In some languages translators will be required to specify to whom Solomon spoke the words of the direct quotation. The most probable person to perform this action would be “his servants.”

The Hebrew verb rendered Divide is the same one used in 2 Kgs 6.4 for “cutting down” trees and may be rendered “Cut” in this context also (so Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, La Bible du Semeur). The verb is second person masculine plural, as is the verb give. This gives added support to the supposition that the order was given to the male servants attending the king and not to either of the women present.

In languages where direct discourse is used infrequently, this verse may be translated as follows:

• Then the king told his servants to cut the living child into two parts and to give a part to each of the two women.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .