In a dream, the Lord appeared to Solomon and asked what shall He give him. Solomon answered: “And thy servant is in the midst of the people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: For who is able to judge this so great a people?” And G-d answered: “Behold I have done according to thy words: Lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou has not asked, both riches and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.”

Solomon then woke up from his dream and his first test arrived with the problem between the two prostitutes:

‘Then said the king: “the one (woman) saith: This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead; and the other saith: Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.”

And the king said: “Fetch me a sword.”

And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said: “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.”

Then spoke the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her heart yearned upon her son, and she said: “oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it.”

But the other said: “It shall be neither mine nor thine; divide it.”

Then the king answered and said: “Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it; she is the mother thereof.”

And all Israel heard of the judgement, which the king has judged; and they feared the king; for they saw that the wisdom of G-d was in him, to do justice.

1 Kings 3:23-28