1 Kings 3:26

her bowels yerned It was believed that some of the viscera were the seat of the emotions. Hence this expression is very common both in the Old and New Testament for the keenest and strongest feeling. The verb yern, cognate with the German adverb gern= -eagerly", -gladly", implies intense desire. The literal sense of the Hebrew verb is -to grow excessively warm." We speak of the heart burningwithin any one.

in no wise slay it The mother's love comes out. She could be content if it only lived and she might see it, though it were called the child of another.

divide it In this word she addresses those who stand ready to execute the king's sentence, -divide (ye) it."