; these women, according to the Targum, were victuallers or inn keepers; and so Ben Gersom thinks they were sellers of food, as Rahab; though he observes it is possible they might, prostitute themselves: this may be said in their favour, that common prostitutes do not usually bear children, or, when they do, take no care of them, have no affection for them, and much less are fond of them, as these seem to be; but, on the other hand, no mention being made of their husbands, and living together in one house, and alone, and being impudent, brawling, and litigious, give great suspicion of the truth of the character they bear in our version and others:

and stood before him; to lay their case before him, and each plead their own cause; it may be, it had been tried in another court before, and could not be determined, and so was brought to the king; and, if so, the wisdom of Solomon was the more conspicuous, in deciding it in the manner he did.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Then came there two women - harlots - The word זנות zonoth, which we here, and in some other places, improperly translate harlots, is by the Chaldee (the best judge in this case) rendered פונדקין pundekayan, tavern-keepers. (See on Joshua 2:1; (note)). If these had been harlots, it is not likely they would have dared to appear before Solomon; and if they had been common women, it is not likely they would have had children; nor is it likely that such persons would have been permitted under the reign of David. Though there is no mention of their husbands, it is probable they might have been at this time in other parts, following their necessary occupations; and the settling the present business could not have been delayed till their return; the appeal to justice must be made immediately.