Resolution of The Wise Arab Paradox

This is one of the oldest known paradoxes. It is simply explained by the fact that 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/9 does not equal 1.

The Wisdom of King Solomon

The problem of the Arab's horses is not disimilar to that which was faced by King Solomon.

One day in Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and asked him what he would like to be given.

Rather than request any material wealth, selfish longevity of life, or even wish ill fate upon his enemies, he asked that he might be given "an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad."

The Lord was pleased by the nature of this request, and therefore granted him his wish.

Later, at the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem, Solomon was approached by two prostitutes.

They informed the king that they both lived in the same house and that one had given birth to a son three days after the other. Tragically, one of the babies had died in the night.

One of the women claimed that other woman had awoken in the night to discover that her son had died. She claimed that she had then surreptitiously swapped the babies over, nestling the dead child in the bosom of the sleeping woman, and taking the living son for herself.

Both women claimed that living son was their own.

Having heard the dispute, Solomon requested a sword. His alarming proposal was to slice the living child in two, giving one half to each of the women.

The women's responses were divided. One woman was happy for the living child to be split, but the other, the real mother whose "bowels yearned upon her son", was distraught and pled for Solomon to spare the child and give it to the other woman.

Needless to say, Solomon was wise to the truth, and decreed that the baby be given to she who would spare the child's life.

"And all Israel heard of the judgement which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgement."

[Quotations taken from The Holy Bible, Authorised King James Version, The First BOOK OF THE KINGS, Chapter 3 "Solomon preferreth wisdom."]