²⁵ The king then said, “Cut the living child in two, and give half to one and half to the other!” ²⁶ The real mother^[a] spoke up to the king, for her motherly instincts were awakened.^[b] She said, “My master, give her the living child! Whatever you do, don’t kill him!”^[c] But the other woman said, “Neither one of us will have him. Let them cut him in two!” ²⁷ The king responded, “Give the first woman the living child; don’t kill him. She is the mother.”