Book One

EDITOR CORBETT
Book One: The Glory of the King
The First Emperor of the Ark
(The Kebra Negast -- Corbett Translation, 2005)

I

The Slaughter of the Lambs
1. JERUSALEM, 968 B.C.E.
THE RITUALISTIC slaughter of the lambs on the hill above The Ophel in Jerusalem had always drawn throngs of voyeurs, nauseatingly attracted to Shechita.
The shochet tested his chalaf with his calloused forefinger and then raised it above his shoulders and with dramatic accuracy sliced the silent animal's neck, cutting right back so that the carotoid arteries and the jugular veins were included.
The devout slaughterer was particular about the extremely sharp instrument, making certain it was perfectly smooth, without a single notch or dent, a pitch to which only very careful and trained men can bring to a knife. At once the whole of blood was spilt out of the brain, followed by unconsciousness.
This September Wednesday, some 500 sheep were meticulously herded through the narrow gate, which was hidden by a massive rock formation, leading to an open-air abbatoir, by a handful of herdsmen, all especially handpicked for their knowledge of these sacrificial animals. The priests of Azariah demanded nothing less than perfection.
Abda, the chief shochet, was aware of his divine duties and he would adhere to all the sanctuary regulations. He believed he was preordained, pure of heart and devout in the fulfillment of his obligations for, in the language of the sacred writings: "There are no mysteries before God, for He searcheth the hearts of men."
Smiling faintly, Abda searched for his son's face in the early-morning audience of more than 2,000. His pride swelled within his breast for King Solomon had just appointed Adoniram superintendent of public works for Judah and the jewel called Jerusalem.
He glanced again and noticed a full-faced, tall man, with ebony skin, sitting next to his son on the stony ridges. The man was definitely a foreigner. Probably one of those Red Sea importers, he thought.
Abda was accustomed to visitors within the City of David, for the king was courting these wealthy merchants by the score, as he proceeded with the building of the Great Temple to Yahweh.
Abda scolded himself inwardly, for he knew his mind and heart must be on the sacred task.
He uttered a blessing appropriate to the act of slaughtering. Repeating it wouldn't be necessary.
He would take care to concentrate and not let himself be interrupted by any irrevelant speech or acts.
The slaughter would be over in three hours, far in advance of the setting sun.
Then Abda and his fellow shochets would ensure the cleanliness of the abbatoir. His chief associate, Baana, would assist him in washing down the smooth rock floor.
2.
"OPINION?" Adoniram asked in flat tones, trying to hide his displeasure with his father's profession, one which Abda had, on many occasions, tried to persuade him to pursue.
A father's obsession, but he had chosen a different path, for civil engineering was much more lucrative, and tolerable than slicing animals' throats.
It was so uncivilized, but Shechita was just one pf the public relations' tools in luring foreign trading partners to Solomon's Court.
"Spectacular," Tamrin bellowed, followed by a belly laugh of titanic proportions, one which made Adoniram cringe, for he considered escorting uncouth merchants beneath his newly-acquired status.
"Where to, next?"
"My office."
The petulant engineer, only 26, in his flowing white gown, and the 44-year-old merchant and ambassador, in an off-gray outfit, still retaining the grittiness of travel, swiftly moved down the slight slope about 150 yards to the side of the unfinished eastern wing of Solomon's Palace, now being temporarily used as an official government building, which housed the Great Conference and Banquet Halls. A few steps beyond was a cluster of low-rise and interconnected non-descript rooms, one of which was Adoniram's office for public works.
Tamrin had been overwhelmed by the verdant green of the surrounding manicured lawns and with the flowers of every hue and color. He was also struck by the supenatural light which seemed to cover the slopes from the Rock and the Ophel, affectionately known as The Hump, down into the City of David. Outside the walls in the Hinnon Valley, the browns and grays of indiscriminate shrubbery was in stark contrast to the richness of Adoniram's world.
"Tamrin!"
The edge in the cabinet minister's voice broke his train of thought.
Walking into the one-floor building no more than 20 yards from a sentry tower on the eastern wall overlooking the Kidron Valley, the Ethiopian noticed a wide table of blueprints, all numbered, and rising about 15 inches off the surface.
"Cedar, from Lebanon?"
It was more a statement than a question as Tamrin stared at the top scroll, marked in fine penmanship, TEMPLE, in the right-hand corner and 1. on the left side.
Adoniram was taken aback by Tamrin's remark.
"How did you know that?"
The belly laugh again.
"I know everything. Everything. Just ask me anything."
Then with a deadpan expression sweeping across his face, which had more crevices than a Simien mountain range, the merchant from the Land of the South, he called Ethiopia, slapped his hands on both sides of his cheekbones, and said:
"What did you take me for, Adoniram, stupid?"
The engineer with the refined features, looked into Tamrin's dark eyes and, for a brief moment, saw the fire of knowledge seering into his very soul, and his perception of his visitor was forever altered.

Tamrin: I've been to the mountains.
Adoniram: The mountains?
Tamrin: Yes, the mountains of Lebanon. When I was younger, my king, Agabos, sent me to Tyre in Phoenicia to pay tribute to King Hiram. We, too, needed cedar, for the building of a palace in the Arabian Saba. But enough about me, tell me about your king's plans?
Adoniram: He wants to build a magnificent temple of cedar and also a palace for himself and his wives.
Tamrin: His wives? How many does he have?
Adoniram: Hundreds.
Tamrin: Hundreds? Greedy?

Adoniram acknowledged the flippancy by clucking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. Tamrin seemed startled, for polygamy was discouraged throughout Ethiopia and the territory of Arabian Saba, across the Narrows of the Red Sea.
"Married?"
"Yes."
No would have been a more correct answer.
Although he had no lack of women, attracted to his physical presence and charismatic personality, Tamrin savored the memory of his beloved Bela, whom he lost to the Danakil sands 20 years earlier.
"Tamrin!"
The forcefulness of his name being spoken again, brought him back to reality.
"Water?"
Adoniram poured it from a large jar with a narrow neck into his pottery cup.
To that instant, the ambassador hadn't realized his thirst; for travellers of the sand and sea learn to endure parched throats day after day until it becomes part of the numbness they have to accommodate within their bodies.
Shuffling the scrolls, Adoniram's eyes fell on one numbered 14, again in fine penmanship, in the left-hand corner.
"Look, at this one."
It was the floor plan of the Temple Proper.
"Where's the site?"
The Ethiopian, with the expressive almond-shaped eyes, had a way of cutting through expressive verbiage and swiftly reached the precise point.
"Let's go up on the roof, " Adoniram said, his voice now filled with enthusiasm.
The exterior steps were narrow and on a steep incline to a flat, but pebbly surface, which seemed to stick to the bottom of their sandals, much like strong adhesive.
As if anticipating their visit, two plans of rough cedar, with splinters intact, had been carelessly placed in the center of the roof.
"Look up there."
He pointed to a fenced-off area, where he and Tamrin had watched the slaughter of the sheep and lambs earlier in the day.
"That's Moriah."
A flash of sunlight struck like sparks off the granite surface of the massive rock formation.
"What's that?"
"That's the Rock of Abraham and Isaac."
A thousand questions flooded the Ethiopian's mind, but he asked only one.
"Where are you going to build the Temple?"
"There."
Adoniram pointed his right forefinger towards a space just east of the pock-marked rock.
"We already have the infra-structure in place."
Tamrin had briefly examined the expansive rock plateau, now being used as an abbatoir, for he was a man of detail.

3.
SUDDENLY, BOTH could hear voices in the downstairs office..
Adoniram (to Tamrin): That's Shisha's son, Elihoreph and Ahijah. They're cabinet secretaries. Prissy guys. Always worrying about money.
Eliporeph (audibly sniffling): What does Adoniram want with this Ethiopian?

The secretaries, in charge of the Temple budget, knew they could be overheard, and it was obvious, the superintendent of public works in Solomon's Court, knew that they knew, and with his voice lifted up to a higher decibel.

Adoniram: We understand you have mines of gold in Ophir, and sapphires, and some black wood, you call acacia.
Tamrin: That's correct.

The ambassador's eyes twinkled in playing a game with the two interlopers. Both Adoniram and his guest, as if by a pre-arranged signal, then lowered their voices so Elihoreph and Ahijah would have to strain to even catch a phrase here and there.

Adoniram: We used to have an overabundance of it down in the Sinai, but a tree rot disease infested the groves aboiut 10 years ago.
Tamrin: Tree rot? Acacia's not supposed to rot.

Although Ethiopia had healthy forests of black wood, Tamrin, at that moment, realized that acacia once mejestically rose close to the shoreline along the Gulf of Akaba, near the sheltered harbor close to the twin windswept points of entry, Ezion-geber and Elath, when he first went to the mountains of Lebanon.
Then they disappeared.
"Our trees are safe."
"We thought that, too."
They edged their way down the rock-hewn steps.
The secretaries made their leave, without any introductions offered or received, and Adoniram and Tamrin resumed by pouring over the blueprints while eclipsing the afternoon hours.
The Chief Merchant of the Land of the South was so enthralled by the Temple complex, he had forgotten about food and the tiredness in his arthritic bones.
The exhilaration of Shechita and the exploration of his new-found friend's keen mind had been well worth any pain.
Only the darkness, which covered Jerusalem like a loving father's hand, forced Tamrin's eyes to droop.
"Tomorrow's another day, friend," Adoniram whispered.

4.

THE RAYS of the early Thursday morning sun warmed Tamrin's craggy face and he clutched the white linen to his still taut body. He savored the luxury, for life on the road and on the sea never provided such luxury.
Outside the walls of the City of David, in the Hinnon Valley, were encampments of traders and he thought of his 150 men and their camels, who had travelled more than 1,400 miles from Marib in the Arabian Saba with a complement of acacia wood, sapphires, ebony and gold, in exchange of grains and, in particular, metals which were being smelted in the Sinai.
The Chief Merchant cared for the safety of his company of men, but his aide-de-camp, Gizaw, was a strong leader and would report to Tamrin during the continuing trade negotiations in the Great Hall on The Ophel that afternoon.
Keeping his eyes closed and lying motionless, he absorbed the sounds of Jerusalem.
The crowing of love-sick roosters.
The braying of donkeys in a distant market.
The faint tapping of instruments breaking rocks in a Kidron quarry.
A symphony of discordant notes conducted by a tone-deaf maestro.
Then the soft whimperings of a baby girl and the low voice of a man in prayer.
Such sounds needed eyes.
The Ethiopian rubbed his and was surprised to look at the kneeling forms of Adoniram and his three-year-old son, Benjamin, on the open-air roof adjacent to his bedchamber, which was protected from the elements by a slight wall of limestone.
Both father and son were facing the Hill Moriah with their arms resting on a solid cedar altar, five feet in length and only two feet in height. The two forms seemed almost draped over the place of worship.
"O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee, my flesh longeth for thee: To see thy power and thy glory."
Adoniram and Benjamin slowly turned to the ambassador, now dressed in fresh clothing.
The pleasantries of the day were exchanged and the three moved down the exterior steps to the smells wafting from the open door of the kitchen of Adoniram's wife, Sarah, who was holding a baby girl. Her name was Naomi.

"We must take our guest to the Pool," Sarah said, while clearing off the breakfast utensils from the table. She was referring to the Pool of Siloam, near the Fountain Gate of the City of David, about a half-hour's brisk walk from the conclave of high government officials.
"Yes, I will, " Adoniram pleasantly acknowledged his wife of six years, who had bore him two children and now was four months pregnant. He was praying for anther boy.
The Pool of Siloam was fed pure water through a conduit from an underground spring, known as the Gihon, in the Kidron Valley. Both royalty and commoners flocked to it; for, it was said to have medicinal and healing qualities.
Ambassador Tamrin traversed the 39 well-worn steps and as his body knifed into its waters, he felt his aches dissipate.
Mind over matter, he thought.

5.

WHEN COMMANDER Adray of the Royal Merchant Fleet out of Ezion-Geber sent a message to the harbormaster at Adulis on the Gulf of Zula, a year earlier, Tamrin was quick to reply.
The message read: King Solomon requests your immediate meeting with Chief Negotiator Adray. Salutations.
The Ethiopian, who had 520 camels and 73 ships at his disposal, knew of the giant projects for nearly 10 years, ever since his sojourns to the mountains of Lebanon.
Rumors flew like woodchips about Solomon's father David's plans of building a temple in Jerusalem. However, when David died, the reports faded, only to be resurrected by Adray's message.
The Ethiopian and the Commander renewed acquaintances outside the Great Hall, which was nearly full to its capacity of 3,000 with delegates from all over the trading map. The Indias, the Arabias, Nubia, Syene, Egypt and Phoenicia. And, of course, Ethiopia, the port of Adulis, Marib in the territory of Arabian Saba, and the Kingdom's major city, Yeha.
Tamrin was Queen Makeda's respresentative in all business matters; her regent in practice, even though his titles were still limited to Chief Merchant and Ambassador and guardian, for Makeda had been on the throne less than three years following the death of her beloved father, Agabos.
II
His Heritage of Courage

1. GREAT CONFERENCE HALL

THE PRESENCE of Solomon at the front of the great audience was awe-inspiring, even to the oft-times cynical reactions of Tamrin.
A man's man. Tall. At least six feet. Broad-shouldered, tapering to a slim waist and bronzed, muscular legs showing under a white tunic, which was cinched by a wide gold belt.
The gods must have chiselled his face, the Ethiopian thought, for it was wide and full of character with piercing eyes, which seemed to bore into the soul.
If physical attributes of the man were to be praised, it was his speech that set him apart from all men ; speaking in parables, some said his words were sweeter than the purest honey.

2.

HIS HERITAGE was one of courage, wagered against heavy odds, for his father, David, had risen from a much-maligned shepherd boy, who had taken a circuitious route to lead a nation of one million Israelites while subduing their mortal enemies, th coastal Philistines.
When Saul, who was Commander in his early days and later King, was defeated at the base of Mount Gilboa, he committed suicide by throwing himself on his sword. Dying with him that day were his three sons and the tribal league, which had been in existence for some 200 years.
The Philistines, known for their exceptional cruelty, sliced off Saul's head and paraded it about their cities, then hung his body on the wall of Beth-Shean, in the sight of passers-by, where it was left to rot.
The scragglers from Saul's remaining tribal army scattered to their ruined villages, however, the Philistines had a taste for blood and, being brutal and urelenting rulers, they were determined to exterminate any Israelite presence in the Promised Land of Canaan.
The residue of greatness of the tribal federation of 12 tribes was reduced to small bands of roaming fanatics, distinguished from the more sane populace, by their enraptured dancing and singing to timbrels and pipes, which led to prophesying in dervish-like frenzy, often concluding with them rolling naked on the ground.
In the past, a judge-king, anointed by a priest-prophet ruled, but due to a public outcry, Saul had been named king and now he was dead, leaving only one small 600-man army left in Israel -- a private band of ruffians, led by an outcast named David, the son of Jesse, a Judean elder.
Saul had been David's nemesis, benefactor and father-in-law before his untimely death.

3.

HANDSOME, ruddy-complexioned, but rather small, David had been forced to stay at home, tending sheep, while his brothers had been conscripted into Saul's army against the Philistines.
When the enemy camped in the Valley of Elah, David took food to his brothers, little realizing it would be the turning point in his life and his generation.
There he challenged a gloating Philistine named Goliath and after killing the giant warrior, David was elevated to an officer of mercenary troops, even though he had no formal training.
Although Saul should have been pleased with his young recruit, he wasn't. In fact, he grew resentful because of his successful forays. He actually believed David was becoming a threat to his throne because of his public popularity.
Even the friendship with one of king's sons, Jonathan, was a sore spot, causing Saul to fly into a rage, believing somehow David was plotting to steal the monarchy by manipulating his naive son.
Then in his half-mad state, Saul tried to have David killed by the Philistines in a bizarre manner.
In exchange for the hand of his second daughter, the cold and indifferent Michal, Saul asked for a dowryof the foreskins of 100 Philistines, believing there was no way the young officer could escape their wrath. He not only mutiliated 100 of the enemy, but brought back 200 foreskins to Saul.
So enraged by his son-in-law's exploits, court agents were sent into David's bedroom to kill him, but Michal aided his escape into the night, without any weapon to defend himself.
What followed were years of wandering, trying to escape Saul's vindictiveness.
At Ramah, David met the aging prophet, Samuel, in the company of zealots, and then in the court sanctuary of at Nob, where the priest Ahimelech, unaware of Saul's obsession, fed him and handed over Goliath's sword, which had been kept there as a treasure of war.
The priest certainly paid for his unwitting generosity, for Saul would order him and his priestly family murdered by the Edomite mercenary, Doeg, after the Israelite soldiers refused to obey the king's edict.

4.

BESIDES BEING a talented musician and writer of poetry, David proved to be an accomplished actor when he fled to the Philistine city of Gath, where he was immediately recognized.
Foaming at the mouth with froth staining his red beard, he played the madman to the hilt, so much so the Gath king feared he was possessed and ordered him out of the city.
However, he was best suited as a warrior, and not an out-of-work actor, and so he became captain of 400 dissidents, whom he discovered hiding in the cave of Adullum, near Hebron, in the Judean hills.
It was savage country, but there in the wilderness of Paran, he offered protection to the clans of Judah against Amalekite raids while Saul continued to hunt him.
In a brilliant political move, David next offered himself as a much more sane-looking vassal to King Achish of Gath , who believed by recruiting one of their heroes, it would divide Judah and the rest of Israel even more with Philistia not having to lift a sword.
Based in the southern town of Ziklag, David's little army guarded the Philistine border from the Amalekite marauders and the clans of Judah while the Philistine army battled the Israelites in Saul's army. Using subterfuge, David raided the Amalekites and then split the booty with Achish and some of the leading families of Judah.
While Achish was convinced of the loyalty of David's expanded army of 600 hardened troops and wanted him to join Philistia against Saul, other leaders had their doubts and, while awaiting their decision, David was sent back to Ziklag.
When he was there, Saul and his sons, including Jonathan, died at Mount Gilboa, which sorely distressed David, so much so that he wrote the dirge, which begins, "Thy beauty, O Israel, upon thy high places is slain! How have the mighty fallen!"
Gathering his men and their families, he moved to Hebron, th chief city of Judah, without any opposition from Philistia; and waited for divine orders, for his faith in the Lord Jehovah -- Yahweh -- never wavered, even in the wilderness of life.
Meanwhile, Saul's surviving son, Eshbaal, an inept weakling, was made ruler from the town of Mahanaim across the Jordan in the north by Abner, Saul's commander of the tribal levies. It spurred the followers of David and those loyal to General Abner to resume hostilities.
Just when a ceasefire in the two-year civil war seemed in sight, mean-spirited Commander Joab, who happened to be David's nephew, took it upon himself to kill Abner on the pretense of a blood vengeance, for Abner had earlier killed Joab's brother in battle.
Not only were the elders of the northern tribes livid. David claimed Abner deserved to die in battle harness or old age and criticized the assassination and buried Abner with honor in Hebron.
To enflame matters even more, two of David's officers in Mahanaim murdered Eshbaal and brought him his head, expecting some kind of reward.
Mollified by the deed, David had the two slain.
Finally, the elders came to Hebron and crowned David king over all Israel by divine right, although as "the Lord's anointed," he was the constitutional and not absolute monarch, for his kingship was based on a solemn covenant with his subjects. The "anointing" was a solemn religious act, but it was performed, not by the priests, but by the heads of the tribes.
At the age of 30, he ruled the north and the south -- Judah and Israel -- after reigning from Hebron over Judah for seven and a half years.

5.

THE HUNTED MAN now became the hunter as David tried to unite Israel and Judah into a politically adhesive unit despite the existence of two capitals -- Hebron and Mahanain.
The topography also was a hindrance with a range of hills separating the two, but to the new king it became another challenge to overcome.
Midway between the two capitals stood the alien fortress of Jebus, or Jerusalem, the "Foundation of the God Shalem," which was considered impregnable, with its water supply being delivered from an underground spring.
The Jebusites were so boastful, they snarled that even the blind and the cripples could keep David out.

King David (to his troops): Go up through the water tunnel into the city and destroy those 'blind and lame' Jebusites. I really hate them, men! And what's more, the first man to kill a Jebusite, I'll make him my commander-in-chief.

Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was the first, so he became general of David's army. This is the same man who had ordered Abner killed.
David lived in the fortress of Zion, or Signpost, while Joab rebuilt the rest of Jerusalem. When it was conquered, it measured about 12 acres -- 1,250 feet from the north to south and 400 feet from the east to the west. Beginning at the old Millo section, he built northward towards the present city center.
Although Joshua had previously allotted the city to the Hebrews, a period of 515 years had passed before David's siege.
With this latest conquest, David's fame spread and King Hiram of Tyre sent lumber, carpenters and masons to build him a proper palace, since in the past he had lived a nomadic life in tents made of badger skins.
After moving from Hebron to Jerusalem, David married additional wives and concubines and fathered many sons and daughters. His children born in Jerusalem were Shammu-a, Shoabab, Nathan, Ibhar, Elishu-a, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Elaida, Eliphelet and his eventual successor, Solomon.
When the Philistines heard that David had been crowned king of Israel, they tried to capture him, but he was told in advance, and he stayed in his stronghold with the Philistines crowding into the valley of Rephaim, preparing to attack.
He turned to his god, Yahweh, asking him: "'Should I go out and fight against them? Will you defeat them for me?"
"Yes, go ahead, for I will give them to you," was the reply.
At Baal-perazim, David subdued the Philistines and he wildly cried: "The Lord did it! He burst through my enemies like a raging flood."
He named the place Bursting.
His troops confiscated many idols the Philistines had abandoned, but his enemy had only retreated and no given up the fight, so when he asked the Lord what to do, he was given the answer of "don't make a front attack. Go behind them and come up by the balsam trees. When you hear the marching feet in the tops of the balsam trees, attack. For it will signify that the Lord has prepared the way for you and will destroy them."
Following the divine instructions, David slaughtered the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.
III
The Terrible Golden Container
1.
THROUGHOUT MUCH of Israel's history, the Very Essence of God Yahweh was contained in the Ark of the Covenant, a small ( 3-3/4-foot x 2 1/2 wide c 2 1/4 high) golden box, which had wielded awesome and terrifying power since the Patriarch had placed the two tablets of the Law -- the Ten Commandments -- in it centuries earlier.
Its legendary power had often been translated into supreme confidence by anyone who had possessed it, even since the carpenter Bezalel had constructed it out of acacia wood and the tabernacle during the Moses-led trek across the Sinai Wilderness after fleeing the Egyptian oppressors towards the Promised Land of Canaan.
David was aware of the legends concerning it, from it being used in the conquest of Jericho, the stopping of the Jordan, to its devastation on Hebrew enemies. However, for generations the Ark had been neglected, if not ignored by the Israelites, terming it an ancient relic from the "old days."
However, the new king wanted to bring it home to Jerusalem, from Baal-judah, where it had been at the hillside home of Abinadah.
So David mobilized 30,000 special troops and the Ark was placed on a new cart and driven by Abindah's sons, Uzzah and Ahio, with Ahio walking in front and followed by David and other leaders of Israel, who were joyfully waving branches of juniper trees and playing every sort of musical instruments -- lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals.
As they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacob, the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark. Suddenly, a flame shot out, killing him instantly. David was shocked and called the spot, The Place of Wrath Upon Uzzah.
"How can I ever bring the Ark home?" he cried into the heavens that night.
Fearing more incidents, he decided against bringing it into the City of David and had it carried into the home of Obed-edom, who had come from Gath. It remained there three months and stories reached David about how Obed-edom had prospered during this time.
Wearing priest's clothing, he led a great celebration into Jerusalem. After the men, who were carrying it, had gone six paces, they stopped and waited so that he could sacrifice an ox and a fat lamb.
And David danced naked before the Lord with all his might and as the procession came into the city, Saul's daughter, Michal, watched in disgust at her husband's antics.
A special tent had been placed in the Lower City and the monarch sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings and blessed the throngs in the name of the Lord of Heaven, and gave a present to everyone -- men and women alike -- of a loaf of bread, some wine, and a cake of raisins. When it was all over, and everyone had gone home, he returned to bless his own family.
"How glorious the king of Israel looked today," snapped Michal. "He exposed himself to the street girls like a common pervert."
David's joy couldn't be extinguished.
"Listen, Michal, I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and his family. He appointed me as leader of Israel, the people of the Lord! So I am willing to act like a fool in order to show my joy in the Lord. Yes, and I'm willing to look even more foolish that this, but I will be respected by the girls of whom you spoke."
From that moment on, their relationship completely deteriorated, so much so that David and Michal were childless.

2.

PROSPERITY and peace, however, spread across the region under David's rule, particularly, with the subjugation of the remaining Canaanite pockets of resistance in the coastal foothills, in the Plain of Sharon between Jaffa and Mount Carmel, and in the northern valleys.
There was also no outside interference, for Egypt was in domestic turmoil and far-off Assyria, whose brief bid for empire under Tilgath-pileser I had come to a halt, was now being pounded back to the walls of her chief city, Ashur, by invading Armameans.
His supremacy, either out of fear or being conquered, stretched into Moah, Hamath, Edom, Elat to the Euphrates River and David's finances reached into the billions by tribute which was paid to him.
He now controlled and could tax the users of the two main trade routes passing from Egypt and Arabia through his land's coastal Via Maris, over which fleeing slaves had feared once to pass, and the inland King's Highway, which some of the slaves and their children had avoided on their way to the land promised them by Yahweh with whom they covenanted at Sinai. He also took distant Jadmor, later called Palmyra, a dusty town halfway between Damascus and the Euphrates that was an income-yielding caravan stop.
So Moab, Ammon, Edom, Armaean Zobah and even Armaean Damascus, the oldest city in the known world, became David's vassals and only 20 years after Saul's death, the united kingdoms of Judah and Israel, under King David, was the greatest empire in the Near East.

3.

THE ARRIVAL of the Ark in Jerusalem wasn't without incident.
Respect for its awesome power had diminished somewhat since its construction some 570 years earlier under the mountains of the Sinai.
In their wandering desert life, the Israelites were shaped into a distinctive and well-organized community under Moses' leadership. They had a defined relatioship with Yahweh, a system of laws and a priesthood headed by Moses' brother, Aaron, and his two sons.
The Shekinah, the Divine Presence, the Glory of the King travelled with them and was associated with two sacred objects -- the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle -- that together formed a portable sanctuary.
The Ark, of course, was the container for the Tablets of the Law and was put in the care of the Tribe of Levi, which was exempted from military duties.

4.

BEFORE DAVID's well-publicized confrontation with the Philistine Goliath in the Valley of Elah where the youngster selected five stones from the brook, which runs through the center oif the valley, and used them to kill the giant, the Philistines had attacked the Israelites and killed 4,000 at Aphek.
There was despair, but they suddenly remembered the Ark and so they sent for it and brought it into their camp.
This time the Philistines, not only killed 30,000 Israelites, but they stole the Ark.
Taking it to their city of Ashdod, the Philistines put it in the temple of their god, Dagon, as a trophy.
The following morning, when they came to worship Dagon, they found their idol, which had a man's head and a fish's body, had fallen off its pedestal and prostrate before the Ark. Each time they set Dagon on the pedestal it toppled over.
Following its arrival in Ashdod, a loathsome dysentery swept the city, killing thousands and this was followed up by a horde of mice which ate up all the fruits and plants. The Philistines concluded that this Israelite religious object was cause of the troubles, but before they could get rid of it, it had made the rounds of all five Philistine cities, wreaking the same havoc as it did in Ashdod.
The mayors of the five cities devised a plan a plan of building a new cart for transporting it. They were to yoke to it two cows and drive it to a place where three roads met, and there they were to abandon it and if the cows headed for Israelite territory, then they would know the Ark was the cause of all their grief.

5.

THE CELEBRATION was dampened because 70 of them died for daring to approach the Ark, since they weren't priests they were forbidden to touch it.
Taken to the house of Abinadab, a righteous Levite in Kirjath-jearim, it remained there for 20 years, after having spent seven months among the Philistines.
Its return was a cause for the people to zealously turn to Yahweh with the Prophet Samuel urging them to recover their liberty from the Philistines and if they turned from their wicked ways, the prophet promised them blessings not obtainable by arms alone.
The Israelites gathered in mass at Mizpah, fasting and offering up public prayer, but their old enemy heard of it and attacked them with a large army.
Suddenly, the earth began to tremble and shake under their feet, then it yawned open to engulf the Philistines, while thunder deafened and lightning blinded them, striking the weapons from their hands.
Samuel and his people massacred them and in the subsequent victories, they recovered fromn the Philistines all the villages they had lost, humbling the enemies' pride.

6.

WITH THE great and terrible gold container now dwelling in the makeshift tent of badgerskins in Jerusalem some 20 years later, the hero-king felt a flood of guilt since he lived in the opulent splendor on the slope of The Ophel.

David (to the Prophet Nathan): Look, here I'm living in this beautiful cedar palace while the Ark's out there in a tent.
Nathan (without hesitation): Go ahead with whatever you have in mind for the Lord's with you.

Although the prophet had told him to go ahead with construction plans, the Lord appeared to him in a vision that night.

Voice: Tell my servant David not to do it, for I've never lived in a temple and have lived in a tent ever since I brought Israel out of Egypt and I never complained. Now, tell David that I chose him to be My People's leader ever since he was a mere shepherd. And tell him I'll make his name even greater. When he dies, I'll put one of his sons on the throne and he'll build My Temple.

When he heard about Nathan's vision, which included an everlasting covenant with David and his descendants, the king went and worshipped the Ark.

7.

THE VISION of yet another covenant and Yahweh and the Israelites wasn't surprising, for the Lord had covenanted with Noah never again to destroy the world by flood and gave a sign -- a rainbow. There was a convenant with Abraham to give his offspring the land of Canaan, with circumcision being the sign. Moses was given a covenant in God's own handwriting in the Ten Commandments and sealed in a gold container, the Ark of the Covenant. And now David was given an everlasting dynasty.
However, with the promises came a severe warning.
Breaking covenant with the Almighty brought retribution.
Bolstered by Nathan's words, David's character, however, changed from the golden lad, the composer of exquisite lyrical poetry, the adventurous bandit, the king and conqueror to that of a conniver and murderer, by proxy.
Believing his invincibility, now that he'd heard from the Lord through the Prophet Nathan, and now that he possessed the Ark, David marched against the Philistines and annexed much of their territory, including their largest city, Gath, his old stomping grounds when he was running from Saul.
He followed this up by massacring two-thirds of the Moabite army and then he and his troops swept across the Euphrates, defeating neighboring monarchs, including the king of Damascus, and stationed garrisonsin Syria and Isumea.
The Ammonites suffered their greatest defeat and it came as a result of a few harsh words. After the death of the Ammonite king, Nahash, his son, Hanum, replaced him and David indicated he was to be given special respect because of Nahash's past loyalty. So David sent ambassadors to Hanum to tell him his sadness over his father's death, but Hanum's officers questioned the envoys' motives and said, "These men aren't here to honor your father. David has sent them to spy out the city before attacking it." The furious Hanum shaved off half their beards and cut their robes off at the buttocks and sent them back to Jerusalem half naked. Realizing their embarrassment, David shipped them to Jericho until their beards grew out.
The Ammonites knew it had been a serious breach of conduct so they hired 20,000 Syrian mercenaries from Rehob and Zobah, 1,000 from Maacah and 10,000 from Tob. When David heard about this, he was livid and told the Israelites' top general, Joab, to take the entuire army and attack the Ammonites.

8.

IN THE spring of the following year, at the time when the wars begin, the city of Rabbah was under siege by Joab and his men while David stayed in Jerusalem.
On a warm night, he couldn't sleep and went out for a stroll on the Palace roof on The Ophel. As he looked over his city, he watched a beautiful woman taking her bath.
David, who had a wandering eye and admired all women, found out her name was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, and the wife of the Hittite soldier, Uriah.
Nonplussed, the king brought her to the Palace and slept with her, just after she had completed the purification rites, following her menstruation period. After returning to her home, Bathsheba found herself pregnant and sent David a message, telling him of her condition.
During this time, kings were considered diety; so to have intercourse with his subjects was considered to be a privilege of the throne.

9.

A TROUBLED David sent a memo to General Joab, ordering him to send Uriah to Jerusalem.
When he arrived the hardened warrior was curious as to the reason the king was concerned about him. Uriah was sent home to Bathsheba, but he wouldn't budge from staying with the other servants at the Palace gates.

David (to Uriah): What's the matter with you? Why didn't you go home to your wife last night? After all, you've been away a long time.
Uriah: The Ark and the armies and the general and his officers are camping out in the fields, so why should I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife. I swear I'll never be guilty of acting like that.
David: Well, stay here tonight and tomorrow you can go back to your army platoon.

So Uriah stayed close to the Palace and the king invited him to dinner and proceeded to get him drunk. Again he stayed by the gates and he didn't go home to Bathsheba.
David's plans to ease his conscience and make people believe Uriah had sired a child on army leave had failed.

10.

THE NEXT morning, a frustrated David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to a hung-over Uriah to deliver. In it, the general was told to put the Hittite at the hottest spot of the battle and then to pull back and leave him there to die.
Joab did as he was ordered.
Uriah was killed along with several other Israelite soldiers.
When Bathsheba heard of her husband's death, a wave of guilt swept over her, but David brought her to the Palace to become one of his numerous wives and she had a son.
David's treachery was later repaid.

11.

THE GUILT in his heart remained, but the smile, nevertheless, cut a slash across David's face as his personal seer entered the throne room.
The king put his trust in Nathan, but this day he would be crushed by his words, which took on an air of indictment against him.

Nathan (looking directly at David): There were two rich men in a certain city. One very rich, owning many flocks of sheep and herds of goats; and the other very poor, owning nothing but a little lamb he managed to buy. It was his children's pet, feeding it from his own plate. He cuddled it in his arms, like a baby daughter. Recently, a guest arrived at the rich man's home, but instead of a lamb from his own flocks for food for the traveler, he took the poor man's lamb and roasted it and served it.
David (indignantly): I swear by the living God, any man who would do such a thing like that should be put to death; he will repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.

Slowly, a scowling Nathan turned towards him, and said heavily: "You are that rich man!"
David began to shudder and then cry as the seer started to prophesy.

Nathan: The Lord God says 'I made you king of Israel and saved you from Saul's power. I gave you his palace and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and if that hadn't been enough, I would have given you much, much more. Why, then have you despised the laws of God and done this horrible deed.? You've murdered Uriah and stolen his wife and from now on, murder must be a constant threat in your family from this time on, because you've insulted Me by taking Uriah's wife.' The Lord also says, 'I vow because what you've done I will cause your household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man, and he will go to bed with them in public view. You did it secretly, but I'll do this openly, in the sight of Israel.'
David (wailing): I have sinned against the Lord.
Nathan: Yes, you've sinned, but the Lord has forgiven you. You won't die for this sin, but you've given great opportunity for the enemies of the Lord to despise you and blaspheme you, so your child will die.

When the prophet returned home, the new-born baby grew deathly ill and seven days later, died.
Soon afterwards, Bathsheba conceived again. This time a healthy son, they named Solomon, was born. His father gave him his nickname, Jedidiah, meaning "beloved of Jehovah."

12.

SOLOMON'S RISE to power was nearly impended by the trickery of his half-brother, Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith.
In his old age, David, the ruler of the greatest empire in the Near East, was confined with double pneumonia and no matter how many blankets were heaped on him, he was still shivering.
"The cure for this is to find a young virgin to be your concubine and nurse," his aides told him. "She'll lie in your arms and keep you warm."
Searching the country from one end to the other, they found the extremely beautiful Abishag, from Shunam, and she lay in his arms to warm him. They didn't have any sexual relations because he was feeble and withered.
With his father sick, Adonijah schemed and decided to crown himself and even went so far as to hire chariots and drivers and recruited 50 men to run down the streets before him as royal footmen.
This spoiled son, who never had so much as a scolding from his doting father, began gathering allies for his plans; recruiting General Joab and Abiathar, the priest, but David had his loyal followers in the priests Zadok and Benaiah, the prophet Nathan, Shine-i, Rei, and David's army chiefs, who refused to endorse Adonijah.
The wayward son went to En-rogel where he sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fat young goats at the Serpent's Stone. Then he summoned all his brothers -- the other sons of King David -- and all the royal officers of Judah, asking them to come to his coronation, but he didn't invite Nathan, Benaiah, the loyal officers or his half-brother, Solomon.

13.

THE CONNIVING troubled Nathan and he went to Solomon's mother, Bathsheba, and asked her: "Do you realize that Haggith's son, Adonijah, is now the king and David doesn't even know about it?" Then he added, "if you want to save your own life and Solomon's life, as well, do exactly as I say."
Bathsheba listened carefully to the prophet's every word.

Nathan: Listen to me, go to the king and ask him if he didn't promise you that your son, Solomon, would be next to sit on his throne. Then ask him why Adonijah is flaunting himself as the new king and while you're still talking to him, I'll come in and confirm everything you've said.

Bathsheba entered the old man's bedroom and bowed low.

David (wheezing): What do you want?
Bathsheba: My lord, you vowed to me by the Lord your God that my son, Solomon, would be the next king, but instead, Adonijah is the new king, and you don't even know about it. He's celebrated his coronation by sacrificing oxen and sheep and has invited everyone ... your sons, Abiathar, General Joab, but not Solomon. Now, everyone's waiting for your decision as to whether Adonijah is to succeed you. If you don't act, Solomon and I will be arrested and executed as criminals as soon as you're dead.

As she was talking, the king's aides informed him that Nathan was in the outer chamber.

Nathan (bluntly): Have you appointed Adonijah the next king? Today he's celebrating his coronation and has invited your sons, Abiathar, General Joab and they're eating and drinking and shouting: 'Long live King Adonijah!' But Zadok, the priest, Benaiah, Solomon and me weren't invited. So what are you going to do?

A shadow fell across his pained face and, with great difficulty, David cried: "Get Bathsheba back in here."
As she stood nervously before him, the king said: "As the Lord lives who has rescued me from every danger, I decree that your son, Solomon, will be the next king and will sit on my throne, just as I swore to you before the Lord God of Israel."
Bathsheba was garetful.
The crisis seemed to breathe new life into the old man and he lifted himself off the bed and began barking orders: "Call Zadok, Nathan and Benaiah, now."
When they arrived, he told them to take Solomon and his special troops to Gihon.,

David: Solomon's to ride on my personal mule and Zadok and Nathan are to anoint him there as the king of Israel. Then blow the trumpets and shout, 'Long live King Solomon.' When you bring him back here, place him on my throne as the new king, for I've appointed him king of Israel and Judah.

Adonijah was consumed in a drunken haze when a messenger arrived with the news that Solomon had assumed the throne in the Palace. He started to shake in fear as his so-called friends began to forsake him.
When Solomon heard Adonijah was gripping the horns of the altar and sobbing in the sanctuary, he sent for him. He was let off the hook, but Solomon told him to behave himself in the future.

14.

WITH RENEWED vigor, David set up a proper administrative staff with the chiefs, priests and Levite families given specific duties as well as setting out regulations for the army and the treasury.
Following this, he summoned all the leaders to the Palace and introduced Solomon as his successor and explained to them that his son would build the Temple, which would be the new home of the Ark of the Covenant.
Solomon was then handed the plans for the majestic structure and David asked the Levites to help him. When he'd finished speaking, many of the priests and Levites came forward and promised him quantities of gold and silver, iron and jewels. This was followed by a great celebration.
Before he died in 971 B.C.E. at the age of 70, the old king took Solomon aside.

David (in almost a whisper): Remember the crime of Joab, who through envy killed two brave generals. Avenge their deaths in whatsoever way you think best, since Joab has so far escaped punishment. And as for Shem-ei, who cursed me, but received a pledge for the time being that he wouldn't be harmed ... find a reasonable excuse to punish him.

15.

BEFORE PUTTING his signature on his reign, Solomon had some unfinished business, including his half-brother, Adonijah, who came back to haunt him.
The troublemaker went to Bathsheba, asking that she talk to Solomon to give him Abishag in marriage since their father, David, hadn't had intercourse with her and she remained a virgin.
Abishag had been David's nurse.
Bathsheba did so, but Solomon rejected the plea, claiming Adonijah was still plotting to overthrow him with the aid of his powerful allies, Joab and Abiathar.
He sent for the chief of the bodyguards, Banaias, and ordered him to kill Adonijah. He also relieved Abiathar of the high priesthood and transferred it to the family of Zadok.
Following Adonijah's execution, Joab tried to find refuge in front of the sanctuary's altar. However, Solomon ordered Banaias to cut off his head there. He then appointed Banaias the new army commander.
Banaias wasn't finished with his executioner's role.
Solomon ordered Shem-ei to take an oath to never leave Jerusalem. However, three years later, two of his slaves escaped to Gath, and Shem-ei set out after them.
When he returned with them, the king was informed and Banaias put Shem-ei to the sword.
IV
Impressions of Solomon's Court

1. JERUSALEM, 968 B.C

A PHALANX of high government officials joined Solomon on the dias in their multi-colored robes, for the Israelites, were noted dye-makers, extending back to one of their ancestors, Joseph, who had been a governor-general in Egypt.
The king began by introducing his cabinet to the traveling salesmen, including the Ethiopian, Tamrin.

Solomon: High Priest Azariah, son of Zadok ... Jehoshapat, son of Ahilud, official historian in charge of the archives ... Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, commander-in-chief of the army ... Zabud, son of Nathan, my personal priest and adviser to the monarchy ... Chief of Staff Ahishar, manager of Palace Affairs ... Azariah, son of Nathan, secretary of state ... Adoniram, superintendent of public works ... special priests Zadok and Abiathar ... cabinet secretaries Elihoreph and Ahijah.

With the introductions completed, Solomon zestfully shouted: "Most honored men." A hush swept ove the usual clamorous behavior of aggressive merchants, each vying for a piece of the action, in the building of the Temple.

Solomon: This indeed is a momentous day in my kingdom's history, for we are united in building a great temple to our great God, Yahweh, who made heaven and earth.

Tamrin's eyes panned the audience, as he thought, "Who is this Yahweh, who made heaven and earth?"
He was a man of many gods, but these Israelites seemed to worship one and he, at th same time, knew this Yahweh was linked as if by an unbreakable chain to the mysterious light, which emanated from deep in the bowels of the City of David and stretched towards Mount Moriah.

Solomon: My good friend, King Hiram of Tyre, has agreed to provide us timber, cedar and cypress, for our temple. You honorable men are being asked to supply the fittings for both the temple and for my palace. The Lord, my God, has given Israel peace on every side. I have enemies from without and no internal rebellions. So I'm planning to build for the Lord, my God, just as he instructed my father that I should do. For the Lord told him, 'Your son, whom I will place on your throne, will build me the temple.' Now, please help me with this project.

Solomon then asked Adoniram to come to his side.
"Today," he began, "I have appointed the son of Abda, our minister of public works as general superintendent of our operations in Lebanon."
There was vigorous applause as Adoniram bowed slightly, with a toothy grin creasing his face for a moment.

The house of Adoniram shook with laughter than night. A celebration was in order. Even the usually straight-laced Abda joined in. Only a pregnant Sarah seemed to interospective, undoubtedly, realizing the general superintendency would mean her husband's imminent departure for the mountains.

2. SOLOMON'S COURT

WEDNESDAYS and Fridays were the designated days, probably from some ancient regulations passed down through the mists of time, to adjudicate disputes. Even in Makeda's court, Tamrin realized the practice had been honored for generations.
Again he returned to the Great Hall on The Ophel, where he'd been the previous day.
At an early hour, a crowd had gathered, both men and women, around a decorated elevated throne of cedar, which had a rich purple canopy, fringed with gold.
To the left of the throne stood the bearded priest Zabud, his face nearly hidden by a purple hood, and on the right, the High Priest, Azariah, a young man of Solomon's age, with none of the trappings of the normally grim priestly order.
The king, his tanned muscular forearms resting on the carved manes of two lions, which were integrated into the throne, was elegant in a long flowing robe of deep red with fringes of white at his neck and royal purple at the hem. In his right hand he held a shiny gold sceptre while his left hand was draped over the lion's noble head, On his brow was a single band, gem-studded crown of five points and encircling his neck was a loose chain of sapphires and gold nuggets.
Quietly, almost with a sense of reverence, the participants approached the king, bowing once, and Solomon would ask, in a low voice, "What is your pleasure?"
After listening to both sides, usually involving a land dispute, he would contemplate his decision for a few minutes, and then pass judgment.

3.

THE FAME of his wisdom was immeasurably increased when two prostitutes, with an argument, came into the Great Hall of Judgment.
"What's your pleasure?" asked Solomon.
"Sir, we live in the same house, just the two of us, and recently I had a baby," said Norah, with a red stain flushing her plump face.
Pointing to the other prostitute, Esther, a rather frail and pathetic-looking character, the beligerent streetwalker began berating her.

Norah: When it was three days old, this woman's baby was born, too, but her baby died during the night when she rolled over on it in her sleep and smothered it ... Then this whore got up in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while I was asleep, and laid her dead child in mine arms and took mine to sleep beside her. In the morning when I tried to feed my baby, it was dead! When it was dawn, I saw that it wasn't my son at all.
Esther (meekly interrupting): But ... it was Norah's son, and the living one is mine.
Norah (screaming): No, no, no. The dead child is yours and the living one is mine. Do you hear me? The living one is mine.
Solomon (in a calm voice): Let's get the facts straight. Both of you claim the living child, and each says the dead child belongs to the other. All right, bring me a sword.

One of the king's bodyguards, a fierce warrior named Samson handed a savage-looking weapon to the monarch.
"Now, hand the living child to Samson," he asked one of the Palace nurses. To this time, the healthy and crying infant lay on the thick carpeting at the base of the five steps leading up to the throne, alongside the still and bloated dead child.

Solomon (firmly): Samson, take this sword and divide the living child in two and give half to each of the women.
Esther (weakly moaning): No, no, sir. Give Norah the child. Don't kill him.
Norah (contempuously): All right, it will be neither yours now mine. Divide it between us.
Solomon (in a voice as forceful as a grip): Stop! Give the child to Esther, who wants him toi live, for she's the mother.

4.

WISDOM WASN'T always a trait of Solomon's, for he made some extremely unwise choices, marrying foreign women, including Egyptian harlots, which was against the commands of Yahweh, and they introduced him to magical rites and demonic spirits of sorcery.
However, he could have maintained his purity, particularly after a dream he had after ascending to his father David's throne.
The Israelites continued to sacrifice offerings and offer incense at hilltop altars. One of the most famous was Gibeon, where Moses' Tabernacle, transported from the wilderness, had once stood. In front of the site, a bronze altar made by Bezalel, Moses' assistant who had physically constructed the golden container for the Law, was still intact.
It was there that Solomon and a wide array of army officers, judges, political and religious leaders assembled and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings.
That night, the Lord appeared to him in a vision, in a flowing white robe and surrounded by a pure light, telling him to ask for anything he wanted, and it would be given to him.
Rubbing his eyes, even in the dream state because of the brightness of the light, he began talking to the entity.

Solomon (hesistantly): You were wonderfully kind to my father David because he obeyed your commands and you continued your kindness to him by giving him a son to succeed him ... O Lord, my God, now you've made me king instead of my father David, but I'm as a little child who doesn't know his way around. And here I am among your chosen people, a nation so great that there are almost too many people to count ... Give me an understanding mind so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between what's right and what's wrong. For who by himself is able to carry out such a heavy responsibility?

Solomon knew the Being was pleased with such a request.

Entity: Because you've asked for wisdom in governing My people, and haven't asked for a long life or riches for yourself, or the defeat of your enemies -- yes, I'll give you what you asked for. I'll give you a wiser mind than anyone else has ever had or ever will have. And I'll also give you what you didn't ask for -- riches and honor. And I'll also give you what you didn't ask for -- riches and honor. And no one in all the world will be as rich and famous as you for the rest of your life. And I will give you a long life if you follow me and obey My laws as your father did.

The condition to the promise was to haunt Solomon as he grew old.
Then the young king woke up, with sweat covering his body, and realized it had been a dream, but the spirit's words echoed in his ears, for when he returned to the City of David, he humbly went into the Tent of the Tabernacle and stood before the hallowed Ark where he sacrificed burnt offerings.
This was followed by a great banquet for his cabinet ministers.

5.

IN THE early period of his monarchy, Solomon built a huge force of 1,400 chariots and recruited 12,000 cavalry to guard the cities where the chariots were garaged, though some, of course, were stationed at Jerusalem near the king.
During his reign, silver and gold were as plentiful in Jerusalem as rocks on the road. And expensive cedar lumber was used like common sycamore.
Solomon sent horsetraders to Egypt to buy entire stables at wholesale prices, complete with chariots and steeds. Many of these were then resold to the kings of the Hittites and Syria.

Solomon then decided that it was time to build a temple for Yahweh, to house the Ark, and a palace for himself.
Besides the Sidonian lumberjacks. King Hiram of Tyre also sent his most famous craftsman. Huramabi, the son of a Jewish woman from Dan in Israel, and a father from Tyre.
Huramabi was a skillful goldsmith and silversmith, who also did exquisite work with brass and iron. He was noted for his stonework, carpentry and weaving. Besides all these skills, he was an engraver and an inventor.
After setting up the work force, Solomon took a census of all the foreigners in the country, just as his father, David had done and found there were 153,600 of them. He classified 70,000 as common laborers, 80,000 as loggers and 3,600 as foremen.

6.

SOLOMON SEEMED to be searching for a face in the Friday morning throng.
He motioned to Samson, no relation to the legendary strongman, but just as imposing, with a slight movement of the head, his fine black hair glistening in the illumination provided by the hundreds of thousands of chips of ivory imbedded in the ceiling.
The muscular bodyguard sliced through the rabble with the confident strides of an athlete until he stood in front of Tamrin.
The Ethiopian was startled and, fearfully, thought he had done something unpardonable. He could feel the sword off his hand and his foot.
"My lord wishes to speak with you," said Samson, firmly. "Follow me."
In front of the king, the Chief Merchant bowed, realizing he was alone in a sea of unfriendly faces, for Adoniram was in his office on The Ophel, busily preparing for the journey to Lebanon to the north.

Solomon: Mr. Ambassador, I want to thank you for bringing me honor by your presence here today. I also want to tell you of my gratitude for your friendship with my minister of public works and his family and for complying in supplying out needs in our building projects. Your country of Ethiopia is greatly honored to have a man of your abilities ... Mr. Ambassador, my kingdom also wishes to extend our hands of friendship to your queen, Makeda, and an invitation to her and her entourage to be our guests in the near future ... It would also give me great pleasure if you would accompany Adoniram to Lebanon, for you have been there before, and then call on my court on your return. Until then, I bid you Godspeed.

Tamrin was overwhelmed, but all he could mumble was "thank you, my lord."

7. GREAT SIDON RIDGE, MAY, 968 B.C.E.

RIDGE UPON ridge of greens and blacks swept away into the unknown distances like billows of a vast sea; and between them lay the valleys and waterways, glad with the rippling May song of running waters, the sweet scent of early flowering time. and the joyous voice of all mating creatures.
Just under the Great Sidon Ridge lay the paradise, a meadow-like sweep of plain that reached down into the edge of the River, with dark tapestries of cedar and cypress dotting it like islets in an ocean of verdant green.
In the edge of this clump of timber, flat on his back lay Tamrin, his nostrils savoring the sweet smell of wood, and looking into the twinkling night skies. He sadly thought of having to leave this mesmerizing region and his friend, Adoniram.
The camps were scattered among the towering trees, some 10,000 Israelites and an equal number of Sidonians, for Solomon had ordered that he'd pay Hiram's lumberjacks whatever wages he asked because no one in Israel could cut timber like the Sidonians of Phoenicia.
The logs were hauled by oxen to the Mediterranean, and then loaded on to rafts and floated down the coastline, from where they were transported inland to a staging area just outside the walls of the City of David. In return for the lumber, Solomon annually sent Hiram 125,000 bushels of wheat for his household and 96 gallons of pure olive oil among other contractural arrangements, which Elihoreph and Ahijah had worked out with the Phoenician budget director.

8.

TAMRIN STARED into the heavens and suddenly an intense light caused him to shrink from its immenseness. It descended until its foreshadowing halo illuminated the expanse about him.
Drawing the Ethiopian into its vortex, he began to hear soft and melodious music, like the voice of many waters, filling the dome, where he now stood.
Before him, bathed in a shaft of pure brilliance was a raised altar of ivory and atop it a gold container, which radiated both warmth and love. Its radiation seemed to penetrate into the trader's soul, assessing his thougts and his emotions.
Tamrin blinked his eyes.
The dream had passed and he shook himself, suddenly realizing the evening coolness and he moved to his tent for a night of restless sleep and haunting thoughts.

9. JERUSALEM, JUNE, 968 B.C.E.

THE CITY of Jerusalem appeared to wear a cloak of vigorous anticipation of Solomn's massive work project.
Tamrin heard that the king had conscripted 70,000 additional laborers to the 30,000 woodcutters from Lebanon, 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country and 3,300 foremen. Outside in the Kidron Valley, the stonecutters quarried and shaped huge blocks of stone for the temple's foundation.
In the next two weeks of June, Tamrin immersed himself in Solomon's wisdom while staying in one of luxurous guests rooms of King David's Old Palace, and each day and night he felt surrounded by the mysterious light, which glowed from the Lower City.
He now knew where this light came from; it was from the gold container, they called the Ark of the Covenant, that he had envisioned as he stared into the night sky in the mountains of Lebanon.

Tamrin also knew deep within himself, he must return to Ethiopia, not only for business reasons, but because Makeda would be waiting, hoepfully, with patience.
He had developed friendships over the past number of months, which would have a lasting effect on his memory, and, with tears in his eyes, Adoniram, on a 30-day leave from the mountains, and Sarah, now very large with child, bid him goodbye. Even Benjamin and baby Naomi sensed the melancholy as did Abda, the chief shochet and family patriarch.

Their business completed in May, the Ethiopian caravan of camels and 150 men had left for the Arabian Saba, leaving only Tamrin and his aide-de-camp, Gizaw, and an Israelite officer, Geber, son of Uri -- to escort them through the conquered Edomite territory to Ezion-geber, the main entry point on the Gulf of Akaba.
A ship of Commander Adray would take Tamrin and Gizaw to the Ethiopian port of Adulis, from where the two would be escorted overland to Debre Makeda.
Ezion-gener was just one of the seemingly countless entry points throughout Solomon's kingdom which extended from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and down to the Egyptian borders. Conquered peoples west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza, sent taxes to the king and merchants along the Frankinse Trail, all the way to th Indias, who wanted to ply their trade through the Mediterranean, had to pay travel tolls to Solomon and his coffers continued to swell, just as the Being had promised him in a dream at Gibeon.

10.

ON THE day of his departure in June, the heavens were gloomy and rain enveloped the City in a vast shroud. Even Solomon's appearance was downcast.
Bowing low before him, the Ethiopian then embraced the monarch and in an almost whisper, he said: "I don't want to go, but I have to return home." Tamrin stuttered, seemingly searching for the proper words, for he was torn between the passion for this new land and its people and his sense of duty as Chief Merchant and Ambassador of Ethiopia. "You know, Solomon, I'd stay here as one of the very least of your servants, but ..."
"That's all right, I do understand," interrupted the king. Tears flooded their eyes and after embracing, Solomon took his great chain of sapphires and gold nuggets and placed it around the ambassador's neck.
V
The Return to Makeda's Court

1. LATER IN 968 B.C.E

TAMRIN WAS a master storyteller, sometimes full of wit, sometimes subtle, at other times of morbidity, but always with a slight abberation of the truth.

Tamrin: Then this shifta, this Nubian, wields around and slices my cheek with his shelgai. I could feel the edge cutting into my skin and my blood pouring out on the ground.

He slowly and deliberately panned his piercing eyes into the faces of his companions, testing their reaction. Anguish was written on them.
With dramatic suddenness, he jerked his full bronzed face into the light emanating from the plateau fire, exaggerating the blood red gash, which reached from the corner of the left eye to his noble chin.

Gizaw (a frequent accomplice in his story-telling): Then whay happened, my lord?
Tamrin (snarling): I ... I ... killed him.

Tamrin had pre-planned the long pause, allowing them to fill in the details of the torture in their minds and at their leisure.
Gizaw knew it was probably a fabrication of Tamrin's imagination, but he kept silent, for he didn't want to taint his friend's infrequent brutish image with something as mundane as the truth. The 20-man entourage, which had been enduring the hardships of the Ethiopian highlands for a fortnight, since leaving Adulis for the City of the Throne, needed diversion, such as Tamrin's tales, but Gizaw noticed a degree of sadness in his employer's voice. Perhaps, his thoughts were elsewhere.
"One more day, friends," sighed Tamrin, realizing the arduous journey was nearly complete. He shivered in the darkness and clutched his hamma to his shoulders as he gazed into the blackened sky and all he could see was the dim outline of the dying moon god, Illumquh.
The vision of the golden container was only a distant memory, lost in the mountains of Lebanon.

2. CITY OF THE THRONE

IN THE Royal Court of Ethiopia, the whisperings became more pronounced the following morning. From bare-footed servant girls to the ancient elders, all were aware of Tamrin's return from the North Country of King Solomon.
They knew he had departed nearly a year earlier with a caravan of precious merchandise for the building of a temple to an Israelite god.
And now in the dusky haze of the late October afternoon, he could see thousands of small bonfires encircling the welcoming gates of the jewel of Makeda's great kingdom.
It was good to be home.

The 18-year old, who combined the sensuous beauty of a full-blossomed woman and the curiosity of a young girl, was waiting in the throne room.

Makeda: What was he like?
Tamrin (playfully): Who, he?
Makeda (pleading): You know. Come on, Tam, tell me, please tell me.
Tamrin (a smile causing creases at the corners of his eyes): He's ugly and he's old and he's poor.

Makeda knew these were fabrications, for she had been involved in the final negotiations of sending Kingdom's goods to Solomon, so his coffers had to be full.
Being old and ugly might have some validity except for her leading trader's facial expression, she very much doubted it.
He enjoyed the repartee between himself and Agabos' daughter, ever since she was a small child, skipping in the Royal Courtyard, playing hide and seek among the myrtles and watching, fascinated, by her transportation into a beautiful and intelligent woman, who had shown such adeptness in the science of astronomy and history, He thought of his beloved Bela when he saw the purity of Makeda's face.

Makeda: Tell me, please, tell me.
Tamrin: Bless your heart, child. He's not ugly. In fact, he's the most handsome man I've ever seen, and he's not old. He's maybe three or four years older than you, I think, and his wealth knows no bounds.

She sat mesmerized as Tamrin's words flowed, with such sincerity.

Tamrin: Solomon's a wise man. Of course, he comes from good stock, for his father was David. I tried to watch his every move in the administration of his office. You know me, child, business first.

Shifting his lanky frame on the low-slung divan, he expounded on the northern monarch.

Tamrin: The sweetness of his words is like water to the man who is thirsty.
Makeda (her face a question mark, for her adviser and friend rarely such words): Could this be true?
Tamrin (loudly): Yes, yes, yes. He has glory and riches, which his god has given him in abundance. Listen, he's got gold and silver and precious stones and rich apparel and innumerable cattle, sheep and goats.
Makeda (sighing): Oh, he sounds so wonderful.
Tamrin (matter of fact): He wants you to visit him.
Makeda: He wants me to do what?
Tamrin: He wants you to visit him in Jerusalem.

The young queen's face was now flush with excitement.
She paused to collect her thoughts.

Makeda: Why did you leave his court?
Tamrin (smiling gently): Because I missed you, my Lady.
Makeda (blushing): Oh, Tam.

It was true.

3.

MAKEDA AND Solomon, whose paths were prestined to meet and interwined through eternity, had taken different routes to their thrones, but there was one common thread, for their fathers had instilled in them an elephantine urge for wisdom.
It had been only three, almost four, years since Makeda had been thrust into power and the traumatic memories of the transition came flooding back as Tamrin continued relating his Jerusalem experience.

On the morning of her father's death, the pain reached deep into her bowels as the Old Woman slowly moved the wooden phallus against the membrane covering the virgin's womb.
This would be a ritual at every full moon for the rest of her days. Or so, she thought, for she prided herself in her virginity since it symbolized her Ethiopian monarchy.
Her father, Agabos, had offered up an oath to the Sun and the Moon in the heavens that this Land of the South would be ruled by his virgin daughter after his death.
The prodding finally ended and Makeda breathed easier. It was a deep sigh of relief, realizing the thoughts of her yourh weren't of such power to break through the membrane. Her dreams of the lustful closeness of the tawny warriors, who paid homage to her father, were, indeed, just dreams.
Flights of fancy of a young maiden.
The Emperor's daughter called for Tera, her lady-in-waiting.
A purple robe was placed around the delicate limbs of the virgin, and they both retreated into the Garden of the Pool.
Makeda loved the smell. The scent of the flower petals on the ripple of water permeated the fresh air of the morning, far removed from the stifling heat of the African afternoons.
Slipping out of the robe, she squatted in the shallow areas and with one exquisite hand she reached into her loins. Withdrawing her fingers, she noticed a slight trickle of blood. The woden phallus had induced her menstrual time. Then, slowly, out of Tera's sight, she deliberately rubbed her long fingers between her legs, feeling a mixture of excitement and disgust.
Makeda rose from her hunched position and stepped towards the deeper end and as the water inched higher on her thighs, it washed away the stain of the ritual.
Descending under the soothing waters, she savored the solitude for a few moments before surfacing. Tera was waiting with a vessel of lilac-scented oil and even before the pearls evaporated, the liquid proceeded to form rivulets down her shoulders and across her upraised breasts. It accentuated the gleaming blackness of her skin. Her nipples hardened as a rush of air swept across the Garden.
"What's wrong?" she thought.
Makeda reached for her robe, being held by her lady-in-waiting, and hugged it to her bosom while desperately trying to hide her nakedness.
Then she knew what this surge of fear was.
It may have been the strange voices.
No, it was from wails within the palace walls.
"My father!"
Hurriedly, she dressed and almost leaped across the courtyard to her father's bedchamber.
The Keeper of the Gate silently opened the door, and then bowed. Makeda could see the Kingdom's elders surrounding her father's cot.
"Your father wishes to speak with you," muttered one of the most respected elders, Dhakwan, by name.
She bent low as the ancient ones, many mournfully leaning on walking sticks, shuffled backwards a few steps to allow their Emperor's only offspring to approach the bed.
"My beloved daughter."
The rasp seemed to be centered in his throat, as if being strangled.
"My beloved daughter, I ... I'm dying."
"No, my father, it's not true."
Makeda 's eyes were now filled to overflowing with stinging tears.
"Makeda, promise me ..."
He gasped for air.
"Anything, father, anything."
"Promise me," he moaned, "to govern well and ... to seek wisdom wherever it may be found."
Then Agabos, with a lengthy wheeze rushing up from his lungs, departed into the spirit world.
The sound of despair enveloped the royal enclosure. No one tried to comfort or silence the virgin daughter.
She threw herselc across the Emperor's chest, his voice and breath now gone and his watery eyes forever closed, and she wept uncontrollably.
All the while, deep in her spirit, she could hear the words: "My daughter, seek wisdom wherever it may be found."
A great pall hovered over the Kingdom, for Agabos had been the savor of his people.
Makeda had been told many times of his exploits.

4.

THE ELDERS of Ethiopia had at one time worshipped the Cobra and as was the custom each man had to present his youngest son as a sacrifice to the serpent, along with large quantities of sweet beer and milk. The elder would tie his child to a tree and permit him to be eaten alive.
The custom continued for generations until the nobleman, Agabos, implored the people to kill the Cobra. "Nobody wants to lose his son," he cried.
Fear stalked the land, not only because of the Serpent's power, but the devious manipulations of the Snake People, the cult of priests surrounding the King Cobra.
However, Agabos stood his ground and eventually the elders relented and agreed that Agabos would kill their nemesis and if he was successful, he would be declared the leader.
The nobleman prepared a poison from a cactus plan and fed the mixture to a stray goat. Under the cover of night, he hauled the goat's corpse and tied it to the Tree of Death, and waited for the Serpent to appear.
As the Sun spread its wings, the Cobra devoured the goat and it died. Agabos watched the death from the secrecy of the nearby shrubbery.
The Snake People, those man-faced vipers, which had tails of asses attached to their loins, crept towards the Tree and stared in unbelief at their limp god, curled up and unmoving beside the truncated goat. The wailing and hissing of their high priest, Zereul, lasted well into the next night. Then the Snake People disappeared.
"Praise be to the Sun and to Agabos," cried the people.
"Let us keep our promise and Agabos will be our emperor and we will worship his god, the Sun, for he cooks our food, and moreover , he lights the darkness and he removed our fear. We will call the Sun our king and we will call him our creator and we will worship him as our god."
A great Throne of Sapphires was placed in the center of the capital and following much pomp and ceremony, the Nobleman Agabos was crowned Emperor.
"We have defeated our enemy," he bellowed, lifting the body of the once-mighty enemy over his head.
"Hail, Agabos, may he govern us well and may he seek wisdom wherever he finds it," the subjects roared in unison.
"My people, I will govern you well, and I pledge to you that upon my death, my virgin daughter will succeed me on the throne. So be it."
At the moment of his ascension, his daughter, Makeda, was suckling on her mother's breast.

Within a fortnight, the word of Agabos' death reached the Chief Merchant at the port of Adulis.
He left immediately with his aide-de-camp Gizaw, for Tamrin loved Agabos and Makeda loved Tamrin, for he was the one in her father's court, who knew the path to wisdom.

5.

AFTER THE deluge, Aksumawi, a descendant of Noah and the great-grandson of Ham, and his family lived a nomadic existence before setting across the Sea of Eritrea from the ancient land of Arabia to a garden of myrtle bushes and palms with a Vesuvian spring under a great plateau.
A man of wisdom, Aksumawi was a meticulous administrator, instituting a system of divine kingship and religiously pursuing the worship of one god -- the God of the Patriarch Noah.
He also adopted an isolationist policy of keeping his land's boundaries secure with a handpicked legion, which successfully fended off any attackers.
The idyllic setting was shattered, however, by Aksumawi's successors, some of whom were violent, and many began to send war parties into the surrounding nations, particularly Egypt.
One emperor was so bold to even move his seat of government into Egyptian territory to a place called Saba, a walled fortress, on an island in the Middle of the Mother River -- the Nile.
Meanwhile, the prestige of Aksumawi's beautiful city dissipated and with its dissolution of the worship of the God of Noah. Egyptian and Sabean infidels from Yemen brought with them their reverence for the Sun and Moon and the gods of the heavens. The most insidious was Cobra worship with its human sacrifices, a diabolic religion imported from Persia.
With the advent of aggression, the Kingdom pushed its troops into cutting titanic swaths northward along the Nile with the determination to conquer all of Egypt to the Mediterranean. So afraid were the Egyptians of these Aksumites, who had already reached Memphis, they turned to oracles and divinations and a general named Moses, which means, in Egyptian, "saved from the river."
Moses went out leading a great army and surprised his enemies with a magnificent strategy.
The Aksumites, who now had made Saba their capital, expected the Egyptians to attack them from the water since the interior of the Land was infested with poisonous snakes, but Moses took baskets full of ibises and these vicious birds drove the serpents away.
Then General Moses marched his troops down on the enemy and defeated them in a surprise attack. They fled Egypt and were pursued by Moses all the way back to Saba, where they were defeated again, to such an extent they believed they were in danger of being reduced to slavery.
Moses, a descendant of the Hebrews, who had been in exile in Egypt had watched as his generation had been reduced to little more than slaves, far removed from earlier times when they held positions of power within Egypt, however, his conquest of these people, who would be later called Ethiopians, knew when he looked up at the remparts surrounding Saba that fame was fleeting and when he returned to his homeland, that he would once more be relegated to second-class status as a Hebrew, unless the victory was total.
While he contemplated his next move, Tharbis, the daughter of the Ethiopian emperor watched this noble warrior, and she fell madly in love with him because of his bravery.
With the assistance of a faithful servant, Tharbis proposed marriage.
When Moses had punished the Egyptians, he gave thanks to God and celebrated his marriage.
Then he led th Egyptians back to their own land.

If he expected to be treated as royalty on his return, he was mistaken, for the Egyptians hated him even more, partly because they were afraid.
They thought he might take advantage of his good fortune and try to subvert their government. The Pharoah was also afraid of him, and prepared to assist in the murder of Moses. The plots thickened and Moses secretly escaped across the desert, since the roads were patrolled.
Later, Moses would lead his oppressed people across the Red Sea on a 40-year search for the Promised Land. Their security was assured by a golden container, which housed their covenant in the handwriting of their God Yahweh and known as the Ten Commandments.

With Saba in ruins, the Aksumite kingdom returned to some of its former glory despite the dominance of Cobra worship.
In this setting, Agabos, the father of Makeda, made his stand against injustice.
VI
The Temple and The Demons

1. JERUSALEM, 966 B.C.E.

TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION
PLANS ARE COMPLETED
White Marble Featured
In Solomon's Edifice


WHILE MAKEDA brooded over Tamrin's words concerning the King of the North, Solomon cupped his ear toward the heavens and heard the voice of God.
On April 17, 966 B.C.E., in the fourth year of his reign, actual construction began on the Temple. It had been 592 years after Moses had led the Hebrew children out of Egypt and now his descendants had become one of most powerful nations in the known world.
Its location was at the top of Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to Solomon's father, King David, and where the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite had been, David had selected it as the site for the Temple.
The foundation was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide with the body of the building white marble and it stood two storeys tall. A covered porch ran along the entire 30-foot width of the house, with the inner walls and ceiling overlaid with pure gold. The roof was 180 feet high.
The main part of the Temple was panelled with cypress wood, plated with pure gold from Paravaim, and engraved with palm trees and chains. Beautiful jewels were inlaid into the walls to add to its beauty. All the walls, beams, doors, and thresholds throughout the Temple were plated with gold, with angels engraved on the walls.
Within the Temple, at one end, was the most sacred room -- the Holy of Holies -- 30 feet square. This too was overlaid with the finest gold. Twenty-six ounce gold nails were used. The upper rooms were also plated with gold.
Within the innermost room, the Holy of Holies, Solomon placed two sculptured statues of angels, and plated them with gold. They stood on the floor facing the outer room, with wings outstretched wingtip to wingtip across the room, from wall to wall. Across the entrance to this room he placed a veil of blue and crimson fine-spun linen, decorated with angels.

2.

SOLOMON ALSO built a bronze altar 30 feet long, 30 feet wide and 15 feet high. In addition, he forged a huge round tank 15 feet across from rim to rim. The rim stood 7 1/2 feet above the floor and was 45 feet around. This tank was set on the backs of two rows of metal oxen. The tank and the oxen were cast as one piece. There were 12 of these oxen standing tail to tail, three facing north, three west, three south, and three east. The walls of the tank were five inches thick, flaring out like the cup of a lily. It held 3,000 barrels of water.
He also constructed 10 vats of water to wash the offerings, five to the right of the huge tank and five to the left. The priests used the tank, and not the vats, for their own washing.
Carefully following Yahweh's instructions, he then cast 10 gold lampstands and placed them in the Temple, five against each wall; he also built 10 tables and placed five against each wall on the right and the left; and he molded 100 solid gold bowls. Then Solomon constructed a court for the priests, also the public court, and overlaid the doors of these courts with bronze. The huge tank was in the southeast corner of the outer room of the Temple.
Huramabi, the artisansent to Jerusalem by King Hiram of Tyre, also made the necessary pots, shovels, and basins for use in connection with the sacrifices. So, at last, he completed the work assigned to him by King Solomon: The construction of the two pillars; the two flared capitals on the tops of the pillars; the two sets of chains on the capitals; the 400 pomegranates hanging from the two sets of chains on the capitals; the bases for the vats, and the vats themselves; the huge tank and the the dozen oxen under it; plus the pots, shovels and fleshhooks. All these items were of polished bronze.
The king did the casting at the clay banks of the Jordan valley between Succoth and Zeredah. Great quantities of bronze were used, too heavy to weigh.
But in the Temple only gold was used, for Solomon commanded that all the utensils, the altar, and the table for the Bread of the Presence must be made of gold; also the lamps and lampstands, the floral decorations, tongs, lamp, snuffers, basins, spoons and firepans -- all were made of pure gold. Even th doorways of the Temple, the main door, and the inner doors of the Holy of Holies were of gold.

3.

WHILE THE Temple was being built to house the golden container -- the Glory of the King -- Solomon encountered a host of demonic forces, which eventually came under his control.
It began, innocently enough, when he noticed that Huramabi's young apprentice, Joseph, had begun losing weight.
"What's the matter, Joseph?" asked Solomon, with grave concern, for the king was fond of the tousled-haired youngster, so much so that he gave him double wages and provisions.
Prompted by the concern, the frail youth related a strange occurrence.

Joseph: After work on the Temple is done for the day and when sun has set, an evil spirit comes and makes off with half my pay and half my provisions. He also grabs my right hand and sucks my thumb. You can see that my soul is in distress and my body grows thinner every day.

Solomon was shocked.
He immediately went into the half-completed Temple and knelt at the great altar, praying for power to deal with this demon. While he was pleading , the Archangel Michael appeared with a ring, which had a seal engraved with a precious stone.

Archangel Michael: Solomon, son of David, take the gift which the Lord God has sent to you and with it you will imprison all the demons, both male and female, and with their help you will build Jerusalem when you bear this seal of God.

The following day, the monarch gave the seal to Joseph with certain instructions.

Solomon: At the moment the demon appears to you, fling this ring into his chest and say to him, 'Come! Solomon summons you!' and come running back to me as fast as you can before he says anything that would frighten you.

The evil spirit, named Ornais, came at his usual time, at dusk, to harass the youngster. Without hesitation, the demon was struck in the chest with the ring.

Joseph (yelling and immediately he started to run): Come! Solomon summons you!
Ornais (screaming and snarling): Why, have you done this? Remove the ring and give it back to Solomon, and I'll give you all the silver and gold of the earth.
Joseph (to Solomon): I brought the demon to you just as you commanded me. There he is standing bound in front of the gates, crying out with a great voice that he'd give me all the gold and silver on earth so I wouldn't deliver him to you.

The ruler got up from his throne and saw the black and shadowy figure trembling with fear.

Solomon: What's your name? Who are you?
The demon: I'm called Ornais.
Solomon: Tell me in which side of the zodiac do you reside?
Ornais (snarling): In Aquarias -- the Waterpourer. I strangle those who reside in Aquarias because of their passion for women whose zodiacal sign is Virgo. Meanwhile, while in a trance I undergo three transformations. Sometimes, I'm a man who craves the bodies of effeminate boys and when I sexually abuse them, they suffer great pain. (Smirking) Sometimes, I become the creature with wings flying up in the heavenly regions. Finally, I assume he appearance of a roaring lion. In addition, I'm descended from the archangel of the power of God, but I'm foiled by the Archangel Uriel.

After Solomon had sealed the demon, he ordered him into the Kidron quarry to cut Temple stones, which had been transported by way of the Gulf of Akaba and dumped along the seashore.
Ornais, being terrified to to touch any iron instruments, pleaded: "I beg you, King Solomon, let me have a measure of freedom, and I'll bring up all the demons."
Knowing that Ornais was subject to the Archangel Uriel's commands, Solomon again prayed for assistance and dramatically Uriel appeared in the skies over Jerusalem.
The entity forced Ornais to cut stones and to help complete the Temple's construction.

4.

SOLOMON GAVE the demon the seal and said, "Go and bring out the Prince of Demons, Beelzebub."
Ornais took the ring and went to Beelzebub, and said: "Come! Solomon summons you!" while jabbing the ring into the Prince's chest. He screamed as if if he had been burned with a red-hot prod.
"Tell me, who are you?" asked the king.
The chief demon, with the skeletal features, glared and bellowed arrogantly: "I am Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."
Solomon demanded an explanation of the manifestations of the demons.
There was compliance, for Beelzebub promised to bring all the unclean spirits.
"Are there any female demons?"
"Yes."
"I want to see one."

5.

BEELZEBUB SCURRIED off and returned with one who had a woman's body, with fair complexion, but her legs were those of a mule.

Solomon: Tell me who you are?
(She identified herself as Onoskelis)
Onoskelis: I'm a spirit which has been made into a body. I recline in a den on the earth. I make my home in caves. However, I've a many-sided character. Sometimes, I strangle men; sometimes I pervert thm from their true natures. Most of the time, my habitats are cliffs, caves and ravines ... Frequently, I also associate with men, who think of me as a woman, especially with those whose skin is honey-colored, for we're of the same constellation -- Capricorn, the Goat. It's also true that they worship the star secretly and openly. They don't know that they deceive themselves and excite me to be an evildoer all the more, for they want to obtain gold by remembering me, but I grant little to those who seriously worship me.
Solomon: How did you come into being?
Onoskelis: I was generated from an unexpected voice, which is called a voice of the echo of a black heaven, emitted in matter.
Solomon: By what heavenly body do you travel?
Onoskelis: By the full moon, because by the moon, I pass over things.
Solomon: What angels foils you?
Onoskelis: One that is also in you, King.

Solomon, on hearing what he thought to be a rude remark, commanded a soldier to strike Onoskelis.
"I say to you, King, by God's wisdom I have been entrusted I have been entrusted your power," she yelped.
Solomon commanded, in Yahweh's name, that she spin hemp for the ropes used in the Temple's construction. Onoskelis was sealed and bound in such a way that she was made powerless. Shen then was forced to stand night and day spinning the hemp.
Commanding another demon be brought to him, Beelzebub brought the bound evil spirit, Asmodeus.

6.

THE FAMILIAR questioning began.

Solomon: Who are you?
Asmodeus (scowling): And who are you?
Solomon: You dare to answer so arrogantly when you've been punished like this?
Asmodeus (continuing to snarl and make threatening noises): How should I answer you? You're the son of a man. Although I was born of a human mother, I'm the son of an angel. It's impossible for one of heavly origin to speak an arrogant to one of earthly origin. My constellation is like an animal which reclines in its den in heaven; some call me the Great Bear, but others the offspring of a dragon. Moreover, a smaller constellation accompanies my constellation, for the high position and throne of my father is always in the sky. So don't ask me so many things, Solomon, for eventually your kingdom will be divided. This glory of yours is temporary. You have us to torture for a little while; then we will disperse among human beings again with the result that we will be worshipped as gods because men don't know the angels who rule over us.

Solomon had him bound even more and also ordered him flogged.

Asmodeus (crying): I am the renowned Asmodeus. I cause the wickedness of men to spread throughout the world. I'm always hatching plots against newlyweds. I mar the beauty of virgins and cause their hearts to grow cold.
Solomon: Is that all you do?
Asmodeus: I spread madness about women through the stars and I have often committed a rash of murders.
Solomon: Tell me, Asmodeus, by which angel are you foiled?
Asmodeus: Raphael, the one who stands before God and sets over all the diseases and all the wounds of mankind; but also a smoking heart and a liver of a fish from the Tigris drives me away.
Solomon: Are you hiding anything from me? Tell me the name of the fish you fear?
Asmodeus: It's called the sheatfish, a catfish found in the rivers of Assyria and it's hatched only there. I'm also found in those parts.
Solomon: Is there not something else about you, Asmodeus?
Asmodeus: The power of God which binds me with unbreakable bonds by his seal knows that which I have related to you is true. I beg you, King Solomon, don't condemn me to water.
Solomon (smiling): As the Lord, the God of my father, lives , you will have irons to wear and you will mold clay for all the vessels of the Temple, eliminating the cost of the mold.
Ordering 10 jars to be made available, the king commanded Asmodeus to be drenched with water in the jars. Then taking the liver and gall of a fish, along with the spike at the butt end of a spear shaft -- the branch of storax -- he lit a fire under the powerful entity and the voice was silenced.

7.

THE PRINCE of demons was summoned again.

Solomon: Why are you alone the Prince of Demons?
Beelezub: Because I'm the only one left of the heavenly angels who fell. I was the highest-ranking angel in heaven, the one called Beelezub. There also accompanied me another ungodly angel, Abezethibou, whom God cut off and now imprisoned here, he holds in his power the race of those bound by me in the hell of Tartarus. He was Moses' adversary in Egypt, but was trapped in the Red Sea when the part returned, but when he is ready, he will come in triumph.
Solomon: What are your activities, Beelezub?
Beelezub: I bring destruction by means of tyrants. I cause the demons to be worshipped alongside of men and I arouse the desire in holy men and select priests. I bring jealousies and murders in a country, and I instigate wars. And I will destroy the world.
Solomon: Bring back the one you said is being nurtured in the Red Sea.
Beelezub (hissing): I will bring no one back to you, but there will come a certain demon whose name is Ephippas, an Arabian wind demon, who will bind him and bring him out of the abyss..
Solomon: Tell me why he's in the abyss of the Red Sea and what his name is?
Beelezub: Don't ask me. You aren't able to learn that from me. He will come to you because I, too, am with you.
Solomon: Tell me in which star you reside.
Beelezub: The one, called by men, the Evening Star.
Solomon: Tell me, which angel foils you?
Beelzebub: The Almighty God. He is called by the Hebrews Patike, the one who descends from the heights. He is called by the Greeks Emmanuel. I am afraid of him, and trembling. If anyone adjures me with the oath called, 'the Elo-i,' a great name of his power, I disappear.

Solomon ordered him to cut blocks of Theban marble from Egypt and as he begun to cut, all the demons cried out with a loud voice because he was their king, Beelezub.

Solomon (firmly): If you want to obtain a release, inform me about heavenly things.
Beelezub: Listen, Solomon, if you burn the oil of myrrh, frankincense, and bulbs of the sea along with spikenard and saffram and light seven lamps during an earthquake, you will strengthen your house. And if, being ritually clean, you light them at the crack of dawn , just before the sun comes up, you will see th heavenly dragons and the way they wriggle along and pull the chariot of the sun.
Solomon (visibly upset by the absurdities): Shut up and continue cutting marble just as I ordered you.

8.

ASKING FOR another demon to appear, an entity accompanied by a blustering cloud of earth, broke through a large contingent of soldiers on The Ophel.
"What do we have here?" asked the monarch. Then he stood up, spat on the ground and sealed the the entity with the Ring of God.
"Who are you?"
The dust storm began again.
"What do you want, King Solomon?"
"Tell me what you're called?"
"I'm called Lix Tetrax."

Solomon: What is your activity?
Lix Tetrax: I create divisions among men. I make whirlwinds. I start fires. I even set fields on fire and make households non-functional. Usually, I carry on my activity in the summertime. If I get the chance, I slither under the corners of houses during the night or day. I am the direct descendant of the Great One, Beelezub.
Solomon: In what constellation do you reside?
Lix Tetrax: Toward the tip of the horn of the moon when it's found in the south -- there is my star. Therefore, I assigned to draw out the fever, which strikes for a day and a half. As a result, many men, when they see this, pray about the day-and-a-half fever, invoking three names, 'Baltala, Thallal, Melchal,' and I heal them.
Solomon: But when you want to do evil, who grants you the power.?
Lix Tetrax: The angel by whom the day-and-a-half fever is stopped.
Solomon: By what name are you foiled?
Lix Tetrax: The name of the Archangel Azazel.

Then Solomon placed his seal on the demon and commanded him to pick up the stones and hurl them to the heights of the Temple for the workmen. The demon complied with his orders.

9.

AGAIN, SOLOMON commanded another demon to appear before him. This time seven spirits, bound together hand and foot, was asked the familiar question: "Who are you?"
"We are heavenly bodies, rulers of this world of darkness."
The first said, "I am Deception."
The second said, "I am Strife."
The third said, "I am Fate."
The fourth said, "I am Distress."
The fifth said, "I am Error."
The sixth said, "I am Power."
The seventh said, "I am the Worst. Our stars in heaven look small, but we are named like gods. We change our positions together and we live together, sometimes in Lydia, sometimes in Olympus, sometimes on the great mountain.

Solomon (asking the first spirit): Tell me what you do?
Deception: I plot deception and devise the most evil heresies, but there's one who foils me, the angel Lamechiel.
Strife: I cause strife by making available clubs, pellets and swords, my implements of war, but I have an angel who foils me, Baruchiel.
Fate: I cause every man to fight in battle rather than make peace honorably with those who are winning. But why am I talking so much? There's an angel who foils me, Marmaroth.
Distress: I caused men to lack moderation. I divide them in factions. I keep them separated. Since Stress follows in my footsteps, I set men against each other and do similar things to them, but why am I talking so much? There's an angel , the great Balthioul, who foils us.
Error (accusingly): I'm leading you into error and I led you into error when I made you kill your brother, Adonijah. I lead people into error by hunting for graves and teach them how to dig them up. I lead men's minds to stray away from religion, and I do many other bad things. However, there's an angel, who foils me, Uriel.
Power: I raise up tyrants. I depose kings and I grant power to all those who are enemies. There's an angel who foils me, Ashtoreth.
The Worst (glaring at Solomon): You, King, I will harm when I order you to be bound with the bonds of Artemis because these things affect you. You have desire like a beloved one, but to me that's a desire that corresponds to myself which is wisdom. For if anyone is wise, he will not follow in my footsteps.

Solomon whe he'd heard these things, sealed them with the Ring of God and commanded them to dig white marble for the Temple's foundation.

10.

OTHER DEMONS began to visit Solomon; one which was a man who had all his limbs, but no head.
"Tell me who you are and what you're called?"
"I'm called Murder. for I devour heads, wishing to get a head for myself, but I don't consume enough. I long for a head to do exactly what you do, King."
The monarch stretched out his hand against the demon's chest and put his seal on him.
Murder jumped up, tore himself loose and muttered, "Woe is me! How did I fall in with a traitor, Ornais? I do not see."

Solomon: How is it possible for you to see?
Murder: My voices has taken over voices of many men; for I have closed up the heads of those among men who are called dumb. When infants are 10 days old, and if one cries in the night, I become a spirit and I rush in and attack the infant through his voice. What's more my visit to premature infants is harmful. My strength happens to reside in my hands, that is, like that which takes place at an executioner's block. I grab hold of heads, cut them off, and attach them to myself; then, by the fire which is continually burning in me, I consume them through the neck. I am the one who inflames limbs, inflicts the feet, and prodeces festering sores. It is by a fiery flash of lightning that I am foiled.

The king ordered him to stay with Beelezub until the time when a friend might arrive.

11.

THE NEXT demon came in the form of a gigantic dog, controlled by Briathos.
"Hail, O King Solomon!"
The king was astonished and said, "Who are you, dog?"
"You supposed that I am a dog; but before your time, King, I was a man. I accomplished many unlawful deeds in the world and so I'm so extremely strong that I restrained the stars of heaven and now I'm preparing more evil works, Consequently, I deceive men who follow my star and I lead them into stupidity. I also subdue the hearts of men through ytheir throats and, in this way, I destroy them."
"What is your name?"
"Scepter."
"What's your activity and why do you seem to me to be so prosperous?"
"Turn over your manservant to me and I will spirit him off to a place in the mountains where I will show him an emerald stone shaken loose from its foundation. With it, you will adorn the Temple of God.
Solomon ordered his household servant to accompany Scepter and take the ring bearing God's seal with him.
"Go with him and whosoever shows you the emerald ring, seal him with the riing, observe the place in detail and bring the ring back to me."
When the demon went out and showed him the emerald stone, the household servant sealed him with the Ring of God, and brought the emrald stone back to Solomon.
The two demons, the headless one and the dog, were bound and Solomon ordered the stone be carried about night and day as light for working artisans underneath the Temple.
The stone was locked up with 200 shekels in a treasure chest.

12.

ANOTHER DEMON came like a roaring lion and questioned Solomon.
"I have this particular form and am a spirit which can never be bound. I am the one who sneaks in and watches over all, who are lying ill with a disease and make it impossible for man to recover from the taint. I have another activity, I involve the legions of demons subject to me for I'm at the places where they are when the sun is setting. The name of all the demons, which are under me, is legion."
"What's your name?"
"The Lion-Shaped Demon."
"How are you and your demons foiled, that is, who's your angel?"
"If I tell you his name, I place not only myself in chains, but also the legion of demons under me."
"I adjure you by the name of the great God Most High, by what name are you and your demons thwarted?"
"By the name of the one who at one time submitted to suffer many things at the hands of me, whose name is Emmanuel, but now he's bound us and will come to torture us by drawing us into the water at the cliff. As he moves about, he's conjured up by means of three letters: 644."
The king sentenced his legion to carry wood from the grove of trees. Then Solomon sentenced the Lion-Shaped One to saw it up as kindling with his claws and to throw it under the perpetually-burning kiln.

13.

NEXT CAME a three-headed dragon with awful skin.

Solomon: Who are you?
Dragon: I am a three-pronged spirit, one who overpowers by means of three deeds. In the wombs of women, I blind children. I also turn their ears around backward and make them dumb and deaf. Finally, I strike men against the body and I make them fall down, foam at the mouth, and grind their teeth. But there is a way by which I am foiled, namely by the site which is marked, 'Place of the Skull,' for there an angel of the Wonderful Counsellor foresaw that would suffer, and he will dwell publicly on the cross. He is the one who will foil me, being the one among the angels to whom I am subject. But at the place where he ascended, King Solomon, he will erect a dark pillar formon on the air after Ephippes has brought gifts from the Red Sea, from inside Arabia, in the foundation of the Temple which you have begun to build, King Solomon, there is hidden away much gold. Dig it up and confiscate it.

Solomon dug it up just as the demon told him.
After sealing him with the ring, the king asked, "Tell me what you are called?"
"Head of the Dragons."
He was ordered to make bricks for the Temple.

14.

THE NEXT demon came in the darkened shape of a woman with dishevelled hair.
"Who are you?"
"And who are you?"
"And who are you? Or what need is there for you to inquire about the sorts of deeds I do? But if you want to inquire, go to the royal chambers and, after you have washed your hands, sit again on your throne and asme and then you will learn, King, who I am."
When Solomon had done this, he asked again, "Wo are you?"

Obyzouth: I do not rest at night, but travel around the world visiting women and, divining the hour when they give birth, I search for them and strangle their new-born infants. I do not go through a single night without success. You are not able to give me orders. I can make the rounds and go into the remotest areas. Otherwise, my work is limited to killing new-born infants, injuring eyes, condemning mouths, destroying minds, and making bodies feel pain.
Solomon: Tell me, evil spirit, by what angel are you foiled?
Obyzouth: By the angel Raphael; and when women give birth, write my name on a piece of papyrus and I will flee from them to the world.

Solomon ordered her bound by her hair and hung up in the front of the Temple.

15.

A DEMON in the form of a wallowing dragon, having the limbs of a dragon and wings on its back, but the face and feet of a man, appeared to Solomon.
Solomon: Who are you and from where have you come?
Winged Dragon: This is the first time I have stood before you, King Solomon, a spirit made a god among me, but foiled by the seal which was given to you by God. I do not copulate with many women, but only a few who have beautiful bodies, who possess a name of Touxylou of this star. I rendezvous with them in the form of a wing spirit, copulating with them through their buttocks. One woman I attacked is bearing a child and that which is born from her becomes Eros. Because it couldn't be tolerated by men, that women perished. This is an activity. Suppose, then, that I alone am content while the rest of the drmons troubled by you, being downcast, should speak the whole truth; they will caused the stack of wood about to be gathered by you for construction in the Temple to be consumed by fire.

As the demon was saying these things, suddenly the breath coming out of his mouth burned up all the cedar and cypress from Lebanon that already had been stockpiled outside the Temple walls.
"Tell me by what angel you're foiled?"
"By the great angel who is seated in the second heaven, who in the Hebrew is called Bazazath."
The demon was also condemned to cut marble for the Temple in penance for his destruction ways.

16.

ANOTHER SPIRIT had the shape of a woman, but on her shoulders when two separate heads with arms.
"Tell me who are you?"
She answered, "I am Enepsigos, but I am called by countless names."

Solomon: By what angel are you foiled?
Enepsigos: What are you after? What do you want? I can change my appearance, first being taken for a goddess, and then becoming one who has some other shape. In this regard, don't expect to know all things about me, but because you are here in my presence, listen to this: I hover near the moon and because of this I assume three forms. At times, I conjured up as Kronos by the wise men. At other times, I descend around those who bring me down and appear in another form. The capacity of the heavenly body is invincible, incalculable, and impossibe to foil. At any rate, changing into three different forms, I also descend and become what you see. I am foiled by the angel Rathanael, who takes his seat in the third heaven. On account of this, therefore, I say to you, this Temple can't contain me.

After invoking Rathanael, Solomon made use of the seal and sealed her down with a triple-link chain and he bound her down, he made use of the seal of God.

Enepsigos (prophesying): You're doing these things to us now, King Solomon, but after a period of time your kingdom will be divided. At still a later time this Temple will be destroyed and all Jerusalem will be demolishd by the kings of Persians and Medes and Chaldeans. Also, the implements of this Temple which you're making will serve other gods. Also with these events, all the vessels in which you have entrapped us will be broken in pieces by the hands of men. Then we will come forth with much power and we will be scattered here and there throughout the world. We will lead astray all the inhabited world for a long time until the Son of God is stretched on the cross. For there has not yet risen a king like him, one who foils all of us, whose mother shall not have sexual intercourse with a man. Who holds such authority over the spirits except one? The one whom the devil shall will seek to tempt, but will not be able to overcome, the letters whose name adds up to 644 -- he is Emmanuel. Because of this, King Solomon, your time is evil, your years are short, and your kingdom will be given to your servant.

Solomon was equally amazed and disgusted by the prophecy from the demon, for he distrusted them and didn't believe the things which were said to him until they occurred.

17.

ANOTHER DEMON came in the form of a horse in front and a fish in back.

Kunopegos (in a great voice): King Solomon, I'm a cruel spirit of the sea. I rise up and come on the open seas with the sea and I trip up the greater number of men who sail on it. I raise myself up like a wave and being transformed, I come up against ships, for this is my activity: to receive beneath the sea treasures and men. For I raise myself up, take them, and hurl them under the sea. So I'm always lusting after their bodies, but until now I have been casting the treasures out of the sea. However, since Beelezbub, the ruler of the spirits of the air and the earth and beneath the earth gives advice about the activities with respect to each of us, I therefore came up for the sea, and show myself to me. They call me Kunopegos because I change myself intoi a man. The name is true to me. Moreover, I cause a type of seasickness when I pass into men. So when I came for a consultation with the ruler Beelezbub, he bound me up and delivered me into your hands. Now, I'm standing before you and because of not having water for two or three days, my spirit is ceasing from speaking to you.
Solomon: Tell me by what angel you're foiled?
Kunopegos: By Iameth.
Then Solomon ordered him to be cast into a broad, flat bowl and 10 receptacles of seawter to be poured over it. The king fortified the top side all around with marble and he unfolded and spread asphalt and hemp rope over the vessel's mouth.
When it was sealed with Solomon's ring, he ordered it to be stored away in the Temple.

18.

THEN A SPIRIT, which had the shadowy form of a man and gleaming eyes, appeared.
"Who are you?"
"I'm a lecherous spirit of a giant man, who died in a massacre in the age of giants."

Solomon: Tell me what you accomplish on earth and where you make your dwelling?
Gleaming Eyes: My home is in inaccessible places. My activity is this: I seat myself near dead men in the tombs and at midnight I assume the form of the dead. If I seize anyone, I immediately kill him with a sword. If I shouldn't be able to kill him, I cause him to be possessed by a demon and to gnaw his own flesh to pieces and the saliva of his jowls to flow down.
Solomon: Fear the God of heaven and earth and tell me by what angel you're foiled?
Gleaming Eyes: He who is about to return as Saviour foils me. If His mark is written on one's forehead, it foils me, and because I'm afraid of it, I quickly turn and flee from Him. This is the sign of the Cross.

After hearing this, the king locked up the demon just like the others.

19.

WHEN THE next demon was commanded to appear before Solomon's throne, it was 36 heavenly bodies, their heads like headless dogs, but there was among them, those who were in the form of humans, or of bulls, or of dragons, with faces like the birds, or the beasts, or the sphinx.
"Well, who are you?"
All at once, with one voice, they said: "We're 36 heavenly bodies, the world rulers of darkness of this age. But you, King, aren't able to harm us or lock us up; but since God gave you authority over all the spirits of the air, the earth, and the regions beneath the earth, we have also taken our place before you like the other spirits."
Summoning the first spirit, he asked, "Who are you?"
"I am the decan of the zodiac and I'm called Ruax. I cause heads of men to suffer and cause the temples to throb. Should I hear only, 'Michael, imprison Ruax,'I retreat immediately."
Then the heavenly bodies followed in order:

Barsafael: I cause men to reside in my time period to have pains on the sides of their heads. Should I hear, 'Gabriel, Barsafael,' I retreat immediately.
Artosael: I do damage to the eyes. Should I hear, 'Uriel, imprison Artosael,' I retreat immediately.
Oropel: I attack throats, resulting in sore throats and mucus. Should I hear, 'Raphael, imprison Orophel,' I retreat immediately.
Kairoxanondalon: I cause ears to have obstructions. If I hear, 'Uriel, imprison Kairoxanondalon, I retreat immediately.
Sphendonael: I cause pain in the cheek bones. If I hear, 'Sabael, imprison Sphendonael,' I retreat immediately.
Sphandor: I weaken the strength of the shoulders and deaden the nerves of the hands and make the limbs paralyzed. If I hear, 'Uriel, imprison Sphandor,' I retreat immediately.
Belbel: I pervert the hearts and minds of men. If I hear, 'Karael, imprison Belbel,' I retreat immediately.
Kourtael: I send forth colic into the bowels. If I should hear, 'Iaoth, imprison Kourtael,' I retreat immediately.
Methathiax: I cause pain in the kidneys. If I hear, 'Adonael, imprison Methathiax,' I retreat immediately.
Katanikotael: I unleash fights and feuds in the homes. If anyone wishes for make peace, let him write on seven laurel leaves the names of those who foil me: 'Angel, Eae, Ieo, Saboath, imprison Katanikotael,' and when he has soaked the laurel leaves in water, let him sprinkle his house with water and retreat immediately.
Saphtorael: I put dissensions into the minds of men and I delight when I cause them to stumble. If anyone writes down these words: 'Iae, Ieo, sons of Saboath,' and wears them around his neck, I retreat immediately.
Phobothel: I cause loosenings of the tendons. If I hear, 'Adonai,' I retreat immediately.
Leroel: I bring on chills and shiverings amd numbness. If I hear only, 'Iax, don't stand fast, don't be fervent, because Solomon is fairer than 11 fathers,' I retreat immediately.
Soulbelti: I unleash shiverings and numbness. If I hear only, 'Rizoel, imprison Soulbelti.' I retreat immediately.
Katrax: I inflict incurable fevers on men. If anyone want to regain health, let him pulverize coriander and rub it on his lips, saying, 'I adjure you by Zeus, retreat from the image of God,' and I retreat immediately.
Ieropa: I sit on the stomach of man and cause convulsions in the bath; and on the street I find the man and make him fall to the ground. Whoever says into the right ear of the afflicted for the third time, 'Iouda Zizabou,' you see, makes me retreat.
Modebel: I separate wife from husband. If anyone writes the names of the eight fathers and places themn in the doorways, I retreat immediately.
Mardero: I inflict incurable fevers. Write my name in some such way in the house and I retreat immediately.
Rhyx Nathotho: I locate myself in the knees of men. If anyone writes on a piece of papyrus, 'Phounebiel,' I retreat immediately.
Rhyx Alath: I produce croup in infants. If anyone writes, 'Rarideris,' aand carries it, I retreat immediately.
Rhyx Audomeoth: I inflict heart pain. If anyone writes, 'Raiououth,' I retreat immediately.
Rhyx Manthado: I cause the kidneys to suffer pain. If anyone writes, 'Iaoth, Uriel,' I retreat immediately.
Rhyx Aktonme: I cause the ribs to suffer pain. If anyone writes on a piece of wood from a ship which has run aground, 'Marmaroth of mist,' I retreat immediately.
Rhyx Anathreth: I send gas and burning up into the bowels. If I hear, 'Arara, Arara,' I retreat immediately.
Rhyx, the Enautha: I make off with the minds and alter hearts. If anyone writes, 'Kalazael,' I retreat immediately.
Rhyx Axesbuth: I cause men to suffer from diarrhea and hemmorrhoids. If anyone adjures me in pure wine and give it to the one who is suffering, I retreat immediately.
Rhyx Hapax: I unleash insomnia. If anyone writes, 'Kok Phedimos, and wears it down from the temples, I retreat immediately.
Rhyx Anoster: I unleash hysteria and cause pain in the bladder. If anyone mashes up the seeds of laurel into pure oil and massages the body with it, saying 'I adjure you by Marmaroth,' I retreat immediately.
Rhyx Physikoreth: I bring long-term illnesses. If anyone puts salt in olive oil and massages his sick body with it saying, 'Cherubim, seraphim, help me,' I retreat immediately.
Rhyx Aleureth: In the case of swallowing fish bones, if anyone puts a bone from his fish into the breasts of the one who is suffering, I retreat immediately.
Rhyx Ichthuon: I detach tendons. If I hear, 'Adonai, malthe,' I retreat immediately.
Rhyx Achoneoth: I cause sore throat and tonsilitis. If anyone writes on ivy leaves, 'Leikourgos,' heaping them on a pile, I retreat immediately.
Rhyx Autoth: I cause jealousies and squabbles between those who love each other. But the letters Alpha and Beta, written down, foils me.
Rhyx Phtheneoth: I cast the evil eye on every man. But the much-suffering eye, when inscribes, foils me.
Rhyx Mianeth: I hold a grudge against my body. I demolish houses. I cause the flesh to rot. If anyone writes down on the front entrances of his house as follows, 'Melto Ardad Anaath,' I flee from that place.

Solomon condmned some of the demons to do heavy construction work on the Temple; some he locked in prisons while others were ordered to battle the fire in the production of gold and silver, and to sit beside lead and cinerary urns, and for the rest to the demons to prepare places in which they ought to be locked up.
With the subduing of evil spirits, peace reigned in Jerusalem, and throughout Israel and the Temple construction, which had begun on April 17, 966 B.C.E., was finally completed in 959 B.C.E.

20.

BEFORE THE final golden nail was inserted, Solomon wrestled with another problem involving a dignified Temple artisan, who threw himself before the king and cried, "Son of David, have mercy on me, an elderly man."

Solomon: Tell me, old man, what you want?
Old Man: I beg you, King, I have a son, my only son, and every day he does terribly violent things to me, striking me in the face and head and threatening me to a terrible death. Because he did this, I'm asking you to avenge me.
Solomon (speaking after the son was brought before him): Do you admit to this?
Son: Absolutely not. Don't pay attention to the babblings of an old man.

After hearing the young man's response, he called for the aging man again, but he didn't want to come and said: "Let him be put to death."
The king could hear someone laughing, and he spied the demon Ornais.

Solomon (belowing) Cursed one, did you laugh at me?
Ornais: I didn't laugh at you, but because of the wretched old man and this miserable son, because after three days he'll die. See, the old man wants to do away with him in an evil manner.
Solomon: Does he really have such an intent?
Ornais: Yes, King.

Ordering Ornais to leave the throne room, he recalled both the father and the son and ordered them to become friends.
Then he said to the Old Man, "In three days bring your son back to me."
Bowing low, they both left.

Solomon (after ordering Ornais to return): Tell me how you know that the young man will die in three days.
Ornais: We demons go up to the firament of heaven, fly around among the stars and hear the decisions which issue from God concerning the lives of men. The rest of the time we come and, being tranformed, cause destruction, whether by dominatiobn, or by fire, or by the sword, or by chance.
Solomon: Tell me, then, being demons, are able to ascend into heaven?
Ornais: Whatever things are accomplished in heaven are accomplished in the same way also on earth; for the principalities and authorities and powers above fly around and are considered worthy of entering heaven. But we who are demons are exhausted from not having a way station from which to ascend or on which to rest; so we fall down like leaves from the trees and men, who are watching that the stars are falling from heaven. That's not true, King; rather we fall because of our weakness and, like flashes of lightning to the earth. We burn cities down and set fields on fire. But the stars of heaven have their foundations laid in the firmament.

After listening to to the demon's rhetoric, he was ordered to be kept under guard for five days.
The Old Man was then summoned after five days, but he didn't want to come.
At last, he did appear before Solomon in a depressed mood.

Solomon: Where's your son, Old Man?
Old Man: I've become childless and without hope. I keep watch at the grave of my son.

Solomon realized whatever Ornais had spoken was true.

21.

SOLOMON'S WISDOM spread throughout the known world and even Adarkes, the king of Arabia, sought his advice in a letter:

To: King Solomon
From: Adarkes, the king of Arabia
Greetings.
I have heard about the wisdom which has been granted to you and that, being a man from the Lord, there has been to yoiu understanding about all the spirits of the air, the earth and beneath the earth. There exists a spirit in Arabia. Early in the morning a fresh gust of wind blows until the third hour. Its terrible blast even kills man and beast and no counterblast is able to understand the demon. I beg you, therefore, since the spirit is like the wind. do something wise according to the wisdom which has been given to you by th Lord your God and decide to send out a man who is able to bring it under control. Then we will bow to you, King Solomon, I and all my people and all my land; and all Arabia will be at peace if you carry out this act of vengeance for us. Consequently, we implore you, don't ignore our prayer and do become our lord for all time.
Farewell, my lord.
As even,
Adarkes

22.

WITH JERUSALEM being built and the Temple nearing completion, a gigantic cornerstone had to be put into place. All the artisans and all the demons, who were helping, came to the same location to bring the stone and mount it at the end of the Temple, but they weren't strong enough to budge it.
Seven days passed and suddenly Solomon remembered Adarkes' letter. He then spoke to his servant.

Solomon: Load up your camel, take a leather flask and this seal and go off to Arabia to the place where the spirit is blowing. Then take hold of the wineskin and place the Ring of God in front of the neck of the flask against the wind. As the flask is being filled with air, you will discover that is the demon who's filling it up. Carefully, then, tir up the flask tightly and when you have sealed it with the ring, load up the camel and come back here. Be off now, with blessings.

The servant journeyed to Arabia where men from the region doubted whether it was possible to bring the evil spirit under control. Nonetheless, before dawn , the house servant got up and confronted the spirit of the wind.
He put the flask on the ground and placed the Ring of God on its mouth. The demon entered the flask and inflated it. Yet the boy stood firm. He bound up the mouth of the flask in the name of the Lord Sabaoth and the demon stayed inside the flask.
To prove the demon had been overcome, the boy remained three days and, when the spirit didn't blow any longer, the Arabs concluded he had really trapped the spirit.
Loading the flask on the camel, the Arabs sent the servant boy on his way with gifts, shouting praises to God, for they were left in peace and, arriving in Jerusalem, took it to the foremost part of the Temple.
The next day, Solomon went into the Temple and paced back and forth, worrying about the cornerstone, when suddenly the flask lifted up the seven steps and fell down with its mouth before him.
The king was amazed that even though the demon was entrapped in the flask, he had the power to walk around, and Solomon ordered him to get up. Panting, the flask stood up.

Solomon: Who are you?
Demon: I'm the demon called Ephippas and I live in Arabia.
Solomon: By what angel are you foiled?
Ephippas: By the sovereign God who has authority over me to be heard, who is going to be born through a virgin and crucified by the Jews on a cross, whom angels and archangels worship. He is the one who foils me and saps me of my great power which has been given to me by my father, the devil.
Solomon: What can you do for me?
Ephippas: I'm able to move mountains, to carry houses from one place to another, and to overthrow kings.
Solomon: If you have the power, lift this stone into the beginning of the corner of the Temple.
Ephippas: I will raise not only this stone, but with the aid of the demon, who lives in the Red Sea, I will also lift up the pillar of air which is in the Red Sea and you can set ip up wherever you want it.

After saying these things, the spirit went underneath the stone, lifted it up, went up the flight of steps carrying the stone, and inserted it ito the entrance of the Temple. Then Solomon said, "Now, go bring me the demon to help lift the pillar that's in the Red Sea." So Ephippas did as h was ordered.
Solomon realized the two evil spirits could have upset the world with one tip of the scales, so he sealed them around one side , so he sealed them around one side and the other, and said, "keep watch on them carefully."
The enormous pillar was suspended through the air, lifted up by the spirits, and thus from below the spirits appeared just like air lifting it up. Then Solomon interrogated th other spirit, the one who came up out of the sea with the pillar.

Solomon: Who are you, what are you called, and what is your activity?
Spirit: I'm called Abezethibou: And I once sat in the first heaven whose name is Amelouth. Therefore, I'm a hostile, winged demon with one wing, plotting against every wind under the king of Egypt, hardening his heart. I'm the one whom Jannes and Jamres, those who opposed Moses in Egypt, called to their aid. I'm the adversary of Moses in performing wonders and signs.
Solomon: How is it that you are found in the Red Sea?
Abezethibou: During the time of the Exodus of the sons of Israel, I gave Pharoah pangs of anxiety and hardened the heart of him, as well as his subordinates. I cause them to pursue closely after the sons of Israel, and Pharoah followed with me and so did the Egyptians. I was there at the time when the sons of Israel crossed over, the water turned back on us and covered over the company of Egyptians. I was to be found there. I, too, was engulfed by the water, and I remained in the sea, being held down there by the pillar until Ephippas arrived.

Solomon ordered him to hold up the pillar until the End of Time.
VII
The Temple Dedication

1. JERUSALEM, OCTOBER, 959 B.C.E.


ARK OF THE COVENANT
MOVED TO NEW TEMPLE
Israel's leaders watch in awe
at ceremony during Feast

WHEN THE Temple was finally finished, Solomon stored all the treasures in the magnificent structure, and then he summoned all of Israel's leaders -- the heads of the tribes and clans -- to Jerusalem for the ceremony of transferring the Ark of th Covenant from the Tent in the City of David to its new home.
In October, 959 B.C.E., during the annual Feast of Tabernacles, the leaders watched in awe as the Levites lifted the Ark and carried it out of David's makeshift dwelling along with all the other sacred vessels.
Then the king and the others sacrificed sheep and oxen before the Ark in such numbers that no one tried to keep count.
The priests then carried the Ark into the inner room of the Temple -- the Holy of Holies -- and placed it beneath the angels' wings; their wings spread over the Ark and its carrying poles. These carrying poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the outer room, but not from the outside doorway.
Nothing was in the golden container except the two stone tablets which Moses had put there at Mount Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel as they were leaving Egypt.
When the priests had undergone the purification rites for themselves, they all took part in the ceremonies without regard to their normal duties.
And how the Levites were praising the Lord as the priests came out of the Holy of Holies.
The singers were Asaph, Heman, Juduthun and all their sons and brothers, dressed in finespun linen robes and standing at the east side of the altar. The choir was accompanied by 120 priests who were trumpeters, while others played the cymbals, lyres and harps. The band and chorus united as one to praise and thank the Lord; their selections were interspersed with trumpet obbligatos, the clashing of cymbals, and the loud playing of other musical instruments -- all praising and thanking Yahweh. There theme was "He is so good! His lovingkindness lasts forever!"
And at that moment the glory of the Lord, coming as a bright cloud, filled the Temple so much so that the priests could not continue their work.

Solomon stood and prayed: "The Lord has said that he would live in the thick darkness, but I have made a Temple for you, O Lord, to live in forever!"
Then the king turned around to the people and they stood and received his blessing:
Solomon: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, the God who talked personally to my father David and has now fulfilled the promise He made to him. For He told him, 'I have never before, since bringing my people from the land of Egypt, chosen a city anywhere in Israel as a location for my Temple where My name will be glorified; and never before have I chosen a king for my people Israel. But now I have chosen Jerusalem as that city; and David as that king. My father wanted to build this Temple, but the Lord said not to. It was good to have the desire, the Lord told him, but he wasn't the one to build it: his son was chosen for that task. And now the Lord has done what he promised, for I have become the king in my father's place, and I have built the Temple for the Name of the Lord God of Israel, and placed the Ark there. And in the Ark is the Covenant between the Lord and his people Israel.

As he spoke, Solomon was standing on a platform in the center of the outer court, in front of the altar of the Lord. The platform was made of bronze, 7 1/2 feet square and 4 1/2 feet high. Now, as the people watched, he knelt down, reached out his arms towards heaven, and prayed this prayer:

Solomon: O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like You in all of heaven and earth. You are the God who keeps His kind promises to all those who obey You, and who are anxious to do Your will. And You have kept Your promise to my father David, as evidence today. And now, O God of Israel, carry out Your further promise to him that 'your descendants will always reign over Israel if they obey My laws as you have.' Yes, Lord God of Israel, please fulfill this promise, too. But will God really live upon the earth with me? Why even the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You -- how much less this Temple which I have built! How I pray that You will heed my prayers, O Lord, my God! Listen to my prayer that I am praying to You now! Look down with favor day and night upon this Temple -- upon this place where You have said that You would put Your name. May You always hear and answer the prayers I will pray to You as I face towards this place. Listen to my prayers and to those of Your people Israel when they pray toward this Temple; yes, hear us heaven, and when you hear, forgive ... Whenever sometone commits a crime, and is required to swear to his innocence before this altar, then hear from heaven and punish him if he is lying, or else declare him innocent ... If Your people Israel are destroyed before their enemies because they have sinned against You, and if they turn to You and call themselves Your people, and pray to You here in this Temple, then listen to them from heaven and forgive their sins and give them back this land You gave to their fathers ... When the skies are shut and there is no rain because of our sins, and then we pray toward this Temple and claim You as our God, and turn from our sins because You have punished us, then listen from heaven and forgive the sins of Your people, and teach them what is right and send rain upon this land which You have given to Your people as their own property ... If there is famine in the the land, or plagues, or crop disease, or attacks of locusts or caterpillars, or if Your people's enemies are in the land besieging our cities -- whatever the trouble is -- listen to every individual's prayer concerning his private sorrow, as well as the public prayers. Hear from heaven where you live, and forgive, and give each one whatever he deserves, for You know the hearts of all mankind. Then they will reverence You forever, and will continually walk where You tell them to go ... And when foreigners hear of Your power, and come from distant lands to worship Your great name, and to pray toward this Temple, hear them from heaven where You live, and do what they request of You. Then all the peoples of the earth will hear of Your fame and will reverence You, just as Your people Israel do; and they too will know that this Temple I have built is truly Yours ... If Your people go out at Your command to fight their enemies, and they pray toward this city of Jerusalem which You have chosen, and this Temple which I have built for Your name, then hear their prayers from heaven and give them success ... If they sin against You (and who has never sinned?) and You become angry with them, and You let their enemies defeat them and take them away as captives to some foreign nation near or far, and if in that land of exile they turn to You again, and face toward this land You gave their fathers, and this city and this Temple I have built, and plead with You with all their hearts to forgive them, then hear from heaven where You live and help them and forgive Your people who have sinned against You ... Yes, O my God, be wide awake and attentive to all the prayers made to You in this place. And now, O Lord God, arise and enter this resting place of Yours where the Ark of Your strength has been placed. Let your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let Your saints rejoice in Your kind deeds, O Lord God, do not ignore me -- do not turn Your face away from me, Your anointed one. Oh, remember Your love for David and Your kindness to him.

As Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the sacrifices. And the glory of the Lord filled the Temple, so much so that all the people who had been watching, fell flat on the pavement, and they worshipped and thanked the Lord.
"How good he is!" they exclaimed. "He is always so loving and kind."
Then the king and all the people dedicated the Temple by sacrificing burnt offerings to the Lord. King Solomon's contribution for this purpose was 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. The priests were standing at their posts of duty, and the Levites were playing their thanksgiving song, "His Loving Kindness is Forever," using the musical instruments that King David himself had made and had used to praise the Lord. Then, when the priests blew the trumpets, all the people stood again. Solomon consecrated the inner court of the Temple for use that day as a place of sacrifice, for there were too many sacrifices for the bronze altar to accommodate.
For the next seven days, they celebrated the Tabernacle Festival, with large crowds coming in from all over Israel; they arrived from as far as Hamath at one end of the country to the brook of Egypt at the other. A final religious service was held on the eighth day. Then on October 7, 959 B.C.E., he sent the people home, joyful and happy because the Lord had been so good to David and Solomon and his people Israel.
So Solomon finished building the Temple as well as his own palace. He had completed what he had planned to do.

One night the Lord appeared to Solomon and told him, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place where I want you to sacrifice to me. If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust swarms to eat up all of your crops, or if I send an epidemic among you, then if my people will humble themselves and pray,. and search for me, and turn from their wicked way, I will heard from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land. I will listen, wide awake, to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and sanctified it to be my home forever; My eyes and My heart will always be here.
"As for yourself, if you follow Me as your father did, then I will see to it that you and your descendants will always be kings of Israel; but if you don't follow Me, if you refuse the laws I have given you, and worship idols, then I will destroy My people from this land of mine, which I have given them , and this Temple will be destroyed even though I sanctified it for Myself. Instead, I will make it a public horror and disgrace. Instead of it being famous, all who pass by will be incredulous.
"Why has the Lord done such a terrible thing to this land and to this Temple, they will ask and they answer will be, 'because his people abandoned the Lord God of their fathers, the God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they worshipped other gods instead. That is why He has done all this to them."

2.

IT WAS now 20 years since Solomon had become king and the great building projects of the Lord's Temple and his own royal palace were completed.
He now turned his energies to rebuilding the cities which King Hiram of Tyre had given him , and he relocated some of the people of Israel into them.
It was at this time, too, that Solomon fought against the city of Hamath-zobah and conquered it. He built Tadmor in th desert and built cities in Hamath as supply centers.
He fortified the cities of upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon, both being supply centers, building their walls and installing barred gates. He also built Baalath and other centers at this time, and constructed cities where chariots and horses were kept. He built to his heart's desire in Jerusalem and Lebanon and throughout the entire realm.
He began the practice of conscripting as slave laborers the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites -- the descendants of those nations which the Israelites hadn't completely wiped out. However, he didn't make any slaves of any of the Israeli citizens, but used them as soldiers, officers, charioteers, and cavalrymen; also 250 of them were government officials, who administered all public affairs.
Solomon now moved his wife (she was the Pharoah's daughter) from the City of David sector of Jerusalem to his new palace he had built for her. For he said, "She must not live in King David's palace, for the Ark of the Lord was there and it is holy ground."
Then Solomon sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar he had built in front of the porch of the Temple. The number of sacrifices differed from day to day in acordance with the instructions Moses had given; there were extra sacrifices on the Sabbath, on new moon festivals, and on the three annual festivals -- the Passover celebration, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Tabernacles.
In assigning the priests to their posts of duty he followed the organizational chart prepared by his father David; he also assigned the Levites to their work of praise and of helping the priests in each day's duties; and he assigned the gatekeepers to their gates.
Solomon didn't deviate in any way from David's instructions concerning these matters and concerning the treasury personnel. Thus, Solomon successfully completed the construction of the Temple.
Then he went to the seaport towns of Ezion-geber and Eloth, in Edom, to launch a fleet presented to him by King Hiram. These ships, with Hiram's experienced crews working alongside Solomon's own went to Ophir and brought back tons of gold to him.

He also received countless foreign visitors, including the Queen of Sheba, who had heard of Solomon's fabled wisdom. Makeda came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions.
VIII
In Pursuit of Wisdom

1. MAKEDA'S DECISION

THE WORDS of Ethiopia's Chief Merchant and Ambassador Tamrin, concerning Solomon, slowly seeped into Makeda's soul through the years, stirring up her desire to savor the glory of Jerusalem and to see, for herself, the Great Temple.
She realized the route would be exhausting, moving from the City of the Throne, known as Debre Makeda and later as Yeha, through the treacherous sands of the Danakil to the Narrows and the tedious crossing to the Arabian Saba and Marib. That would be the starting point, for her 1,400-mile trek northward in her pursuit of wisdom.
In the eight years since Tamrin had returned from his first visit to Israel, Makeda had asked repeatedly about the contents of the golden box which emitted a strange light.
The trader would only shake his head, obviously confused and mystified by its contens and its meaning. He had recurring dreams of the strange experience in the mountains of Lebanon.
"Do you mean it could access my thoughts and emotions?" Makeda asked, not expecting an answer.
"I must go, for my father told me on his deathbed to seek wisdom wherever it may be found. He would want to go to Jerusalem. Wouldn't he, Tam?"
He only nodded in agreement, for the same line of reasoning had echoed through the palace walls for what seemed like an eternity.
In 958 B.C.E., the rhetoric faded and she had made a decision.

The panorama was awe inspiring as the hills above the City of the Throne swelled with Ethiopians by the thousands, waiting to hear the words of their queen.
Pitched in the center of one of these plateaus was the Royal Tent, which was surrounded by the chiefs and notables in mantles of crimson, richly embroidered with gold thread; some had lion-skin capes draped over their upper bodies, and all displayed gold-embossed shields, hiding long, curved weapons. In contrast, the plateaus were splashes of whites and blues of her subjects.
Makeda, regal in a white gown with purple trimming and a jeweled tiara on her head, began to speak in a loud voice, which echoed through the hills:
"Listen to my words, my people, for I desire wisdom and my heart seeks to find understanding."
Tamrin, standing at her side, smiled. He admired her appearance and royal bearing.
Continuing, she said, "I am smitten with the love of wisdom and I'm constrained by the understanding; for wisdom is the best of everything that has been created on the earth.
"What under the heavens can wisdom be compared? It's sweeter than honey and it makes one more to rejoice more than wine and it illumines more than the sun and it's to be loved more than precious stones."
It was obvious the throngs were impressed by her words, for they remained attentive and silent, except for the rustle of the wind.
"Wisdom is the source of joy for the heart and a bright and shining light for the eyes and a giver of speed to the feet and a shield for the breast and a helmet for the head and chainwork for the neck and a belt for the loins. It makes the ears to hear and hearts to understand. It is a teacher of those who are learned and it's a consoler of those who are discreet and prudent and it gives fame to those who seek after it. And as for a kingdom, it can't stand without wisdom and riches can not be preserved without wisdom.
"The honoring of wisdom is the honoring of the wise man and the loving of wisdom is the loving of the wise man. Love the wise man and don't withdraw from him and by the sight of him you will become wise. Listen to the words of my mouth, so that you'll become like him. Watch the place where he has his foot and don't kleave himdo that you may receive the remainder of his wisdom.
There was a tittering, however muted,and knowing glances between some of the young virgins in the Royal Tent when Makeda said: "And love him merely on hearing about himand without seeing him and the whole story that's been told to me by Tamrin, who has put a great desire in me to see King Solomon of Israel to ask him hard questions."
Her audience pressd towards her as the Noblman Asa bowed and meekly said: "My Lady, as for wisdom, it's not lacking in you and it's because of your wisdom that you love wisdom. And as for us, if you go we will go with you and if you sit down we will sit down with you. Our death will be with your death and our life will be your life.

The Virgin Queen felt confident in leaving the administrative duties of Ethiopia in Tamrin's capable hands, whom she elevated to regent. Gizaw, the aide-de-camp had been promoted to Chief Merchant and would accompany her on the journey to Jerusalem. By the fall, she would enter the gates of Solomon's city.

2. MAKEDA'S ARRIVAL

SOLMON COULD SEE the caravan of spices and precious stones winding its way as he looked from his Palace windows across the sweep of the expanded City of David towards the magnificent cluster of palatial mansions and public institutions and the drown jewel, the Temple.
Queen Makeda's entourage of 797 camels and the host of nobles and their retainers moved slowly through the Gate of Ephraim on the Western Hill -- Zion -- where luxurious royal apartments dotted the once-barren landscape.
Trumpets blared with the king leading the welcoming delegation, for the Ethiopian ruler's visit had been greatly anticipated for months, not only by Solomon, but by everyone in Jerusalem, with the exception of some of Solomon's wives.
Her arrival was in time for October's Feast of Tabernacles and the celebration planned for the just completed Temple.

Makeda's heart leaped within her breast, for Solomon was even more handsome than the image Tamrin had implanted in her mind.
She, to Solomon, was the epitome of womanhood, standing before him like a goddess, tall and slender and unafraid; her head a shiny aureole, her face filled with purity, a beauty, and a strength that made him look at her speechless, waiting for the sound of her voice. In her look was neither boldness nor suspicion. Her eyes were clear, deep pools of velvet that defied him to ever lie to her. He felt under those eyes he could have knelt down and emptied his soul of its secrets for their inspection.

Makeda's entourage of 350 were given the finest of accommodations in a royal palace adjacent to Solomon's and after three days' rest from the lengthy trek from Arabian Saba., the king formally welcomed the Ethiopians at a grand banquet.
With Makeda sitting next to Solomon, the partgoers saved the platters of oxen, bulls, sheep, goats, deer, gazelles and fatted fowls along with the finest honey and sweets. In the midst of this feasting, 50 male and female singers serenaded the visitors, much to everyone's delight.
However, the two monarchs were almost oblivious of the celebration, so engrossed were they in each other.
In the following days, he provided her with a dozen garments daily, which bewitched her eyes. Solomon also visited Makeda in her quarters and she was able to see his wisdom in action with his just judgments, his splendor, his grace and was able to hear the eloquence of his speech.
Makeda also spent time with the kingdom's minister of public works, Adoniram, his wife, Sarah, and their growing family of our children, two boys and two girls. They had been a family to Tamrin when he first visited Jerusalem eight years earlier.
She would definitely tell her regent of their hospitality on her return.

Makeda had hard questions concerning the mysterious light, which set Jerusalem apart from any other city, including her own.
"What is that light?" she asked Solomon.
"It is the fire of our Lord God," he replied.
"Solomon," she said, solemnly, "I worship the sun and the moon and the other gods of the heavens, as my father did, but they don't provide such illumination."
With quietness, the king related the journeys of the Ark since Moses' day in the Sinai Wilderness.
"I know of Moses. He once ruled Ethiopia," she said, without breaking his train of thought.
"Yes, he did, he wasn't only an Egyptian adept in the magical arts, but a Hebrew, one of my ancestors, chosen by my God to lead our people out of slavery."

The following morning, she and her entourage went on a walking tour of the Mount with the king's party. The magnificence of it caused her to catch her breath.
Solomon and Makeda entered the inner part of the Temple and saw the Temple, along with the 200 gems glittering from the various ornaments of the lamps, and the lamps were decorated with emeralds, violet blue hyacinct and lapis lazuli, There for her inspection were the silver, bronze and gold vessels and the bases of the pillars enterwined with bronze wrought in the pattern of a chain. There was also the Bronze Sea, which was supported by 36 bulls of detailed metal.
Inside the Temple there was an eerie glow and as she tried to separate this light from the darkness of one end of the structure, she asked Solomon, "What's that?" amd without waiting for an answer, she knew it was the Ark of the Covenant, the Glory of the King.
Makeda only wanted to have a glimpse of it and, perhaps, she would be able to, for she was the special guest during the Feast of Tabernacles.
IX
The Glory of His Presence

1. UNBELIEF WRITTEN ON HER FACE

MAKEDA STOOD with unbelief written on her face. The cloud has passed over her head and the heads of her noblemen in the outer court of the Temple.
"What's that, my lord?" she asked Solomon. Her voice was a mixture of amazement and shock.
"My Lady, this Yahweh's presence."
As she turned to look into the king's face, it was shining with his robes taking on a supernatural quality and in a passionate voice he said: "O, Lord, you said you'd live in the thick darkness."
With dramatic suddenness the cloud swooped low over their heads. This time the pure light was more intense,
"Don't look, Makeda," cried Solomon as he clutched her dainty hand, tightly. "Keep your eyes shut." They sank to the Temple floor, along with the royal party as the heavenly spectacle continued.
Swirling around the heavily-covered Ark were now white clouds and sparks and the sounds of distant trumpets.
"How good he is," whispered Solomon. "He is always so loving and kind."
Makeda kept her eyes closed for what seemed like an eternity and when she finally did open them her entourage were still prostrate and worshipping a god they had only heard of from Tamrin and his company of traders.
The smoke from the Great Fire hung over the Mount and the smell of incense was heavy in the air after Solomon commanded the sacrifice of thousands of lambs. Shechita.

The sights and sounds of the Tabernacle Festival flooded Makeda's mind. She was overwhelmed in her spirit -- and she was in love.
The face of Solomon invaded her thoughts; speaking words of wisdom and, of passion. Bursts of light of the glory, which had filled the Temple, and caused her to prostrate herself on the ground also occupied her thoughts during her waking hours -- and even in the night, she couldn't erase her ectasy.
Tamrin had told her of his dream of the golden container; and now she had seen its power and Makeda would never be the same again.

2. A SMITTEN SOLOMON

MAKEDA WAS torn between her father's words concerning pursuing wisdom and understanding and her infatuation with this monarch.
"O, Solomon," she whispered. "I only wish I could be one of the least of your handmaidens so I could wash your feet and listen to your wisdom and serve your majesty."
The king was smitten by her beauty. He, although a womanizer to the extreme, was drawn to her daintiness; the nape of her neck.
"As for me, I only possess wisdom and understanding in the measure the God of Israel has given me because I asked and pleaded with him." The words spurted out of his lips, but his mind was whirling with thoughts of seducing this truly magnificent virgin of Ethiopia. He would give up his kingdom and his wives and concubines, if only he could have this woman, he thought.
"And you, although you don't know the God of Israel, has this wisdom which has grown in your heart and it made you come to me, for you see, Makeda, I do whatever He commands me to do and whatever wisdom He gives me, I understand. My Lady is the Tabernacle of the Law, the holy and heavenly Zion -- the Ark of the Covenant."

Looking out the Palace window, Solomon watched a laborer with a stone on his head and a flask of water around his neck and shoulders. His food and sandals were ragged and tattered and sweat was falling from his face.
"Makeda, come to the balcony with me."
Both looked over the railing, and Solomon told the hireling to stand still.
"Look at this man," Solomon said, turning to Makeda, and asking, "Am I superior to this man? And why should I glory over this man? For I'm just a man and dust and ashes and tomorrow will become worms and corruption and yet, at this moment, I appear as one who will never die. Who would complain to God if he were to make me as this man is? Are we not just both men? As is his death, so is my death; and as his life so is my life. Yet this man is stronger to work than me, for God gives power to those who need it."
Solomon told the man to go back to work. The laborer left, still carrying the stone on his head.
"What is the use for the children of men, if we don't exercise kindness and love on the earth? Aren't we all nothingness, mere grass of the field, which withers in its season and is burned in the fire?
"On the earth we provide ourselves with dainty meats and we wear costly apparel, but while we are alive we stink of corruption; we provide ourselves with sweet scents, but even while we are alive we are dead in sin and in trangressions; being wise we become fools through disobedience and deeds of iniquity; being held in honor, we become contemptible through magic and sorcery and worshipping idols."
"Tell me now, who should I worship?" asked an attentive Makeda. "I worship the sun because my father said it was the king of the gods. Others of my subjects worship stones, some worship trees, some worship carved figures and some images of gold and silver.
"No man has told me that there's any god besides the sun, but you, my lord, have shown me there's one who comes down to you and talks with you and resides right here in the Temple, which you've built."
Solomon then told her, "It's right that men should worship God, who created the universe, the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land, the sun and the moon, the stars and the brilliant bodies of the heavens, the trees and the stones, the beasts and the feathered fowl. It is him alone we should worship in fear and trembling, with joy and gladness. For he's the Lord of the universe, the creator of angels and men.
"You're right in saying that he's given us the Tabernacle of the Law, the Ark, and has brought down to us His commandments, in writing, so that we can know His decree and judgment that he ordained in the mountain of His holiness."
Makeda confirmed she had made up her mind. Although, she knew in her heart it had occurred as she was laying in the Temple and overwhelmed by the great presence.
"From this moment on," she began, "I will not worship the sun, but I'll worship the creator of the sun, the God of Israel. The Tabernacle of the God of Israel will be my Lady and to my seed after me and to all the kingdoms that are under my dominion. And because of this I have found favor before you and before the God of Israel my creator who brought me to you and allowed me to hear your voice and has let me understand your commandment."

3. GROWING HOMESICK

DESPITE THE SPLENDOR of Jerusalem, Makeda began to grow homesick even though Ethiopia seemed sometimes to be so far away -- a distant memory of her youth.
The six months of listening to Solomon, of touring his flourishing kingdom in the monarch's golden chariots, inspecting his cities and forts, had given he maturity beyond her years, Makeda knew the knowledge of his administrative skills would serve her well.
Separating from Solomon, even though they had no sexual contact to this point, would be difficult. Her heart was with him.
Finally, mustering courage, she sent a message to the king: "I would like to stay with you, but for the sake on my people, I want to return to my own country. What I have heard and seen I intend to keep in my heart."
He was shaken by the message.

Solomon (inner thoughts): A woman of such splendid beauty has come to me from the ends of the earth! What do I know? Will God give me seed in her?

The king tried to persuade Makeda to change her mind with a message to the queen. It read: Follow me now and I'll complete your instruction about my administration.

Makeda: Oh, Tera, what should I do?
Tera (her lady-in-waiting and confidante): Follow your heart!

Makeda sent Solomon a second message. It read: From being a fool, I have become wise by following your wisdom and from a thing rejected by the God of Israel, I have become a chosen woman because of this faith which is in my heart; and from now on I will worship no one except him. And as far as what you've said, that you want me to increase in wisdom and honor, I will come according to your desire.

Solomon was excited by the message, so he decided to have another grand banquet in Makeda's honor.

4. SEDUCTION

THE SPLENDOR of Solomon's refurbished tent beside the Palace even caught Makeda by surprise. The purple hangings and thick crimson carpeting, decorated with the marble and precious stones.
He burned aromatic powders and sprinkled oil of myrrh and cassia round about and scattered frankincense and costly in all directions.
Solomon intentionally sent her spicy meats which would make her thirsty and drinks which were mingled with vinegar and fish and dishes made of pepper.
After the 10-course meal, the administrators, counsellors and servants left, leaving Solomon and Makeda alone in the luxurious tent.
"Now that we're alone together, why not stay here with me until daybreak."
Flushed with the wine, she blushed and whispered: "Swear to me by the God of Israel, you won't take me by force, for I'm still a virgin. If you were the seduce me, I'd travel back to Ethiopia in sorrow and affliction."

Solomon was accustomed to playing games of seduction and already a number of his other wives, particularly Pharah's daughter had noticed the king was paying undue interest in this Ethiopian.
"Are you sleeping with her?" they brayed.
"No!" It was an honest answer; not that he didn't want to and now, with Makeda's imminent departure, there was little time left to seduce her.
With the heavy aromatic perfumes wafting through the room and the lights dimmed, he said, "I swear to you I won't take you by force, but you must swear to me that you won't take anything in my house by force."
Makeda barely heard him.
She giggled. A virgin's laugh.
"Being a wise man, why do you speak like a fool? Why would I steal anything or carry anything out of the house that you haven't given me already? Do you imagine I came to you because of the love of riches. Moreover, Ethiopia is as wealthy as yours and I lack nothing. I've only come to you to seek wisdom."
Solomon sulked.
"Alright, swear to me you won't take me by force and I won't take any of your possessions by force."

A manservant got a large bed ready and the king said to him, "Wash out the bowl and fill it with water while the queen is looking and then close the doors on this tent and go to sleep."
The king pretended to sleep.
Meanwhile, Makeda, the thoughts of the farewell banquet still fresh in her mind, was restless. She woke up and her mouth was dry. She moved her lips and found no moisture.
Looking across at the appealing form of Solomon, she was certain he was sleeping. She tiptoed towards the bowl filled with water and lifted it to her thirsty lips.
Suddenly, Solomon seized her by the right wrist before she could drink.
"Why have you broken your oath? You said you wouldn't take anything by force which is in my house."
Makeda shivered at the words.
"Is the oath broken by my drinking water?"
"Is there anything that you've seen under the heavens that's better than water?" Solomon retorted.
Makeda realized he had placed her in a compromising situation.
"I have sinned against myself and you're free from your oath, but let me drink the water for my thirst."
She drank her fill.
Realizing she was a virgin, Solomon slowly kissed her on the cheeks, trying to alleviate her fears. The kisses moved along the nape of her neck and then the lips.
The pentup passion of years of suppression erupted in a volcano os lust as Makeda gave herself freely.
"Solomon, she moaned as she felt his manhood slowly thrust into her. The pain of her first time was acute, but only for a moment, and then it became a pleasureable experience. Both were soon awash in sexual ectasy.

After his explosion of passion inside her, Solomon rolled over on the bed and he dreamed of a brilliant sun that came down from heaven and spread over Israel. After it stayed there for a while, it suddenly withdrew and it flew away to the country of Ethiopia.
Waking up with a start, he thought to himself, I wanted to see if it would come back to Israel, but it didn't return."
He closed his eyes again and the imagery was even more intense.

The night of lovemaking weighed heavily on both their minds.
He couldn't dismiss the dreams and she was trapped in a dilemma, of exhileration and also disgust, for she's lost her virginity, even if it was to this handsome king.
"Dismiss me," snapped Makeda. "Let me depart to my own country."
Solomon wanted to pacify her and he loaded up a caravan of 6,000 camels and wagons with beautiful apparel.
Summoning the demon Ornais with the Ring of God, he had him construct, with the assistance of other spirits, two special vehicles, one in which to travel over the sea and one which to travel through the air.

5. THE RING

THE NIGHT of seduction was imbedded in her mind even as she got ready to leave for Ethiopia.
Solomon, a man who believed in ceremony, arranged for Jerusalem to come out en masse to bid and her entourage goodbye.
For a few moments they were alone within the Palace and he took the Ring of God -- the small gold band with Yahweh's special name inscribed inside it -- and gave it to her. The ring had been given to Solomon by his father, David, and was the most powerful connection to the Almighty with the exception of the Ark of the Covenant.
"Take this so you won't forget me. And if it happens I obtain seed from you, this ring will be a sign. If it's a man child he will come to me and the peace of God be with you."
Then he related the dream.
"While I was sleeping with you I saw many visions in a dream and it seemed as if the sun had risen on Israel, but it snatched itself away and flew off and lighted up Ethiopia, peradventure your country will be blessed through you, God knows. For he punishes those who are arrogant and he shows compassion on those who are humble. He removes the thrones of those who are needy. For death and life are with him and riches and poverty are bestowed by His will. For judgment in the heavens and in the earth or in the sea or in the abysses. God be with you. Go in peace."
"I love you, Makeda."
"I love you, Solomon."
X
The Son of the Wise

1. HIS NAME IS IBNA HAKIM

QUEEN MAKEDA and her great entoruarge left Israel and travelled on the land and the Nile River route towards Ethiopia and the City of the Throne.
Her first resting place was Gaza, which Solomon, in his generosity, had given her. It was there she felt ill. Morning sickness. Makeda knew she was pregnant.
It was an arduous journey and the caravan took its time, realizing the delicate condition of their ruler. The contractions came closer together and her lady-in-waiting, Tera, comforted her.
Nine months and five days after she left Solomon , she yelped because of the pain. A boy. Seven pounds and eight ounces. He looked like a minature Solomon.
"Oh, Tera, if only he could see him," said Makeda.
"He will some day, he will," replied Tera, while wiping the sweat off Makeda's forehead.
"What are you going to name him, my Lady?"
"Ibna Hakim."
"That means son of the wise," said Tera, with a smile.
"That's right, for he truly is the son of the wise man, Solomon."

While Makeda nursed the baby boy in preparation of the purification rites, the caravan leader Gizaw left the country of Bala Zadisareya for Ethiopia.
"I'll get everything in readiness, my Lady," said Gizaw, "and I'll send Tamrin back here to escort you home."
"Thank you, Gizaw, you're so kind."

Two weeks later, a company of officers of her Royal Staff, and led by Tamrin, her regent, arrived in Bala Zadisareya.
"Isn't he beautiful, Tam?"
"Yes, my Lady," smiled Tamrin, who would become his surrogate grandfather.
"What's his name?"
"Ibna Hakim."
"The son of the wise."
"Yes."
"Does Solomon know he has a son."
"No."
"I'm sure he'll find out."
"Yes, I'm sure."

2. WHO IS MY FATHER?

THE PURIFICATION rites ended and she and her remaining entourage entered Ethiopia.
The route to the capital was lined with her people, from noblemen to peasant girls, waving palms and bowing low. Tossing flower petals on the ground, the sweet smell of her country filled her nostrils.
"It's good to be home," Tam.
Finally, the 6,000 wagons were unloaded and the splendid apparel, gold, silver, hyacinthe and purple robes were handed to her people.
"Tam, Solomon gave me two vehicles, for the air and the sea, but I didn't use them on my journey. I place them in your care.
"Solomon also gave me what he called the Ring of God. I will wear it until Ibna Hakim grows up."
Tamrin and Gizaw were given charge of the son's upbringing, training him in military strategy, history and astronomy and also physical skills involved in hunting.
Ibna Hakim, growing up in the Royal Court, knew that neither Tamrin nor Gizaw was his father, and he questioned in his mind whom his father might be.
At age 12, he asked his companions: "Who's my father?"
"Solomon, the king," they replied in unison.
Ibna Hakim immediately went to Makeda.
"Who's my father?"
Although, she'd never spoken harshly to him before, she snapped: "Why do you ask me about your father? I'm your father and your mother. You don't need to know any more."
Makeda knew the outburst wouldn't satisfy the curious youngster, but she hoped he wouldn't go to Solomon, for she believed, once there in Israel he'd never return.

Ibna Hakim was persistent and continually pestered his mother with the same question: "Who's my father?"
Finally, Makeda gave in.
"His country is far away and the road there is difficult, so why wouldn't you want to stay here?"
Ibna Hakim had made up his mind. He would see Solomon's Court for himself.
By age 22, he was the image of Solomon, according to Tamrin, although his mother couldn't see the resemblance. At least she wouldn't admit it to herself.
"Mother," he said, hesistantingly, "I will go look on the face of my father and I will come back here by the will of God, the Lord of Israel."
Makeda knew he had to go to Jerusalem and knew he'd return to Ethiopia, if it was God's will.
XI
Fringes from the Ark

TAMRIN, her regent, was now 74 and arthritis had savaged his body. However, he was summoned into the Throne Room.
"I know this would be a terrible hardship," she began, "but would you consider taking Ibna Hakim to Jerusalem, for he pesters me night and day."
The light shone in the old merchant's eyes again.
"I thought you'd never ask."
Makeda grew pensive and said, "Tam, when he returns to me, I'm going to give up my throne to him. I'll rescind the law of this country, which my father, Agabos, that only a virgin daughter would reign."
"I agree," said Tamrin.
"You know, Tam, I told Solomon that a woman wouldn't reign in Ethiopia any more and a male child of his and his descendants would rule forever? Did you know that? It must have been a premonition, for I didn't even know I was pregnant at the time. I told Solomon that he should write it down and put it in the Temple that will be built in the Last Days?"
"The Last Days?"
"I must have had a spell when I said it, for I had a dream, which I really couldn't understand."

Makeda wrote a letter to be delivered to Solomon. In it she told him of her decision to abdicate and that her people would adopt the rleligion of Israel. Finally, she pleaded with him to send her the fringes from the covering of the Ark of the Covenant, in the Temple.
"Peace be to the strength of your kingdom and to your brilliant wisdom, which God, the Lord of Israel our creator has given you."
Then Makeda took Ibna Hakim aside and gave him the Ring of God in order that Solomon might know his son and also know of the covenant she had made that she would worship God all the days of her life.
XII
In the Image of Solomon

GAZA WAS OVERWHELMED when Ibna Hakim arrived, for they were certain this was King Solomon on a royal visit from Jerusalem. Thousands filled the streets.
"Hail, the royal father lives," they cried and bowed down and brought him huge amounts of food and clothing.
The whispers became a crescendo: "This is King Solomon."
Ibna Hakim was bewildered by all the attention.
"The king's in Jerusalem, building his palaces," said some onlookers while others commented, "No, this is really Solomon the king."

A contingent of Gaza's armed officers left on horseback to Jerusalem to discover the truth.
They were welcomed by Adoniram at the Fountain Gate.
"Why have you come?" asked the long-time cabinet minister.
"Well, my lord," said the captain of the armed officers, "someone has arrived in Gaza that looks like the king. We wanted to know if he's in Jerusalem or did he go to Gaza?"
Adoniram smiled.
"Come with me."
Arriving at the Palace, they were welcomed by King Solomon.

Bowing down, they spoke in unison, "Hail, may the royal father live. Our country is disturbed because a merchant has come there who resembles you in form and appearance, without the smallest alteration or variation."
"Where does he want to go?" asked Solomon.
"We haven't asked him," said the captain of the small contingent. "But his people told us they came from Ethiopia and that they were going to King Solomon in Jerusalem."

"Who are these men?" asked a small boy, tugging on the king's robe.
"They've seen your older brother, Rehoboam."
"My older brother, father?" the seven-year old asked, with a quizzical look.
Solomon knew at that moment, knew the man they talked about, was his first-born, who arrived in Gaza.
His heart skipped a beat as he thought of the night he had spent with Makeda. He would never forget her.
XIII
The Son in Jerusalem

1. THE ARGUMENT
BENAIAH, the son of Jehoida, the commander of King Solomon's army, was summoned to the Palace and ordered to go to Gaza with a message for the Ethiopian travelers.
"Get ready and come with me," said Benaiah to Ibna Hakim, "for the heart of the king is burned as with fire with his love for you. Peradventure he will find out for himself whether you're his own son or his brother, for your appearance is no different that his."
Ibna Hakim looked at the army commander and stuttered: "I thank God that I found grace with the king without having seen him and he'll bring me back safely to my mother and to my country, Ethiopia."
Benaiah thought he noted a sense of arrogance in both Ibna Hakim and the men in his entourage.
"My lord, this is a small matter and you'll find greater joy and pleasure with the lord the king, " said Benaiah, sarcastically, adding , "And as concerning what you said, 'my mother and my country,' Solomon the king is better than my mother and this our country is better than your country."
Benaiah wasn't finished in his tirade.
"As for your country, we've heard that it's a land of cold and cloud and a country of glare and burning heat and a region of snow and ice. And when the sons of Noah, Shem and Ham and Japhet divided the world among them, they looked on your country with wisdom and saw that it was spacious and broad. It was a land of whirlwind and burning heat and therefore gave it to Canaan, the son of Ham, as a portion for himself and his seed forever.
"But the land that is ours is the Promised Land, which God has given us, according to oath that he swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey. A land that yields fruit of every kind in its season without exhausting labor. A land which God keeps watching over continually from one year to the beginning of the next. All this is yours and we're yours and we will be your heirs and you will dwelling our country, for all the seed of David, the lord of my lord, and to you belongs this throne of Israel."
Benaiah's smugness upset Dima, one of Tamrin's company of traders.
"What do mean your country's better than ours?" Dima seemed to spit out the words. "Our country of Ethiopia is better. The climate's good, for it's without burning heat and fire and our water's sweet. We don't do as you do in your country in that you have to dig very deep wells in search of water and we don't have to die from the sun's heat
"Listen, even at noonday we hunt wild buffaloes, gazelle, birds and small animals. And in the winter God takes care of us from one year to the next. And in springtime the people eat what they've trodden down with their feet in Egypt and as for our trees they produce good crops of fruit and the wheat and barley and all our fruits and cattle are good and wonderful."
Dima then realized the argument had taken on a bitter edge and he calmly said, "But there's one thing that you have that's better than ours ..."
"What's that?" asked Benaiah.
"Wisdom and because of it, we've journeyed to you."
"What's better than wisdom?" replied Benaiah. "For wisdom has founded the earth and made strong the heavens and fettered the waves of the sea so that it might not cover the earth. However, rise up and let's go to my lord, for his heart is greatly moved by his love for you, Ibna Hakim, and he's sent me to bring you to him with all the speed possible."
The tension eased.
XIV
Father and Son

1. TWO PLACES AT ONCE?

BEFORE LEAVING Gaza for Jerusalem, Ibna Hakim took some of the fine apparel and gave it to Benaiah and his company of 50 men, who went ahead of the Ethiopians to the Royal Equestrian Center, where Solomon had built luxurious stables.
The army commander told the king he was impressed by Ibna Hakim's noble appearance, but Solomon cut him off short and said, "Where is he? Didn't I send you to bring him as quickly as possible?"
"He is here. I'll bring him quickly.
Mounting his horse, Benaiah galloped outside the city walls to where the Ethiopians were camped.
"Get up, sir, and come."
They entered Jerusalem by the King's Gate and when the city's soldiers saw him, they bowed down and said, "Look, King Solomon has left his lodgings."
Some re-entered the Royal Stables and saw Solomon grooming his favorite stallion.
"What's going on? How can the king be in two places at once?" said one of the troopers.
When Benaiah and his men brought Ibna Hakim into the city core, the word spread like wildfire and thousands swelled the streets, hundreds peering out of the windows, trying to get a glimpse of the horse caravan.
"Who is he?"
"That's Solomon."
"No, it's not."
"It's his son."
"No, it's his brother."

2. 'THE RING' RETURNED

BENAIAH went inside the stables with Ibna Hakim and when Solomon saw him, he embraced him with his hands resting on the young man's chest, and then kissed him on the mouth and forehead and eyes.
"Behold, my father, David, has renewed his youth and risen from the dead."
Then Solomon turned around to Benaiah and said, "You told me, 'He resembles you,' but this isn't my stature, but the stature of David my father in the days of his early manhood and he's handsomer than I am."
The king took Ibna Hakim into the nearby Palace and went into his bedroom and brought out an outfit embroidered with gold and a belt of gold. He then set a crown on his head, put a ring on his finger and led him into the Throne Room where he sat to Solomon's right.
"Those who look on me and contempiously say among yourselves that I have no son except Rehoboam, well, look. this is my son, whom the God, the Lord of Israel, has given me when I didn't expect it."
One of Israel's nobles answered him, saying, "Blessed be the mother, who has delivered this young man and blessed be the day when you had union with the mother of this young man. For there has risen from the root of Jesse a shining man who will be king of the posterity of our seed. Concerning his father none shall ask questions and none will say, "Where did he come from?" Surely, he's an Israelite of the seed of David, fashioned perfectly in the likeliness of his father's form and appearance. We are his servants and he'll be our king."
After the nobleman's speech, Ibna Hakim took the Ring of Solomon, the one which could even subdue demons, from his finger and gave it to his father.
"Take this ring and remember the word you spoke to the queen and give us a portion of the fringe of the covering of the Tabernacle of the Law of God so we can worship it all our days and all those who are subject to us and those who are in the Kingdom of Makeda."
"Why do you give me this ring as a sign?" Solomon asked. "Without you giving me a sign I discovered that you're indeed my son."
Tamrin, who had been standing beside Makeda's son, asked:
"Don't you recognize me, Solomon?"
"Is that you, Mr. Ambassador?"
"Yes, my lord."

3. LETTER FROM THE QUEEN

THE YEARS hadn't been kind to the former Chief Merchant of Ethiopia, now bent over from arthritis and his face was even more wrinkled and his once-taut body had become fleshy from a sedentary lifetsyle as Makeda's regent.
Slowly, he began to read a letter from his queen to Solomon:

THE LETTER: Take this young man, anoint him, consecrate him and bless him and make him king over our country and give him the command that a woman will never again reign in this country and send him back in peace. And peace be with the might of your kingdom and your brilliant wisdom. As for me, I didn't want to go to you, but he begged me that he should see you. And besides, I was afraid for him, should he fall sick on the journey, either from thirst for water or heat of the sun and I should bring grey hairs down to the grave with sorrow. Then I put my trust in the holy, heavenly Zion, the Tabernacle of the Law of God, that you won't hold it in your wisdom. For your nobles can't return to their houses and look on their children, by reason of the abundance of widom and food which you gave them, according to their desire and they say, the table of Solomon is better for us than enjoying and gratifying ourselves in our own houses. And because of this, through my fear, but would send him back to me in peace, without sickness and suffering, in love and in peace that my heart might rejoice at having encountered him.

Tamrin then stepped back from the throne after reading Makeda's letter and waited for Solomon's reply.
"Besides travailing with him and suckling him, what else has a woman to do do with a son? A daughter belongs to the mother and a boy to the father. God cursed Eve, saying "Bring forth children in anguish and with sorrow of heart and after forth you will return to your husband. With an oath he said, 'Bring forth,' and having sworn, you return to your husband will follow. As for this my son, I will not give him to the queen, but I will make him king over Israel. For this is my firstborn, the first of my race who God has given me."
Solomon did everything in his power, trying to convince his new-found son to remain in Israel, supplying him with fine clothing, gold, fine food and taking him to all his cities near Jerusalem as far as up as Megiddo.
"It's better for you to dwell here in our country with us, where the House of God is and where God dwells."

Later, Ibna Hakim wrote a note to the king:

IT READ: Gold and silver and rich apparel aren't wanting in our country, but I came to see you and to hear your wisdom and to see face to face and to salute you and to pay homage to your kingdom and then I intended for you to send me away to my own country and my own mother. For no man hates the place where he's born and everyone loves the things of his native country. Although you give me dainty meats, I don't love them and they aren't suitable for my body, but the meats whereby I grow and become strong are those that are gratifying to me. And although your country pleases me even as does a garden, yet my heart's not gratified. The mountains of the land of of my motherwhere I as born are far better in my sight. And as for the Tabernacle of the God of Israel, if I adore it where I am, it will give me great glory and I will look on the House of God, which you have built and I'll make offering and supplication there. And as for Zion the fringe of the covering and I will worship it with my mother and with all those who are subject to my sovereignty.

Ibna Hakim also told Solomon that his mother had rooted out all idol worshippers, including those who bowed down to strange objects and stones and trees.

4. HIS FATHER'S PLEAS

SOLOMON was persistent in trying to convince his son to stay in Jerusalem.
"Why do want to leave me?"
Ibna Hakim listened intently to his father's pleas.
"What do you lack here that you would go to the country of the heathen? Tell me what drives you to forsake the kingdom of Israel?"
Speaking with conviction in his voice, Ibna Hakim said, "No, I must go to my mother with your blessing, for you have a son who's better than me, namely Rehoboam, who was born of your wife lawfully while my mother, Makeda, isn't your wife according to the law."
Solomon, thoughtfull, replied: "Since you speak in this wise, according to the law, I, myself, am not the son of my father, David, for he took the wife of another man whom he caused to be slain in battle and he begot me by her, but God is compassionate and he has forgiven him.
"Who's as compassionate and wise as God? He has made me of my father and you He has made of me, according to His will. And as for you, O my son, you who fears our Lord God, don't do any violence in the face of your father, so that in time to come you might not meet with violence from him that will go forth from your loins and that your seed might prosper on the earth. My son, Rehoboam, is only six years old and you're my first-born and you've come to reign and lift up the spear of him that begot you. Listen, I've been reigning for 29 years and your mother came to see me in the seventh year of my kingdom and if God pleases, he will make me attain the span of the days of my father.
"And when I'm gathered with my fathers, you will sit on my throne and you'll reign in my stead and the elders of Israel will love you exceedingly and I'll make a marriage for you and I'll give you as many queens and concubines as you desire.
"You'll be blessed in this land of inheritance with the blessing that God gave to out fathers, even as he covenanted with his servant, Noah, and with his friend, Abraham, and the righteous men right down to my father, David.
"You see me, a weak man, on the throne of my father's and you will be like me and you'll judge the nations without number and families that can't be counted. And the Tabernacle of the God of Israel will belong to you and your seed and you'll make offerings and make prayers to ascend. And God will dwell within it forever and hear your prayers therein and your remembrance will be in it from generation to generation."
His father's conversation brought tears to Ibna Hakim's eyes, but in a low voice he said: "O my lord, it's impossible to leave my country and my mother, for my mother made me swear on her breasts that I wouldn't stay here but would return to her quickly and also I wouldn't marry a wife here.
"And the Tabernacle of the God of Israel will bless me wheresoever I go. I desired to see your face and to hear your voice and to receive your blessing and now I desire to depart to my mother in safety."
XV
The Noblemen's Sons

1. SOLOMON'S PROPOSAL

SOLOMON was deeply perturbed.
His son had rejected him.
He returned to the Throne Room and consulted with his officers and the elders, telling them that he was unable to persuade Ibna Hakim to stay in Israel.

SOLOMON: Come let us make him king of Ethiopia, together with your children.. You sit on my right hand and on my left hand and in like manner the eldest of your children will sit on his right and left hand. So all you counsellors and officers, let us give him your first-born children and we'll have two kingdoms. I'll rule here and our children will rule there. And I put my trust in God that a third time he'll give me seed and that a third king will be here with me.

The Throne Room was abuzz as their monarch made a proposal that few, if any had heard before.

SOLOMON: Now, Baltasar, the king of Byzantium, wants me to give my son, Rehoboam, to his daughter king over the whole country of Byzantium. For besides her he has no other child and he's sworn that he'll only make king a man who's the seed of David, my father. And if we reign there we will be three kings. According to my father's prophecy, it declared: 'The seed of Solomon will become three heads of kingdoms on earth.' And we'll send to them priests and we'll ordain laws for them and they'll worship and serve the God of Israel under the three royal heads. And now let us make this young man king and let us send him away with your children, you who possess wealth and possession. According to the position and wealth you have here, your children will rule there. And they'll see the ordering of royalty and we'll establish them according to our law and we'll direct them and give them commands and send them away to reign there.

The priests, officers and counsellors answered: "Since you're sending your firs-born and then we'll send out children also according to your wish. Who can resist the commandment of God and the king? They're your servants and of your seed as you've proclaimed. If you wish, you can sell them and mothers as slaves. It isn't for us to trangress your command and the command of the Lord your God.
Despite the outward show of support for Solomon's proposal, there were grumblings within the Palace walls.
XVI
The Oil of Kingship

MOUNT MORIAH was ablaze with color and the Temple sparkled in the Jerusalem sunlight as Israel made ready the oil of kingship for Ibna Hakim. The sounds of the large horn and flute and pipes filled the air along with the loud thumps of the drums as the city resounded with cries of joy.
Solomon's officers brought the young man into the Holy of Holies and he laid hold onto the horns of the altar and sovereignity was given to him by two priests, Zadok and Benaiah, who was also the army commander. They anointed him with the holy oil of the ointment of kingship.
After the brief ceremony, in which the oil flowed down over Ibna Hakim's face and his robes, he went out of the Temple and was presented to the people with the throne name of David II, after his illustrious grandfather,
He then was placed on King Solomon's mule and they led throughout the city and the people yelled: "We have appointed you from this moment" and "Long live the royal father."
One elder rushed up to him and said, "It's right that your dominion of Ethiopia will be from the Nile River to the stting sun, from Shoa to the east of India. And the Lord God of Israel will be a guide to you and the Tabernacle of the Law of God will be with all you look on and all your seed after you. You will judge many nations and none will judge you."
Then Solomon blessed him with these words: "The blessing of heaven and earth will be your blessing.," and all the people of Israel agreed with a hearty "Amen."
Then his father told Zadok, "Make him know and tell him the judgment and decrees of God which he should observe in Ethiopia. In a lengthy speech, the priests then outlined the curses and blessings of the Almighty.
XVII
The Appointments

JERUSALEM REJOICED because Solomon had made his son king and appointed him monarch over Ethiopia, however, they were sad that he'd commanded they should send their first-born sons to the faraway land.
He told David II that he should direct his kingdom like his namesake, his grandfather.
The men appointed by Solomon and their offices were:
* High Priest: Azariah, the son of Zadok, the priest.
* Archdeacon: Elyas, the son of Arni, whose father was the Archdeacon to Nathan the Prophet.
* Leader of the Peoples: Adram, the son of Arderones.
* Scribe of the Oxen: Fankera, son of Soba.
* Leader of the Youth: Akonhel, the son of Tofel.
* The Recorder: Samneyas, the son of Akitalam.
* Chief of the Troops: Fikaros, the son of Neya.
* Commander of the Recruits: Lewandos, the son of Akire.
* Commander of the Sea: Fakuten, the son of Adray.
* Chief of the House: Matan, the son of Benyas.
* Servant of Decorations: Adaraz, the son of Kirem.
* Chief of the Horse Soldiers: Dalakem, the son of Matrem
* Chief of the Foot Soldiers: Adaryos, the son of Nedros.
* Bearer of the Glory: Awsteran, son of Yohad.
* Messenger of the Palace: Astarayon, the son of Asa.
* Commander of the Host: Imi, the son of Matatyas.
* Assessor of Taxes and Tithes: Abis, the son of Karyos.
* Judge of the Assembly: Lik Wendeyos, the son of Nelenteyos.
* Administrator of the Royal Workmen: Karmi, the son of Hadneyes.
* Administrator (of the king's house): Seranyas, son of Akazel.

In addition to the 21 administrators, Solomon gave his eldest son horses, chariots, riding camels and mules and wagons for carrying loads of gold and silver and apparel as well as bysses, the precious linen fabric. Included in the gifts to be taken to Ethiopia were purple and gems, pearls and precious stones.
There was a mixture of joy and sadness.
Among the relatives, they secretly cursed Solomon because he had ordered their sons to accompany David II to Ethiopia, however, to his face they said, " Because of this you have done well. Your wisdom is so good that the kingdom of Israel, by the will of of God and by your wisdom, extends to the country of Ethiopia. And God will gather together the other kingdoms of the world into your hand, for you have a right mind towards God."
Solomon was aware of their double-minded words.
XVIII
The Deal

1. PREPARATIONS FOR A GRAND THEFT

THE RELATIVES weren't the only ones grumbling about the appointments, but the 21, who were ordered to accompany David II, fumed over their fate.
"What will he do?" asked Akonhel, the youth leader. "For we have to leave our country and our birthplace and our kinsfolk and the people of our city. Now, come let us establish a covenant between us only and our kinsfolk will know nothing of this that we will love each other in that country; none will hasten or tarry here and we will neither fear nor have any doubt. For God is here and God is there and may God's will be done.
Azariah, the High Priest stepped forward. A man of commanding presence, he said: "It doesn't matter if our kinsfolk hate us, what matters is that we should be sad because we'll have to leave the Ark of the Covenant. It's because of her we should weep."
"You're right, Azariah," said Awsteran. "She is our hope and the object of our boasting and we've grown up under our blessedness. And how is it possible for us to forsake Zion our mistress?
"And what will we do? If we resist his command the king will king us and we're unable to trangress the word of our fathers or the king's command. But what will be do concerning Zion our Lady?"
"I'll counsel you on what we should do," replied Azariah. "I want you to swear an oath that you'll never repeat. I mean they might torture you with your life on the line and you'll still keep our secret."
After taking the oath, Azariah said, "Come now, let us take our Lady Zion with us to Ethiopia."
The group couldn't comprehend what the High Priest was saying.
"That's what I said. Let's take the Ark with us and I'll show you how if you all listen to my plan. Even if they learn what we're doing and kill us, that shouldn't trouble us because we're all willing to die for our Lady Zion. If we die it will not cause us sorrow and if we live, the will of God be done."
Zechariah, the son of army commander Benaiah and a confidante of Azariah, looked at his close friend. He shook his head and exclaimed, "What you're saying is wonderful, but you know, Azariah, you can't go into the Temple in the place of your father, Zadok, because he keeps the keys with him at all times."
XIX
A Night Vision

AZARIAH received instructions in a night vision.
The Angel of the Lord told him: "Take four goats, each a yearling, for yourself, Elyas, Abis and Makri, and four pure sheep, yearlings also and an ox as a sacrifice on the east side of Zion and sheep and goats to the right and left thereof and at the west of it, which is close to the exit."
After that the entity in glowing white robes said, "And your lord, Ibna Hakim, should speak to Solomon and he must say to him, 'One thing I ask from you, O father, that I would offer up a sacrifice to the holy city Jerusalem and to my Lady Zion. And Solomon will say to him, 'Do so.' And Ibna Hakim must say to him, 'Let Zadok's son, Azariah, offer up a sacrifice on my behalf,' and he'll give you a command to offer up a sacrifice. And you must bring the Ark after you have offered up the sacrifice and I will again show you what you must do in respect to bringing it out, for this is from God; for Israel has provoked God to wrath and for this he'll make the Ark to leave."
The dream ended, but when Azariah woke up, he remembered everything the angel had said.
He went to his companions and told them of his vision and what the angel told him about Israel and how she was to be divided in the future.
"Rejoice with me," Azariah said, "because of what the angel said. So let's go to Ibna Hakim and tell him what to say to Solomon about the sacrifice in the Temple."
David II sent Benaiah to his father, Solomon, with the message: "Send me away, for I'll depart to my own country, together with everything that your goodness has given me. May your prayers accompany me always whithersoever I will go. But now there's one petition which I would make to you, peradventure I found grace with you and turn not away your face from me. For I your servant am going to depart and I wish to offer up a sacrifice of salvation for my sins in this your holy city of Jerusalem and of Zion, the Tabernacle of the Law of God. And peace be with your majesty,"
After hearing the message, Solomon readied 100 bulls, 100 oxen, 10,000 sheep, 10,000 goats and 10 of every clean birds and 20 silver sahal of fine white flour and 40 baskets of bread, for the sacrifice.
Benaiah then remembered the last part of the message.
"Let Azariah offer up the sacrifice on my behalf ."
The king agreed.
Azariah then went to the Temple and mingled his own offerings just as the angel had ordered him in the dream.
Later, they went back to their houses and slept.
XX
Secret Place

THAT SAME NIGHT, Azariah had another vision when the Angel of the Lord appeared above him like a pillar of fire and he filled the house with his light.
"Stand up, be strong and roust up Elyas, Abis and Makris, " said the angel, adding, "Then take the pieces of wood and I'll open the doors of the sanctuary for you and you will take the Ark out of the Temple without any trouble."
Azariah jumped up and woke up his three companions and they took the pieces of wood and went into the Temple. They found the doors open to the Holy of Holies and the angel directed the entire operation. They carried it to Azariah's house and then they returned to the Temple with pieces of wood. They covered them over with the Ark covering. They took lamps and set them in the place where the Ark was now hidden and there they sacrificed the sheep and burned incense and they spread purple cloths over it and set it again in the secret place for seven days and seven nights.
XXI
The Blessing

"BLESS ME, my father," Ibna Hakim said.
Solomon, with his heart breaking, smiled and embraced him, saying, "Blessed be the Lord my God who blessed my father David and blessed our father Abraham, May he be with you always and bless be your seed even as he blessed Jacob and made his seed to be as many as the stars of heaven and the sand of the sea.
"And as Abraham blessed Isaac even so will your blessing be -- the dew of heaven and the spaciousness of earth -- and may all the birds of the heavens and all the hearts of the beasts of the fields and the fish of the sea be in subjection to you.
"Be full and not lacking in fullness; be perfect and not lacking in perfection; be gracious and obstinate; be in in good health and not suffering; be generous and not vindictive; be pure and not defiled; be righteous and not a sinner; be merciful and not oppressive; be sincere and not perverse; be long suffering and not prone to wrath. And the enemy will be afraid of you and your adversaries will cast themselves under the sole of your foot. And my Lady Zion, the holy and heavenly, the Tabernacle of the Law of God, will be your guide to you all times. A guide in respect of what you should think in your heart and should do with your fingers, whether it be far or near to you, whether it be low or high to you, whether it be strong or weak to you, whether it be inside or out to you, whether it be in the house or in the field, whether it be away from you, whether it be in secret or published abroad to you -- to your Lady Zion, the holy and heavenly, the pure Tabernacle of the Law of God will be your guide.
David II -- Ibna Hakim -- the son of Solomon and Makeda bowed down and then departed.
XXII
The Glory Departs

1. AMONG THE DIRTY CLOTHING

IN 945 B.C.E., the Glory of the King left for Ethiopia, hidden in a wagon filled with worthless stuff and dirty clothing.
The noblemen's entourage had loaded the wagons during the day while the Ark was moved into its hiding place in the middle of the night by Azariah and his companions.
The horn was blown and Jerusalem went into mourning for their pride was leaving for Makeda's kingdom.
Although the city didn't actually know that the Ark had been taken from them, there as a heaviness in all their hearts and they wept bitter tears, even greater than those when God slew the first-born in Egypt.
There wasn't a house where there wasn't wailing.
Even the animals sensed the despair. The dogs howled. The donkeys screamed.
It was if a general of a mighty army had besieged Jerusalem, looting, taking people prisoners and killingf them with the sword.

2. FROM THE PALACE ROOF

SOLOMON was upset at the weeping and the outcry of the city as he looked from the Palace roof.
Even he was moved at seeing the young noblemen leaving, particularly his son and he trembled and his bowels quaked and his tears fell drop by drop on his apparel and he said, "Woe is me, for my glory has departed and the majesty of my city and the children of my might are removed. From this moment out glory has passed away and our kingdom has been carried off to a strange people who don't know God. From this time forth, the law, the wisdom and understanding will be given to them.
"My father prophesied concerning them, saying, 'Ethiopia will bow before him and the enemies will eat the dust'. And in another place, he said, 'Ethiopia will stretch out her hands to God and he will receive her with honor and the kings of earth will praise God.'"
XXIII
The Covering

AS SOLOMON watched, he called for Zadok, the priest.
Go, bring that covering which is on the Ark and take this covering which is better and lay it over the two coverings which are over it."
This covering was made of the finest gold wirework twisted together and hammered out into a pattern and they weren't woven like the threats of purple.
"Take the five golden mice which was given to the Ark and the 10 figures of their shame, the emrods, which the Philistines made for their redemption as well as the fringes of figures of gold that came from the land of Kades, which Moses, in the Sinai, commanded should be worked into the Ark's covering, and give them to my son for his mother said in Tamrin's message that they wanted the fringes to worship."
Then he added that the Ark fringes should be their guide, but he insisted it must remain with Israel forever, although he realized it hadn't been paid all the honor it was due."
Solomon towards where his son was standing by the lead wagon and said to him: "Take this covering and place it on your sanctuary as a sign of your worship of the God of Israel. And when you sacrifice to Jerusalem and the Ark, let your face be towards Jerusalem and pray towards us."
"This will be for my Lady," said Ibna Hakim.
Before the caravan departed, Zadok asked Solomon to put his son, Azariah in charge of the Ark's covering and to be the official in charge of anointing future kings of Ethiopia.
XXIV
Michael's Protection

AFTER THEY left Jerusalem, a fiery cloud swept over their wagons and the Archangel Michael appeared in it.
He spread out his wings and was their guide to Ethiopia.
It was a supernatural journey, for no man hauled his wagon, with the entire caravan, both man and beast, raised above the ground to the height of at least a dozen inches.
Everyone travelled in wagons like a ship on the sea when the wind blows and like a bat through the air and like an eagle when his body glides above the wind!

They halted at Gaza, Makeda's city, and from there they arrived at Mesrin, on the Egyptian border in one day. The entourage was amazed for the distance usually was a 13-day march and they weren't tired or thirsty.
They all believed that this thing was from God.
The wagons rested at the Nile and they set up their tents.
Ibna Hakim looked around and was baffled by the events.
"I don't understand any of this," he said to Azariah.
"Can we tell you something?" Azariah asked, adding, "Can you keep a secret?"
"Certainly, I can keep a secret. I'll keep it to the day I die."
Azariah, being the group's leader, said: "The sun descended from heaven and was given on Sinai to Israel and it became the salvation of the race of Adam from Moses to the seed of Jesse and behold it is with us by the will of God. It's not through us that this has been done, but by the will of God. The will of God has fashioned it and made it happen.
"God has chosen you and is well pleased with your city to be the servant of the holy and heavenly Zion, the Tabernacle of the Law of God and it will be your guide forever, to you and your seed after you if you will keep His command and perform the will of the Lord your God. For you will not be able to take it back, even you wanted to and your father, Solomon, can't seize it, even if he wanted to, for it goes on its own free will where it wants to and can't be removed from its seat if it doesn't desire it. And now, it's our salvation and our place of refuge"
Azariah signalled to Elyas and said to him: "Go, take the Ark out of the lead wagon and put the proper covering over her.
Ibna Hakim was in shock.
"What does this mean? Did you steal it?" he gasped, barely able to breathe.
Then he looked towards heaven and said, "Have you, O Lord, remembered us, the outcasts?"
The High Priest then took off the great covering and there lay the golden container, glistening in the early African sun. Ibna Hakim began to yelp and dance around it just like his grandfather, David, had so many years before. It was contagious. Soon all Azariah's group joined in, stomping their feet like young bulls, clapping their hands and stretching their hands skyward and then casting themselves on the ground and giving thanks to God.
Then circling the Ark, Ibna Hakim said, "Behold Zion, behold salvation, behold the splendor like the sun."
Suddenly, his words flowed out of his mouth in a strange language and those that listened were astonished, believing they were hearing a prophet.

In Egypt, the Ethiopians blew horns and beat the drums as they continued their journey down the Nile and as they went the idols of men, dogs and cats as well as the obelisks fell down and broke into pieces before the wagon carrying the Ark.
The Egyptians were amazed as they watched the Ethiopians passing before them like shadows.
Finally, they reached the borders of their beloved country -- Ethiopia.
XXV
Solomon's Sorrow

1. THE WOODEN PIECES

IN JERUSALEM, Solomon couldn't understand the sudden panic within himself.
When Zadok found him in a depressed state, he asked:
"What's the matter?"
"Do you remember when Makeda, the queen of Ethiopia, was here?"
"Yes."
"Well, when I slept with her, I had a vision. It seemed as I were standing in the chamber of Jerusalem and the sun came down from heaven into the land of Judah and lighted it up with great splendor and it stayed here for a short time and then it moved on and lighted on Ethiopia and it didn't return to Judah."
"Why didn't you tell me this before that you'd seen a vision of this kind? You make my knees tremble. What if your sons have stolen the Ark?"
Solomon was shocked by Zadok's question.
"When you took off the covering, didn't you check to make certain the Ark was there?"
"No, I didn't," came the reply. "It had three coverings on it and I took off the outtermost and put the covering you gave me on it."
Solomon was like a crazed man.
"Go to the Temple and examine it," he yelled, his voice crackling with anticipation.
Zadok took the keys and entered into the sanctuary and proceeded to cautiously walk in the darkness of the Holy of Holies.
He found nothing except the wooden boards that Azariah had fastened together to resemble the sides of the pedestal of the Ark.
It was gone.

Zadok collapsed in terror.
Benaiah found him there. He thought he was dead and frantically felt his pulse. He lifted him to a table and tried to revive him.
Slowly, Zadok came out of his faint and staggered to his feet.
Looking at the place where the Ark should have been, Zadok started screaming and wailing at the Temple doors.
Solomon, in the nearby king's quarters, now knew his most frightening nightmare had become true.
Army commander Benaiah was ordered to assemble the troops and set out after the thieves, who had taken the greatest treasure on earth, an object on which no monetary value could ever be placed.
Solomon told Benaiah to seize his son and bring him back to Jerusalem and kill the other men in his company.
"As the Lord God of Israel lives, they're men of death and not of life. They deserve to die because they''ve robbed the Temple."
XXVI
In Pursuit of the Robbers

SOLOMON WAS furious and he commanded his soldiers to set out on the chase.
Arriving in Egypt, Benaiah questioned the border residents.
"Some days ago some strangers passed here," they said.
"They travelled swiftly in wagons like the angels and they were swifter than the eagles of heaven."
"How many days ago was this?" they were asked.
Gathering information, one of Benaiah's aides returned to Jerusalem and told him that his son and his companions had left Egypt almost two weeks before.
Solomon and his contingent of troops went down to Gaza and asked they'd seen the Ark.
"We didn't see anything," they said.

Leaving Gaza, Solomon went deeper into Egypt and met one of Pharoah's ambassadors who told him that he'd seen the Ethiopians in Cairo.
"They were blowing flutes and they travelled on wagons like the host of the heavenly beings. Even our priests knew that the Ark was with them, for our idols were broken into fragments because of its presence."
Then the envoy asked a question, which seared deep into Solomon's soul.
"Why did you give away the Ark, which your fathers kept pure for you? For, according to what we hear, that Ark used to deliver you out of the land of your enemies and you used to be able to talk to your God because of it."

Solomon entered his tent and cried.
"God, I wish you'd taken my life."
He then tried to analyze the reason the Ark was no longer with Israel.
"I know why it's gone," he said to Zadok.
"Why?" said the priest, who slowly was beginning to regain his strength after collapsing in the Temple.
"Because God hates idolatry and seeking the advice of witches and divination and magic and we've been guilty of them as well as drunkeness and false testimony against neighbors. It's because of them that God has taken away the Ark and given it to my son and his descendants."
The tears continually ran down the king's face.
"It must have been the will of God," he sobbed.
"Why are you sad, then?" asked Zadok. "The will of God gave the Ark to your first-born son and he'll rule forever."
Resigning himself to this fate, the king said: "The will of God be done and not the will of man."

The chase was over.
Solomon and his men returned to Jerusalem, a city still in shock.
XXVII
The Glory in Ethiopia

ALTHOUGH IBNA HAKIM and his entourage travelled through Egypt to the borders of Ethiopia, the old Regent Tamrin sent two messengers down the Nile with the report to Makeda that her son had been anointed king and they were bringing the Ark with them.
In her court, the Ethiopian queen wondered out loud, "The Ark? You must mean the fringe of its covering, just like I asked?"
"No, my Lady, they're bringing the Tabernacle of the Law of God with them, and they're flying through the air just like heavenly beings," replied the messengers in unison.
"Could it be true?"
"Yes, yes, my Lady."
Makeda realized it was true.
She then ordered the news to be spread throughout her land, that the Ark and her son were returning from Jerusalem and she began preparing for a great celebration by ordering special perfumes from India be brought to her.
Travelling on the Azyaba Road to Wakerom, Ibna Hakim finally entered Ethiopia and at Debra Makeda, the new capital city, which the queen had built.

Looking up, Makeda could see the Ark shining in the afternoon sun, the light flashing of it and when she saw this, she gave thanks to the God of Israel.

Bowing low, she smote her breast, while remembering the great cloud, which swooped over her and Solomon in the Temple so many years ago.
Makeda was overwhelmed with excitement. She laughed. She cried. She began to dance.
Her actions were contagious.

Ordering the official celebrations to begin, pavilions and tents were set up beside the river on the flat plain at the foot of the plateau of Debra Makeda and there 32,000 stalled oxen and bulls were slaughtered.
Azariah and his companions carried the Ark to a large rock formation, much like the one on Mount Moriah, and had it watched over by Makeda's special guard of 300 sword-wielding men. Her son also commanded a 700-man specially-trained contingent.
Three days after the Ark's arrival in Ethiopia, Makeda gave a gift of 17,700 chosen horses for her son's army when she abdicated her throne.
XXVIII
Solomonic Dynasty

GATHERING HER NOBLES into the inner court of the Palace, Makeda said: "Swear by the heavenly Zion that in the future you won't allow any queen to ascend this throne and that no one except the male seed of my son, Ibna Hakim, the son of Solomon, will be worthy of it"
They agreed with a great shout.
In the following days, she appointed Elyas the chief of priests and Azariah the chief of deacons and with Ibna Hakim's assistance a similar administration as to the one in Jerusalem was set up.

Finally, Makeda turned over her kingdom to her son with these words, "Take the kingdom, I've given to you. I have made king whom God has made king, and I have chosen him whom God has chosen as the keeper of His pavilion. I'm well pleased with him whom God has been pleased with him whom God has been pleased to make the envoy of the Tabernacle of His Covenant and His Law. I have magnified him whom God has magnified and the director of his widows and I've honored him whom God has honored as the giver of food to orphans."
Ibna Hakim rose to his feet and praised Makeda and then said: "Please, pray for me, mother, that we'll respect the habitation of the Glory of God and those that come after me will obey His will and do what's right in respect of the Ark then we'll become chosen men and no one will be able to treat us evilly in the mountain of His holiness while His habitation is us.
"Also, I know God is with us because He sent the mighty angel, Michael, who directed us here and he'll be with us forever.

Ibna Hakim: And we've brought the whole Law of the kingdom and the commandment of God which Zadok declared to us when he anointed me with the oil of sovereignity in the Temple, the horn of oil, which is the unction of priesthood and royalty, being in his hand. And he did what was written in the Law and we were anointed along with Azariah to the priesthood and Elymas as the keeper of Zion and the Ear of the King in every path of righteousness. Zadok told me that I should listen to their advice about everything.

Then Elymas and Azariah brought Zadok's writing and read it to Makeda.
Then she spoke to the two advisers, saying, "Protect him and teach him the path of the kingdom of God and honor our Lady Zion, for you are the guardians of the Ark."
In the following days, Azariah issued the same dietary laws to his new nation that were applicable in Israel.

Azariah ordered the Jubilee trumpets to be blown and for the Ethiopians to be gathered around the mountain of Debra Makeda, where the Ark was now resting inside a tent.
"Let us go to Zion and there we will make new the kingdom of our lord, David," Azariah said.
There he anointed Ibna Hakim with the throne name of Menelik. Afterwards they blew horns and pipes and trumpets and beat drums with singing, dancing and displays of jousting and horsemanship.
The boundaries of the new kingdom began on the east at the city of Gaza in the land of Judah and along the coastline to Leba and Saba and down to Bisis and Asnet with its boundary the Sea of Blacks and Naked Men and towards Mount Kebereneyon into the Sea of Darkness, the place where the sun sets. The border also extended to Feneel and Lasifala and then towards the Sea of India.
XXIX
The Ark Goes to War

THREE MONTHS after the Ark arrived, Menelik and his soldiers learned of pockets of resistance to his leadership and with the priests carrying the Ark they headed for the camp at Maya Abaw.
The following morning they laid waste the district of Zawa and then they camped at Gerra before destroying the city of vipers, which had the faces of men and tails of asses attached to the loins.
Makeda joined her son on the battlefield and for three months they waged war, conquering the city of Saba, which had fallen into enemy hands, and Noba and upwards towards the borders of Egypt.
Because of this terrible weapon of destruction, in the small golden container, the kings of Medyam and Egypt trembled and they sent gifts to Menelik to try to appease his wrath.
They also moved towards the king of India with the same results, for Menelik waged war wherever he wanted and he conquered all the lands his troops entered.
The Ark had made him invincible.
They were able to travel in one day distances that usually took three months and none of the Ethiopians suffered any loss of life because the angel Michael was directing the movements of the Ark, the Very Essence of God.
Menelik I, or Ibna Hakim and David II, stayed much of time at Debra Makeda and if he wanted something to be done, it was just by his thoughts. The Hand of God was with him.
XXX
The Last Days of Solomon

1. THEIR SECRET

AFTER SOLOMON realized his son, Ibna Hakim, and the young noblemen, including Zadok's son, Azariah, had stolen the Ark and taken it away to Ethiopia, he returned to Jerusalem from Egypt.
Both he and Zadok wept bitterly in the Temple and they remained silent for a long time.
However, his elders tried to comfort him.
"Don't be sorrowful concerning this," said Adoniram, his former cabinet minister for public works and now a court adviser, "for we know, from first to last, that without the will of God, the Ark won't dwell anywhere."
Adoniram thought of his first meeting with Tamrin, and being in the mountains of Lebanon with the now crippled Chief Merchant and ambassador for Makeda. "If only we'd never met, then maybe, just maybe, the Ark would still be with us," he thought to himself.
Out loud, however, he continued with his words of comfort, recalling how the Philistines once carried it away, only to send it back to Israel because it carried such destruction.
Maybe this would happen to the Ethiopians, he thought.
"For it's impossibe," he continued, "to carry the Ark away unless she wanted to and God wanted it.
"When your father, Solomon, reigned over Israel he took the Ark from the city of Samaria and brought the Ark here to Jerusalem, dancing on her feet before her, and clapping his hands because of the joy for her. And the reason she wrent to the Ethiopian capital was because God willed it and she willed it."
Solomon seemed to be resigned to Adoniram's words when he said: "If the Ark doesn't return it will be God's good pleasure.

Although, they all had wept bitter tears, Solomon ordered them to cease with the words, "Cease so that the uncircumised people won't boast and won't say, 'Their glory is taken away and God has forsaken them.' Don't tell anything to alien people."
Then he told them of a secret plan.
"Let's take the boards Azariah and his henchmen set up in the Temple when they stole our Lady, and decorate them and cover with gold and let's put the Book of the Law inside it."
He assured his leaders that God hadn't abandoned them because of the covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the later covenant with his father, David, and the one with himself.
Solomon lived for 11 years after the Ark was stolen and then his heart turned aside from the love of God and he forgot his wisdom,. through the excessive love of women.
XXXI
The Pharoah's Daughter

ONE OF his great loves, besides Makeda, was Makshara, the daughter of Pharoah and she brought him into the house he'd built where there were figures of the sun, moon and stars in the roof causing the rooms to be lighted brightly day and night.
The mansion's beams were made of bras and its roof of silver and its panels of lead and its walls of stones, red with black, and brown with white and green and its floor was of blacks of sapphire stone and sardius.
Makshara possessed certain idols which her father had given her and Solomon saw her sacrificing to them. He didn't rebuke her about idol worship and sorcery because God was angry with him and caused him to forget his wisdom.
She even talked some of the Israelites into joining her in worshipping her idols.

Even Solomon became excited with Makshara's folly.
"It's good to worship the gods like my father and all the kings of Egypt, who were before my father," she told Solomon with a sweet smile.
"They call gods the things which have been made by the hands of the worker in metal , and the carpenter and the potter and the painter. They're not gods, but the work of the hand of man, but we worship none else than the Holy God of Israel and our Lady, the holy and heavenly Zion, the Tabernacle of the Law of God, whom He gave us to worship and our seed after us."
Makshara shook her head.
"Your son took the Ark, didn't he?"
Solomon remained silent.
"Your son, you had with an alien woman which God hadn't commanded you to marry, and what's more she's an Ethiopian, who isn't of your color, and isn't from your country and, moreover, she's black."
Solomon, inwardly, trembled at her words, but he refused to bow down to her idols.

A month later, Makshara turned against the king, treating him disdainfully and refusing his advances.
"What do you want me to do?" moaned Solomon. "You've turned against me and I don't know what's the matter. Tell me and I'll do anything you ask."
"Do you mean it, you'll do anything I ask?" she said, slowly.
"Yes," he whispered.
"Makshara then tied a scarlet thread on the middle of the door of the shrine she'd made to her gods and brought three locusts and put them in the shrine.
"Here's what you have to do, Solomon, kill those three locusts within breaking the scarlet thread." He did as he was told.
"I'll have sex with you now because you've sacrificed to my gods by entering into this shrineto kill the locusts."
Solomon returned to his own quarters, and remembering how he had enticed Makeda into his bed through deception so long ago and now he was the one who had been duped.
In the night, a shadow fell across him and a voice thundered, "Why, Solomon did you marry alien women and sacrifice to their gods?"
From being the wisest man in the world, he had become a fool.
XXXII
The Death of Solomon

AT AGE 60, Solomon lost his will to live. The Ark was gone and so was his wisdom the God of Israel had given him.
The Angel of Death hovered over his bed.
"O Lord God of Israel, I'm conquered by the terrestrial law," he cried. "Please, have mercy on me and remember the covenant you made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Have mercy on me, for the sake of David. O Master of the world and of kings and of governors have mercy on me."
Tears streams down his face and he tried to dry them.
The Angel of Death reminded Solomon that his anguish was caused by marrying alien women and taking the Law of God lightly, and believing he would sire many male offspring.
"He has only given you three sons," said the Angel, whose name was Gabriel. "The one who carried your glory to Ethiopia, whom they call Ibna Hakim, then there's the little crippled one, Rehoboam, from the house of Judah and Adramis, who's the son of a Greek handmaiden."
Gabriel then touched Solomon on the foot and his health seemed to be restored.
Later, the king prayed, "I give thanks to the Lord, for he's looked on my affliction and didn't allow me to die in my grief."
He then told the court reporter to write down his final words, which were these:
"As a rsult of worshipping the strange gods of my wives, the spirit of God departed from me and from that day on my words became as idle talk., for she convinced me to build temples of idols. As a result I, wretched man that I am, carried out her advice and the glory of God completely departed from me. My spirit darkened and I became a laughing stock to the idols and demons. For the reason I have written out this, my testament, in order that those who hear might pray about, and pay attention to, the last things and not the first things."
Then Solomon ordered Zadok to anoint Rehoboam king, just like his father, David, had done while he was still alive.
The city was alive with celebrating as Rehoboam rode the king's mule through the streets, but before the son could return to his father, Solomon died.
Although Solomon had strictly ruled during the latter part of his reign, Rehoboam was a cruel and contemptible monarch and later the kingdom was divided in two -- Israel and Judah -- with Jeroboam picked by lot.
And then its people were scattered to the four winds of the earth, for the Glory of the King had vanished.

XXXIII
Menelik I

IBNA HAKIM, the son of the wise man, Solomon, who had adopted the throne name, Menelik I, was anointed by the Jewish high priest, Azariah, before the Ark after his mother, Makeda, died at the age of 60.
During his reign, he patterned his government and set policies, which were similar to those of the Hebrews, and he appointed Twelve Judges, according to the number of tribes of Israel.
Azariah drew up a code of laws and regulations based directly on the laws of Moses and tradition says that this code was the source of all subsequent legal decisions and ordinances,
Menelik I tried to legislate in every way like his father, Solomon, and his grandfather, David. He also adopted many of the engineering techniques of his Israeli friend, Adoniram, in building dams in the highlands where he stored water to irrigate the land in the dry season just as he did in Marib in the Arabian Saba.
He married a Hebrew woman and they had a son, named Thomas. He was to be the second emperor of the Ark.
In 930 B.C., he died at age 50 after reigning for 24 years.

IN 1904, the tomb of Menelik I was found in a large stone mausoleum in Ethiopia. The coffin contained the body of a king still wearing his golden crown. The crown was carefully removed and was placed with the crowns of other Ethiopian kings in St. Mary of Zion Cathedral in Aksum, the ancient capital. It is also the place where the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle of the Lord God of Israel, had rested for nearly 3,000 years.
The 225th Emperor, Haile Selassie I -- the Power of the Trinity -- and Tafari Makkonen before he took the throne name rode up to the gates of Aksum on his horse during his coronation celebrations in the 1930s where he cut a symbolic cord and, like those many kings before him, declared, "I am the son of David and Solomon, and Ibna Hakim."
(End of Part I of The Glory of The King)