Chapter fiveKing Solomon
When David died, his son, Solomon became King.
One day, two women came before Solomon.
They wanted him to solve their argument.1
One of them was carrying a baby.
The first woman said,
“King Solomon, listen to our story.2
This woman and I both had babies.
One night, this woman’s baby died.
She took her dead baby into my room.3
As I was sleeping, she took my baby!”4
“Liar!” shouted the other woman.
“Your story is not true!”
What is the first lady insisting on?
Another lady killed her child.
Another lady kidnapped her child.
She saw a child die.
Key Words
solve (v): giải quyết, làm sáng tỏ
argument (n): sự tranh cãi
carry (v): ẵm, bế
both (conj): cả hai
dead (adj): chết
as (conj): khi, trong khi
liar (n): kẻ nói dối
true (adj): thật, đúng
Key Sentences
1 They wanted him to solve their argument.
2 King Solomon, listen to our story.
3 She took her dead baby into my room.
4 As I was sleeping, she took my baby!
King Solomon shouted, “Cut the baby into two with a sword.1
Then give one half to each woman.2
This way, they will both be satisfied.”
“No!” cried the first woman.
“Let her have the baby.
It’s better that I lose him and he lives.”3
The second woman cried out, “That is a good decision.”
When King Solomon heard these words, he said to the first woman,
“You must be the true mother of this baby.
No mother would allow her baby to be killed.”4
When the people heard this judgment, they knew their king was wise and good.5
1 Cut the baby into two with a sword.
2 Then give one half to each woman.
3 It’s better that I lose him and he lives.
4 No mother would allow her baby to be killed.
5 When the people heard this judgment, they knew their king was wise and good.
Key Words & Sentences
half (n): một nửa
satisfied (adj): hài lòng, vừa ý
better (adj): tốt hơn
decision (n): quyết định
word (n): lời nói
allow + A + to V (v): để cho A…
judgment (n): sự xét xử
wise (adj): khôn ngoan, sáng suốt
Check up
People think Solomon is a king of ________.
a. power
b. wisdom
c. words
Daniel and the Lions
Daniel was a Jewish prisoner taken from Jerusalem.1
Persia had defeated Israel in war.
The Persian king wanted many young Jews to serve him.
Daniel was one of these young men.
When Daniel grew up, a new King took power in Persia.2
His name was Darius.
King Darius really liked Daniel.
Daniel was now a very wise and good man.
So Darius made Daniel the most important official in Persia.3
Many of the other Persian officials were jealous of Daniel.
They tried to think of some way to make Darius angry with Daniel.4
But Daniel was a very honest man.
His enemies could not find any fault with Daniel.
Key Words
Jewish (adj): thuộcngười Do Thái
Jew (n): người Do Thái
prisoner (n): tù nhân
Jerusalem (n): thành phố Jerusalem
defeat (v): đánh thắng, đánh bại
serve (v): phục vụ, phụng sự
take power (v): nắm quyền
official (n): người cầm quyền
honest (adj): thật thà, lương thiện
fault (n): khuyết điểm, sai lầm
Key Sentences
1 Daniel was a Jewish prisoner taken from Jerusalem.
2 When Daniel grew up, a new King took power in Persia.
3 So Darius made Daniel the most important official in Persia.
4 They tried to think of some way to make Darius angry with Daniel.
But one day, a Persian official had an idea.
All the officials went to King Darius.
They told Darius
that there was a lot of confusion in Persia.
“The people are asking many different gods many different things,”1 they said.
“You should make a new law.
No one should be permitted to pray for the next thirty days.”2
“What will happen if a man is caught praying?”3 asked King Darius.
“Then he should be thrown into the cave where the lions are kept,”4 answered the officials.
King Darius signed the new law.
When Daniel heard about the new law, he was sad but he couldn’t stop praying.
He went to his room to pray to God.
The officials saw this and told the King.
Darius ordered the arrest of Daniel.
Key Words
idea (n): ý kiến
confusion (n): sự lộn xộn, hỗn loạn
permit (v): cho phép
(permit - permitted - permitted)
happen (v): xảy ra
catch (v): bắt gặp
then (adv): khi đó, khi ấy
throw (v): ném
(throw - threw - thrown)
cave (n): hầm
keep (v): giữ
(keep - kept - kept)
sign (v): đồng ý, thông qua
arrest (n): sự bắt giữ
Key Sentences
1 The people are asking many different gods many different things.
2 No one should be permitted to pray for the next thirty days.
3 What will happen if a man is caught praying?
4 Then he should be thrown into the cave where the lions are kept.
Check up
How do people get punished when they break the new law?
a. They are trapped in a lion cage.
b. They are hung to death.
c. They are banned for their lifetime to pray.
Daniel was taken to the lion’s cave.
The king said, “Your God will find a way to save you. I cannot.”1
Then the guards put Daniel into the cave.
They closed the opening with a large rock.
King Darius was so sad
that he could not eat, drink or sleep.
In the morning, he ran to the cave.
There stood Daniel, unhurt!
King Darius was amazed.
Daniel said, “My Lord sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions.”2
Then King Darius knew the power of Daniel’s God.3
Key Words
stop + V- ing (v): ngừng làm gì
save (v): cứu
opening (n): khe hở, lỗ
unhurt (adj): không bị thương
amazed (adj): sửng sốt, kinh ngạc
angel (n): thiên thần, thiên sứ
shut (v): đóng, khép
(shut - shut - shut)
Key Sentences
1 Your God will find a way to save you. I cannot.
2 My Lord sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions.
3 Then King Darius knew the power of Daniel’s God.
Comprehension Quiz
A. Circle the words related to King Solomon.
B. Complete the sentences with the verbs in the present perfect tense.
make - order - throw - solve
1. The guards ______________ Daniel into the lions’ cave.
2. Solomon ______________ the argument between the two women.
3. King Solomon ______________ a good decision.
4. Darius ______________ the arrest of Daniel.
C. Choose the correct answers to the following questions.
1. How did Solomon know who the real mother was?
(a) God told him.
(b) The real mother didn’t want her baby to be killed.
(c) He cut the baby into two parts.
2. Why didn’t the lions eat Daniel?
(a) because they weren’t hungry.
(b) because god sent an angel to protect him.
(c) because daniel killed the lions with his hands.
D. Based on the story, mark ‘T’ if true or ‘F’ if false.
1. Solomon really wanted to kill the baby.
2. The officials were jealous of Daniel.
3. King Darius signed a law that Daniel didn’t like.
4. Daniel was born in Persia.