What is the rationale why neither should have the baby?
Malbim: Since there was an argument, there will always be a Safek who is the mother; it will never be resolved. 1
She could say that the other woman's concession is admission that it is not her baby! (PF)
Why did she say to kill the live baby, after she claimed that he is hers, and her opponent agreed to let her take the baby? Did she not realize that this reveals that she is not his mother?
Radak: She said so to the ones holding the sword 1 . She knew that the real mother ceded to her amidst mercy on the baby, and if she asks for the baby, Shlomo will not give him to her.
She never anticipated that Shlomo would say so. She was so elated to hear that she will be able to remarry b'Heter (refer to 3:25:1:1) that she strove to help them kill him immediately, before Shlomo will retract his ruling [like the other woman requested], without stopping to think that this exposes her lie. (PF)
Perhaps she hoped that they would kill him before the king had time to retract his command. (PF)
