1)

Why did one say "Bni ha'Chai u'Vnech ha'Mes", and the other said "Benech ha'Mes u'Vni ha'Chai"?

1.

Malbim: A person always says first what is primary, and afterwards what is secondary. The first primarily wanted that the live baby be hers, and the latter primarily wanted that the dead baby be the other woman's 1 . If so, the claimant (the first one to speak) was the dead baby's mother! However, this is not a proof; perhaps each said first her primary proof. The claimant's primary proof was recognizing that the dead baby is not hers, and the other knows that the live baby is hers 2 , so the dead baby must be the others. However, this is only the first time. When they repeated their claims (refer to 3:22:2:1), and the one kept saying first "the dead baby is yours", Shlomo understood that she wanted that neither of them have a live baby 3 .

2.

Kli Yakar citing Mahari: The defendant was 'Chachamah for evil.' She feared to speak much, lest she be caught lying. She said only "Bni ha'Chai u'Vnech ha'Mes.


1

This could be due to hatred, especially according to the opinion that they were Yevamos (if this means women married to two brothers like the Gemara often calls them) or a mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law (refer to 3:16:3:3, 3:25:1:1). These are among the five pairs of women prone to hate each other (Gitin 24b). This could explain why the liar wanted to steal the other's baby, or have him killed! - PF)

2

This need not be based on recognition. She says, I did not switch the babies; the live baby was with me the entire time! (PF)

3

Refer to 3:22:1:1*.

2)

Why does it say "they spoke in front of the king"?

1.

Radak, Malbim: They repeated their claims a second and third time in front of him, like litigants do to strengthen and improve their claims in front of the judge.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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