Three Times the Holy Spirit Appeared in Judgment

(Genesis 38:26) Rabbi Elazar said: In three places the holy spirit appeared. In the court of Shem, as it is written, "And he said, She is more righteous than I" (Genesis 38:26). How did he know [the child was his]? Perhaps just as he had said that he had relations with her, she had relations with others too! A heavenly voice went forth and said, "From Me [mimeni] these hidden matters came forth." In the court of Samuel, "And he said, Here I am; testify against me... And he said, He is witness" (1 Samuel 12:3,5). [And in the court of Solomon,] "And the king answered and said, Give her the living child... she is its mother" (1 Kings 3:27). How did he know? Perhaps she was being cunning! A heavenly voice went forth and said, "She is its mother." Rava said: From what [do you prove a heavenly voice]? Perhaps Judah counted the days and the months, and it happened that it fit [the time he was with her], so we establish the claim; and one who does not fit we do not establish. And Samuel too all Israel are called "one," as it is written, "Israel is saved by the LORD" (Isaiah 45:17). As for Solomon's court, it was reasoning: this one shows mercy and that one does not but rather it is a tradition they had learned.