Testament of Solomon 2
And behold, when the Temple of the city of Jerusalem was being built, and the artificers were working thereat, Ornias the devil came among them toward sunset; and he took away half of the pay of the chief-deviser's little boy, as well as half his food. He also continued to suck the thumb of his right hand every day. And the child grew thin, although he was very much loved by the king.
Testament of Solomon 3
So king Solomon called the boy one day, and questioned him, saying, "Do I not love you more than all the artisans who are working in the Temple of God? Do I not give you double wages and a double supply of food? How is it that day by day and hour by hour you grow thinner?"
Testament of Solomon 4
But the child said to the king, "I beseech you, O king, listen to what has befallen all that your child has. After we are all released from our work on the Temple of God, after sunset, when I lie down to rest, one of the evil devils comes and takes away one half of my pay and one half of my food from me. Then he also takes hold of my right hand and sucks my thumb. And look, my soul is opressed, and so my body becomes thinner every day."
Testament of Solomon 5
Now when I, Solomon, heard this, I entered the Temple of God, and prayed with all my soul, night and day, that the devil might be delivered into my hands, and that I might gain authority over him. And it came about through my prayer that grace was given to me from the Lord of hosts, by Michael His archangel. [He brought me] a little ring, having a seal consisting of an engraved stone, and said to me, "Take [this], O Solomon, king, son of David, the gift which the Lord God has sent you, the highest of hosts. With it, you will lock up all devils of the earth, male and female; and with their help, you will build up Jerusalem. [But] you [must] wear this seal of God. And this engraving of the seal of the ring sent to you is a Pentalpha."
Testament of Solomon 6
And I, Solomon, was overjoyed, and praised and glorified the God of heaven and earth. And on the morrow, I called the boy, and gave him the ring, and said to him, "Take this, and at the hour in which the devil will come to you, throw this ring at the chest of the devil, and say to him, 'In the name of God, king Solomon calls you here.' And then come running to me, without having any misgivings or fear in respect of anything that you may hear on the part of the devil."
Testament of Solomon 7
So the child took the ring and went off; and behold, at the customary hour, Ornias, the fierce devil, came like a burning fire to take the pay from the child. But the child, according to the instructions received from the king, threw the ring at the chest of the devil, and said, "King Solomon calls you here." And then he went off, running to the king. But the devil cried out aloud, saying, "Child, why have you done this to me? Take the ring off me, and I will render the gold of the earth to you. Only take this off me, and forbear to lead me away to Solomon."
Testament of Solomon 8
But the child said to the devil, "As the Lord God of Israel lives, I will not tolerate you. So come here." And the child came running, rejoicing to the king, and said, "I have brought the devil, O king, as you commanded me, O my master. And behold, he stands before the gates of the court of your palace, crying out, and supplicating with a loud voice; offering me the silver and gold of the earth if I will only bring him to you."
Testament of Solomon 9
And when Solomon heard this, he rose up from his throne, and went outside into the vestibule of the court of his palace; and there he saw the devil, shuddering and trembling. And he said to him, "Who are you?" And the devil answered, "I am called Ornias."
Testament of Solomon 10
And Solomon said to him, "Tell me, O devil, to what zodiacal sign you are subjected." And he answered, "To the Water-pourer. And those who are consumed with desire for the noble virgins upon earth, I strangle these. But in case there is no disposition to sleep, I am changed into three forms. Whenever men come to be enamoured of women, I metamorphose myself into a comely female; and I take hold of the men in their sleep, and play with them. And after a while I again take to my wings, and hide myself in the heavenly regions. I also appear as a lion, and I am commanded by all the devils. I am offspring of the archangel Uriel, the power of God."
Testament of Solomon 11
I, Solomon, having heard the name of the archangel, prayed and glorified God, the Lord of heaven and earth. And I sealed the devil and set him to work at stone-cutting, so that he might cut the stones in the Temple, *21:82, *34:12, *38:36 - 37 which, lying along the shore, had been brought by the Sea of Arabia. But he, fearful of the iron, continued and said to me, "I beseech you, king Solomon, let me go free; and I will bring you all the devils." And as he was not willing to be subjected to me, I beseeched the archangel Uriel to come and succour me; and I forthwith beheld the archangel Uriel coming down to me from the heavens.
Testament of Solomon 12
And the angel bade the whales of the sea to come out of the abyss. And he cast his destiny upon the ground, and that [destiny] made the great devil subject [to him]. And he commanded the great devil and bold Ornias, to cut stones at the Temple. And accordingly, I, Solomon, glorified the God of heaven and Maker of the earth. And he bade Ornias to come with his destiny, and gave him the seal, saying, "Away with yourself, and bring me the prince of all the devils here."
Testament of Solomon 13
So Ornias took the finger-ring, and went off to Beelzeboul, who has kingship over the devils. He said to him, "Here! Solomon calls you." But Beelzeboul, having heard, said to him, "Tell me, who is this Solomon of whom you speak to me?" Then Ornias threw the ring at the chest of Beelzeboul, saying, "Solomon the king calls you." But Beelzeboul cried aloud with a mighty voice, and shot out a great burning flame of fire; and he arose, and followed Ornias, and came to Solomon.
Testament of Solomon 14
And when I saw the prince of devils, I glorified the Lord God, Maker of heaven and earth, and I said, "You are blessed, Lord God Almighty, who have given wisdom to your servant Solomon, the assessor of the wise, and have subjected all the power of the devil to me."
Testament of Solomon 15
And I questioned him, and said, "Who are you?" The devil replied, "I am Beelzebub, the exarch of the devils. And all the devils have their chief seats close to me. And it is I who make the apparition of each devil manifest." And he promised to bring all the unclean spirits to me in bonds. And I again glorified the God of heaven and earth, as I always give thanks to Him.
Testament of Solomon 16
I then asked of the devil if there were females among them. And when he told me that there were, I said that I desired to see them. So Beelzeboul went off at high speed, and brought Onoskelis to me, that had a very pretty shape, and the skin of a fair-hued woman; and she tossed her head.
Testament of Solomon 17
And when she had come, I said to her, "Tell me who are you." But she said to me, "I am called Onoskelis, a spirit worked... lurking upon the earth. There is a golden cave where I lie. But I have a place that always shifts. At one time I strangle men with a noose; at another, I creep up from the nature to the arms. But my most frequent dwelling-places are the precipices, caves, [and] ravines. Oftentimes, however, I consort with men in the semblance of a woman, and above all with those of a dark skin. For they share my star with me; since it is they who privily or openly worship my star, without knowing that they harm themselves, and only whet my appetite for further mischief. For they wish
to provide money by means of memory, but I supply a little to those who worship me fairly."
Testament of Solomon 18
And I, Solomon, questioned her about her birth, and she replied, "I was born of an untimely voice, the so-called echo of a man's ordure dropped in a wood."
Testament of Solomon 19
And I said to her, "Under what star do you pass?" And she answered me, "Under the star of the full moon, for the reason that the moon travels over most things." Then I said to her, "And what angel is it that frustrates you?" And she said to me, "He who is reigning in you." And I thought that she mocked me, and bade a soldier to strike her. But she cried aloud and said, "I am [subjected] to you, O king, by the wisdom of God given to you, and by the angel Joel."
Testament of Solomon 20
So I commanded her to spin the hemp for the ropes used in the building of the House of God; and accordingly, when I had sealed and bound her, *38:36 - 38 she was so overcome and brought to nothing as to stand night and day spinning the hemp.
Testament of Solomon 21
And I at once bade another devil to be led to me; and instantly the devil Asmodeus approached me bound, *38:36 - 38 and I asked him, "Who are you?" But he shot a glance of anger and rage on me, and said, "And who are you?" And I said to him, "As punished as you are, you answer me thus?" But he, with rage, said to me, "But how will I answer you, for you are a son of man; whereas I was born an angel's seed by a daughter of man, so that no word of our heavenly kind addressed to the earth-born can be overweening. Therefore my star is also bright in heaven, and men call it, some the Wain, and some the dragon's child. I keep near to this star. So do not ask me many things; for your kingdom is also to be disrupted after a little time, and your glory is only for a season. And your tyranny over us will be short; and then we will again have free range over mankind, so that they will revere us as if we were gods, not knowing, men that they are, the names of the angels set over us."
Testament of Solomon 22
And I, Solomon, upon hearing this, bound him more carefully, and ordered him to be flogged with cords of ox-hide, and to tell me humbly what his name was and what his business [was]. And he answered me thus, "I am called Asmodeus among mortals, and my business is to plot against the newly wedded, so that they may not know one another. And I sever them utterly by many calamities, and I waste away the beauty of virgin women, and estrange their hearts."
Testament of Solomon 23
And I said to him, "Is this your only business?" And he answered me, "I transport men into fits of madness and desire, when they have wives of their own, so that they leave them, and go off by night and day to others that belong to other men; with the result that they commit sin, and fall into murderous deeds."
Testament of Solomon 24
And I adjured him by the name of the Lord of hosts, saying, "Fear God, Asmodeus, and tell me by what angel you are frustrated." But he said, "By Raphael, the archangel that stands before the Throne of God. But the liver and gall of a fish put me to flight when smoked over ashes of the tamarisk." I again asked him, and said, "Do not hide anything from me. For I am Solomon, son of David, king of Israel. Tell me the name of the fish which you revere." And he answered, "It is the Glanos by name, and is found in the rivers of Assyria; that is why I roam about in those parts."
Testament of Solomon 25
And I said to him, "Have you nothing else about you, Asmodeus?" And he answered, "The power of God knows, which has bound me with the indissoluble bonds of that one's seal, that whatever I have told you is true. I implore you, king Solomon, do not condemn me to [go into] water." But I smiled, and said to him, "As the Lord God of my fathers lives, I will lay iron on you to wear. But you will also make the clay for the entire construction of the Temple, treading it down with your feet." And I ordered them to give him ten water jars to carry water in. And the devil groaned terribly, and did the work I ordered him to do. And I did this because that fierce devil Asmodeus even knew the future. And I, Solomon, glorified God, who gave wisdom to me, Solomon, His servant. And I hung the liver of the fish and its gall on the spike of a reed, and burned it over Asmodeus because of him being so strong, and his unbearable malice was thus
frustrated.
Testament of Solomon 26
And I summoned Beelzeboul again to stand before me, the prince of devils, and I sat him down on a raised seat of honour and said to him, "Why are you alone, prince of the devils?" And he said to me, "Because I alone am left of the angels of heaven that came down. For I was first an angel in the first heaven being entitled Beelzeboul. And now I control all those who are bound in Tartarus. But I too have a child, and he haunts the Red Sea. And on any suitable occasion, he comes up to me again, being subjected to me; and reveals to me what he has done, and I support him."
Testament of Solomon 27
I, Solomon, said to him, "Beelzeboul, what is your employment?" And he answered me, "I destroy kings. I ally myself with foreign tyrants. And I set on my own devils to men, in order that the latter may believe in them and be lost. And the chosen servants of God, priests and faithful men, I excite to desires for wicked sins, and evil heresies, and lawless deeds; and they obey me, and I bear them on to destruction. And I inspire men with envy and [desire for] murder, and for wars and sodomy, and other evil things. And I will destroy the world."
Testament of Solomon 28
So I said to him, "Bring your child to me, who is, as you say, in the Red Sea." But he said to me, "I will not bring him to you. But another devil called Ephippas will come to me. I will bind him, and he will bring him up from the deep to me." And I said to him, "How come your son is in the depth of the sea, and what is his name?" And he answered me, "Do not ask me, for you cannot learn from me. However, he will come to you by any command, and will tell you openly."
Testament of Solomon 29
I said to him, "Tell me by what angel you are frustrated." And he answered, "By the holy and precious name of the Almighty God, called by the Hebrews by a row of numbers, of which the sum is 644, and among the Greeks it is Emmanuel. And if one of the Romans adjure me by the great name of the power Eleéth, I disappear at once."
Testament of Solomon 30
I, Solomon, was astounded when I heard this; and I ordered him to saw up Theban marbles. *21:82, *34:12, *38:36 - 37 And when he began to saw the marbles, the other devils cried out with a loud voice, howling because of their king Beelzeboul.
Testament of Solomon 31
But I, Solomon, questioned him, saying, "If you would gain a respite, discourse about the things in heaven to me." And Beelzeboul said, "Hear, O king, if you burn gum and incense and bulb of the sea with nard and saffron, and light seven lamps in an earthquake, you will firmly fix your house. And if, being pure, you light them at dawn in the sunlight, then you will see the heavenly dragons, how they wind themselves along and drag the chariot of the sun."
Testament of Solomon 32
And I, Solomon, having heard this, rebuked him and said, "Silence for this present, and continue to saw the marbles as I commanded you." And I, Solomon, praised God, and commanded another devil to present himself to me. And one came before me who carried his face high up in the air, but the rest of the spirit curled away like a snail. And it broke through the few soldiers, and also raised a terrible dust on the ground, and carried it upwards; and then again hurled it back to frighten us, and asked what questions I could ask as a rule. And I stood up, and spat on the ground in that spot, and sealed with the ring of God. And forthwith, the dust-wind stopped. Then I asked him, saying, "Who are you, O wind?" Then he shook up dust once more, and answered me, "What would you have, king Solomon?" I answered him, "Tell me what you are called, and I would fain ask you a question. But so far I give thanks to God who has made me to answer their evil plots wisely."
Testament of Solomon 33
But [the devil] answered me, "I am the spirit of the ashes (Tephras)." And I said to him, "What is your pursuit?" And he said, "I bring darkness on men, and set fire to fields; and I bring homesteads to nothing. But I am most busy in summer. However, when I get an opportunity, I creep into corners of the wall by night and day. For I am offspring of the great one, and nothing less." Accordingly, I said to him, "Under what star do you lie?" And he answered, "In the very tip of the moon's horn, when it is found in the south. There is my star. For I have been bidden to restrain the convulsions of the hemitertian fever; and this is why many men pray to the hemitertian fever, using these three names: Bultala, Thallal, Melchal. And I heal them." And I said to him, "I am Solomon; when you would therefore do harm, by whose aid do you do it?" But he said to me, "By the angel's, by whom also the third day's fever is lulled to rest." So I questioned him, and said, "And by what name?" And he answered, "That of the archangel Azael." And I summoned the archangel Azael, and set a seal on the devil, and commanded him to seize great stones, and toss them up to the workmen on the higher parts of the Temple. And, being compelled, the devil began to do what he was bidden to do.
Testament of Solomon 34
And I glorified God afresh, who gave me this authority, and ordered another devil to come before me. And seven spirits came, females, bound *38:36 - 38 and woven together, fair in appearance and comely. And I, Solomon, seeing them, questioned them and said, "Who are you?" But they, with one accord, said with one voice, "We are of the thirty-three elements of the cosmic ruler of the darkness." And the first said, "I am Deception." The second said, "I am Strife." The third, "I am Klothod, which is battle." The fourth, "I am Jealousy." The fifth, "I am Power." The sixth, "I am Error." The seventh, "I am the worst of all, and our stars are in heaven. Seven stars humble in sheen, and all together. And we are called as it were, goddesses. We change our place all and together, and we live together, sometimes in Lydia, sometimes in Olympus, sometimes in a great mountain."
Testament of Solomon 35
So I, Solomon, questioned them one by one, beginning with the first, and going down to the seventh. The first said, "I am Deception, I deceive and weave snares here and there. I whet and excite heresies. But I have an angel who frustrates me: Lamechalal."
Testament of Solomon 36
Likewise, the second also said, "I am Strife, strife of strifes. I bring timbers, stones, hangers, my weapons on the spot. But I have an angel who frustrates me: Baruchiachel."
Testament of Solomon 37
Likewise, the third also said, "I am called Klothod, which is Battle, and I cause the well-behaved to scatter and fall foul of the other. And why do I say so much? I have an angel that frustrates me: Marmarath."
Testament of Solomon 38
Likewise, the fourth also said, "I cause men to forget their sobriety and moderation. I part them and split them into factions; for Strife follows me hand in hand. I rend the husband from the sharer of his bed, and children from parents, and brothers from sisters. But why tell so much to my despite? I have an angel that frustrates me: the great Balthial."
Testament of Solomon 39
Likewise, the fifth also said, "I am Power. By power I raise up tyrants and tear down kings. I furnish power to all rebels. I have an angel that frustrates me: Asteraôth."
Testament of Solomon 40
Likewise, the sixth also said, "I am Error, O king Solomon. And I will make you to err, as I have made you to err before, when I caused you to slay your own brother. I will lead you into error, so as to pry into graves; and I teach those who dig, and I lead errant souls away from all piety, and many other evil traits are mine. But I have an angel that frustrates me: Uriel."
Testament of Solomon 41
Likewise, the seventh also said, "I am the worst, and I make you worse off than you were; because I will impose the bonds of Artemis. But the locust will set me free, for it is fated by means thereof that you will achieve my desire. For if one were wise, he would not turn his steps toward me."
Testament of Solomon 42
So I, Solomon, having heard and wondered, sealed them with my ring; and since they were so considerable, I bade them to dig the foundations of the Temple of God. *21:82, *34:12, *38:36 - 37 For the length of it was 250 cubits. And I bade them to be industrious, and with one murmur of joint protest, they began to perform the tasks enjoined.
Testament of Solomon 43
But I, Solomon, glorified the Lord, and bade another devil to come before me. And a devil was brought to me having all the limbs of a man, but without a head. And I, seeing him, said to him, "Tell me, who are you?" And he answered, "I am a devil." So I said to him, "Which?" And he answered me, "I am called Envy. For I delight to devour heads, being desirous to secure a head for myself; but I do not eat enough, but am anxious to have such a head as you have."
Testament of Solomon 44
I, Solomon, upon hearing this, sealed him, stretching out my hand against his chest. Whereon the devil leapt up, and threw himself down, and gave a groan, saying, "Woe is me! Where have I come to? O traitor Ornias, I cannot see!" So I said to him, "I am Solomon. Tell me then how you manage to see." And he answered me, "By means of my feelings." I then, Solomon, having heard his voice come up to me, asked him how he managed to speak. And he answered me, "I, O king Solomon, am wholly voice, for I have inherited the voices of many men. For in the case of all men who are called dumb, it is I who smashed their heads when they were children and had reached their eighth day. Then when a child is crying in the night, I become a spirit, and glide by means of his voice. I also have many services to render in the crossways, and my encounter is fraught with harm. For I grasp a man's head in an instant, and with my hands, as with a sword, I cut it off, and put it on myself. And in this way, by means of the fire which is in me, it is swallowed up through my neck. It is I who sends grave mutilations and incurable [things] on men's feet, and inflict sores."
Testament of Solomon 45
And I, Solomon, upon hearing this, said to him, "Tell me how you discharge the fire? Out of what sources do you emit it?" And the spirit said to me, "From the day-star. For that Elburion has not yet been found here, to whom men offer prayers and kindle lights. And his name is invoked by the seven devils before me. And he cherishes them."
Testament of Solomon 46
But I said to him, "Tell me his name." But he answered, "I cannot tell you. For if I tell his name, I render myself incurable. But he will come in response to his name." And upon hearing this, I, Solomon, said to him, "Tell me then, by what angel are you frustrated?" And he answered, "By the fiery flash of lightning." And I bowed myself before the Lord God of Israel, and bade him remain in the keeping of Beelzeboul until Iax should come.
Testament of Solomon 47
Then I ordered another devil to come before me, and a hound came into my presence, having a very large shape, and it spoke with a loud voice and said, "Hail, lord, king Solomon!" And I, Solomon, was astounded. I said to it, "Who are you, O hound?" And it answered, "I do indeed seem to be a hound to you, but before you, O king Solomon, I was a man who worked many unholy deeds on earth. I was surpassingly learned in letters, and was so mighty that I could hold the stars of heaven back. And I prepared many divine works. For I do harm to men who follow after our star, and turn them to [wrong]. And I seize the frenzied men by the larynx, and so destroy them."
Testament of Solomon 48
And I, Solomon, said to him, "What is your name?" And he answered, "Staff (Rabdos)." And I said to him, "What is your employment? And what results can you achieve?" And he replied, "Give me your man, and I will lead him away into a mountainous spot, and will show him a green stone tossed here and there, with which you may adorn the Temple of the Lord God."
Testament of Solomon 49
And I, Solomon, upon hearing this, ordered my servant to set off with him, and to take the finger-ring bearing the seal of God with him. And I said to him, "Whoever will show you the green stone, seal him with this finger-ring. And mark the spot with care, and bring me the devil here." And the devil showed him the green stone, and he sealed it, and brought the devil to me. And I, Solomon, decided to confine the two with my seal on my right hand: the headless devil, [and] the hound likewise, which was so huge, he should be bound as well. And I bade the hound to keep the fiery spirit safe so that lamps, as it were, might cast their light on the artisans at work by day and night through its maw.
Testament of Solomon 50
And I, Solomon, took 200 shekels from the mine of that stone for the supports of the table of incense, which was similar in appearance. And I, Solomon, glorified the Lord God, and then closed round the treasure of that stone. And I ordered the devils to cut marble afresh for the construction of the House of God. And I, Solomon, prayed to the Lord, and asked the hound, saying, "By what angel are you frustrated?" And the devil replied, "By the great Brieus."
Testament of Solomon 51
And I praised the Lord God of heaven and earth, and bade another devil to come forward to me; and one in the form of a roaring lion came before me. And he stood and answered me, saying, "O king, in the form which I have, I am a spirit quite incapable of being perceived. I leap upon all men who lie prostrate with sickness, coming stealthily along; and I render the man weak, so that his habit of body is enfeebled. But I also have another glory, O king. I cast out devils, and I have legions under my control. And I am capable of being received in my dwelling places, along with all the devils belonging to the legions under me." But I, Solomon, upon hearing this, asked him, "What is your name?" But he answered, "Lionbearer, Rath in kind." And I said to him, "How are you to be frustrated along with your legions? What angel is it that frustrates you?" And he answered, "If I tell you my name, I do not bind myself alone, but also the legions of devils under me."
Testament of Solomon 52
So I said to him, "I adjure you in the name of the God of hosts, to tell me by what name you are frustrated along with your host." And the spirit answered me, "The great [one] among men, who is to suffer many things at the hands of men, whose name is the figure 644, which is Emmanuel; it is he who has bound us, and who will then come and plunge us from the steep under water. He is noised abroad in the three letters which bring him down."
Testament of Solomon 53
And I, Solomon, upon hearing this, glorified God, and condemned his legion to carry wood from the thicket. And I condemned the lion-shaped one himself to saw up the wood small with his teeth, for burning in the unquenchable furnace for the Temple of God.
Testament of Solomon 54
And I worshipped the Lord God of Israel, and bade another devil to come forward. And a dragon came before me, three-headed, of fearful hue. And I questioned him, "Who are you?" And he answered me, "I am a caltrop-like spirit, whose activity [is] in three lines. But I blind children in women's wombs, and twirl their ears around. And I make them deaf and mute. And I have again in my third head, means of slipping in. And I smite men in the limbless part of the body, and cause them to fall down and foam and grind their teeth. But I have my own way of being frustrated, Jerusalem, being signified in writing to the place called 'of the head.' For the angel of the great counsel is fore-appointed, and now he will openly dwell on the cross. He frustrates me, and I am subjected to him.
Testament of Solomon 55
But in the place where you sit, O king Solomon, a column stands in the air, of purple [material]. The devil called Ephippas has brought [it] up from the Red Sea, from inner Arabia. It is he who will be shut up in a skin-bottle and brought before you. But at the entrance of the Temple, which you have begun to build, O king Solomon, lies stored much gold, which you must dig up and carry off." And I, Solomon, sent my servant, and found it to be as the devil told me. And I sealed him with my ring, and praised the Lord God.
Testament of Solomon 56
So I said to him, "What are you called?" And the devil said, "I am the crest of dragons." And I bade him to make bricks in the Temple. He had human hands.
Testament of Solomon 57
And I adored the Lord God of Israel, and bade another devil to present himself. And a spirit in a woman's form came before me, who had a head without any limbs, and her hair was dishevelled. And I said to her, "Who are you?" But she answered, "Rather, who are you? And why do you want to hear concerning me? But, as you would learn, I stand here bound before your face. Go then into your royal storehouses and wash your hands. Then sit down afresh before your tribunal, and ask me questions; and you will learn, O king, who I am."
Testament of Solomon 58
And I, Solomon, did as she enjoined me, and restrained myself because of the wisdom dwelling in me; in order that I might hear of her deeds, and reprehend them, and manifest them to men. And I sat down, and said to the devil, "What are you?" And she said, "I am called Obizuth among men; and by night I do not sleep, but I go my rounds over all the world, and visit women in childbirth. And divining the hour, I take my stand; and if I am lucky, I strangle the child. But if not, I retire to another place. For I cannot retire unsuccessful for a single night. For I am a fierce spirit of a myriad of names and many shapes. And now here, now there I roam. And I go my rounds to westering parts. But as it is now, though you have sealed me round with the ring of God, you have done nothing. I am not standing before you, and you will not be able to command me. For I have no work other than the destruction of children, and making their ears to be deaf, and the working of evil to their eyes, and the binding of their mouths with a bond, and the ruin of their minds, and the paining of their bodies."
Testament of Solomon 59
When I, Solomon, heard this, I marvelled at her appearance, for I beheld all her body to be in darkness. But her glance was altogether bright and green, and her hair was tossed wildly like a dragon's; and the whole of her limbs were invisible. And her voice was very clear as it came to me. And I cunningly said, "Tell me by what angel you are frustrated, O evil spirit?" She answered me, "By the angel of God called Afarôt, which is interpreted, Raphael, by whom I am frustrated now and for all time. His name, if any man knows it, and writes the same on a woman in childbirth, then I will not be able to enter her. Of this name, the number is 640." And I, Solomon, having heard this, and having glorified the Lord, ordered her hair to be bound, and that she should be hung up in front of the Temple of God; so that all the children of Israel, as they passed, might see it, and glorify the Lord God of Israel, who had given me this authority, with wisdom and power from God, by means of this signet.
Testament of Solomon 60
And I again ordered another devil to come before me. And the [devil] came, rolling itself along, one in appearance like a dragon, but having the face and hands of a man. And all its limbs, except the feet, were those of a dragon; and it had wings on its back. And when I beheld it, I was astonied, and said, "Who are you, devil, and what are you called? And from where have you come? Tell me."
Testament of Solomon 61
And the spirit answered and said, "This is the first time I have stood before you, O king Solomon. I am a spirit made into a god among men, but now brought to nothing by the ring and wisdom vouchsafed to you by God. Now I am the so-called winged dragon, and I do not chamber with many women, but only with a few who are of fair shape, which possess the name of Xuli, of this star. And I pair with them in the guise of a spirit winged in form, coitum habens per nates. And she upon whom I have leapt goes heavy with child, and that which is born of her becomes eros. But since such offspring cannot be carried by men, the woman in question breaks wind. Such is my role. Supposedly then, only by that am I satisfied, and all the other devils molested and disturbed by you will speak the whole truth. But those composed of fire will cause the material of the logs to be burned up by fire which is to be collected by them for the building in the Temple."
Testament of Solomon 62
And as the devil said this, I saw the spirit going forth from his mouth, and it consumed the wood of the frankincense-tree, and burned up all the logs which we had placed in the Temple of God. And I, Solomon, saw what the spirit had done, and I marvelled.
Testament of Solomon 63
And having glorified God, I asked the dragon-shaped devil, and said, "Tell me, by what angel are you frustrated?" And he answered, "By the great angel which has its seat in the second heaven, which is called Bazazeth in Hebrew." And I, Solomon, having heard this, and having invoked his angel, condemned him to saw up marbles for the building of the Temple of God; and I praised God, and commanded another devil to come before me.
Testament of Solomon 64
And another spirit came before my face, as it were a woman in the form she had. But on her shoulders she had two other heads with hands. And I asked her, and said, "Tell me, who are you?" And she said to me, "I am Enêpsigos, who also have a myriad names." And I said to her, "By what angel are you frustrated?" But she said to me, "What do you seek, what do you ask? I undergo changes, like the goddess I am called. And I change again, and pass into possession of another shape. And do not be desirous therefore to know all that concerns me. But since you are before me for this much, listen. I have my abode in the moon, and for that reason I possess three forms. At times I am magically invoked by the wise as Kronos. At other times, in connection with those who bring me down, I come down and appear in another shape. The measure of the element is inexplicable and indefinable, and not to be frustrated. I then, changing into these three forms, come down and become such as you see me; but I am frustrated by the angel Rathanael, who sits in the third heaven. This then is why I speak to you. That Temple cannot contain me."
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I, Solomon, therefore prayed to my God, and I invoked the angel of whom Enépsigos spoke to me, and used my seal. And I sealed her with a triple chain, and (placed) the fastening of the chain beneath her. I used the seal of God, and the spirit prophesied to me, saying, "This is what you, king Solomon, do to us. But after a time, your kingdom will be broken, and again in season, this Temple will be riven asunder; and all Jerusalem will be undone by the king of the Persians and Medes and Chaldaeans. And the vessels of this Temple, which you make, will be put to servile uses of the gods; and all the jars along with them, in which you shut us up, will be broken by the hands of men. And then we will go forth in great power here and there, and be disseminated all over the world. And we will lead astray the inhabited world for a long season, until the son of God is stretched upon the cross. For never before does a king arise like him, one frustrating us all, whose mother will not have contact with man. Who else can receive such authority over spirits, except him, whom the first devil will seek to tempt, but will not prevail over? The number of his name is 644, which is Emmanuel. Therefore, O king Solomon, your time is evil, and your years short and evil, and your kingdom will be given to your servant."
Testament of Solomon 66
And I, Solomon, having heard this, glorified God. And though I marvelled at the apology of the devils, I did not credit it until it came true. And I did not believe their words; but when they were realized, then I understood, and at my death, I wrote this Testament to the Children of Israel, and gave it to them, so that they might know the powers of the devils and their shapes, and the names of their angels, by which these angels are frustrated. And I glorified the Lord God of Israel, and commanded the spirits to be bound with indissoluble bonds.
Testament of Solomon 67
And having praised God, I commanded another spirit to come before me; and another devil came before my face, having the shape of a horse in front, but behind, [that] of a fish. And he had a mighty voice, and said to me, "O king Solomon, I am a fierce spirit of the sea, and I am greedy of gold and silver. I am such a spirit that rounds itself and comes over the expanses of the water of the sea, and I trip up the men who sail thereon. For I round myself into a wave, and transform myself, and then throw myself on ships and come right in on them. And that is my business, and my way of getting ahold of money and men. For I take the men, and whirl them around with myself, and hurl the men out of the sea. For I am not covetous of men's bodies, but cast them up out of the sea so far. But since Beelzeboul, ruler of the spirits of air and of those under the earth, and lord of earthly ones, has a joint kingship with us in respect of the deeds of each one of us, therefore I went up from the sea, to get a certain outlook in his company.
Testament of Solomon 68
But I also have another character and role. I metamorphose myself into waves, and come up from the sea. And I show myself to men, so that those on earth call me Kuno[s]paston, because I assume the human form. And my name is a true one. For by my passage up into men, I send forth a certain nausea. I came then to take counsel with the prince Beelzeboul; and he bound me and delivered me into your hands. And I am here before you because of this seal, and you now torment me. Behold now, in two or three days, the spirit that converses with you will fail, because I will have no water."
Testament of Solomon 69
And I said to him, "Tell me by what angel you are frustrated." And he answered, "By Iameth." And I glorified God. I commanded the spirit to be thrown into a phial along with ten jugs of sea water of two measures each. And I sealed them round above the marbles and asphalt and pitch in the mouth of the vessel. And having sealed it with my ring, I ordered it to be deposited in the Temple of God. And I ordered another spirit to come before me.
Testament of Solomon 70
And another enslaved spirit came before my face, obscurely having the form of a man, with gleaming eyes, and bearing a blade in his hand. And I asked, "Who are you?" But he answered, "I am a lascivious spirit, engendered of a giant man who dies in the massacre in the time of the giants." I said to him, "Tell me what you are employed on upon earth, and where you have your dwelling."
Testament of Solomon 71
And he said, "My dwelling is in fruitful places, but my procedure is this. I seat myself beside the men who pass along among the tombs, and in an untimely season, I assume the form of the dead; and if I catch anyone, I at once destroy him with my sword. But if I cannot destroy him, I cause him to be possessed with a devil, and to devour his own flesh, and the hair to fall off his chin." But I said to him, "Are you then in fear of the God of heaven and of earth? And tell me by [what] angel you are frustrated." And he answered, "He destroys me who is to become saviour, a man whose number, if anyone will write it on his forehead, will defeat me, and I will quickly retreat in fear. And indeed, if anyone writes this sign on him, I will be in fear." And I, Solomon, upon hearing this, and having glorified the Lord God, shut up this devil like the rest.
Testament of Solomon 72
And I commanded another devil to come before me. And thirty six spirits came before my face, their heads shapeless like dogs, but in themselves they were human in form; with faces of donkeys, faces of oxen, and faces of birds. And I, Solomon, upon hearing and seeing them, wondered, and I asked them and said, "Who are you?" But they, of one accord with one voice said, "We are the thirty six elements, the world rulers of this darkness. But, O king Solomon, you will not wrong us nor imprison us, nor lay command on us; but since the Lord God has given you authority over every spirit, in the air, and on the earth, and under the earth, therefore we also present ourselves before you like the other spirits, from ram and bull, from both twin and crab, lion and virgin, scales and scorpion, archer, goat-horned, water-pourer, and fish."
Testament of Solomon 73
Then I, Solomon, invoked the name of the Lord of hosts, and questioned each in turn as to what its character was. And I bade each one to come forward and tell of its actions. Then the first one came forward and said, "I am the first decans of the zodiacal circle, and I am called the ram, and these two are with me." So I put to them the question, "Who are you called?" The first said, "I, O lord, am called Ruax, and I cause the heads of men to be idle, and I pillage their brows. But let me only hear the words, 'Michael, imprison Ruax,' and at once I retreat."
Testament of Solomon 74
And the second said, "I am called Barsafael, and I cause those who are subjected to my hour to feel the pain of migraine. If only I hear the words, 'Gabriel, imprison Barsafael,' at once I retreat."
Testament of Solomon 75
The third said, "I am called Arôtosael. I do harm to eyes, and grievously injure them. Only let me hear the words, 'Uriel, imprison Aratosael', at once I retreat."
Testament of Solomon 76
The fifth said, "I am called Iudal, and I bring about a block in the ears and deafness of hearing. If I hear, 'Uruel Iudal,' I at once retreat."
Testament of Solomon 77
The sixth said, "I am called Sphendonaêl. I cause tumours of the parotid gland, and inflammations of the tonsils, and tetanic recurvation. If I hear, 'Sabrael, imprison Sphendonaêl,' at once I retreat."
Testament of Solomon 78
And the seventh said, "I am called Sphandôr, and I weaken the strength of the shoulders, and cause them to tremble; and I paralyze the nerves of the hands, and I break and bruise the bones of the neck. And I suck out the marrow. But if I hear the words, 'Araêl, imprison Sphandôr,' I at once retreat."
Testament of Solomon 79
And the eighth said, "I am called Belbel. I distort the hearts and minds of men. If I hear the words, 'Araêl, imprison Belbel,' I at once retreat."
Testament of Solomon 80
And the ninth said, "I am called Kurtaêl. I send colics in the bowels. I induce pains. If I hear the words, 'Iaôth, imprison Kurtaêl,' I at once retreat."
Testament of Solomon 81
The tenth said, "I am called Metathiax. I cause the reins to ache. If I hear the words, 'Adônaêl, imprison Metathiax,' I at once retreat."
Testament of Solomon 82
The eleventh said, "I am called Katanikotaêl. I create strife and wrongs in men's homes, and send hard temper on them. If anyone would be at peace in his home, let him write the name of the angel that frustrates me on seven leaves of laurel, along with these names: Iae, Ieô, sons of Sabaôth, in the name of the Great God, let him shut up Katanikotaêl. Then let him wash the laurel leaves in water, and sprinkle his house with the water, from inside to the outside. And at once I retreat."
Testament of Solomon 83
The twelfth said, "I am called Saphathoraél, and I inspire partisanship in men, and delight in causing them to stumble. If anyone will write these names of angels on paper: Iacô, Iealô, Iôelet, Sabaôth, Ithoth, Bae, and having folded it up, wear it around his neck or against his ear, I at once retreat and dissipate [in] a drunken fit."
Testament of Solomon 84
The thirteenth said, "I am called Bobêl, and I cause nervous illness by my assaults. If I hear the name of the great 'Adonaêl, imprison Bothothêl,' I at once retreat."
Testament of Solomon 85
The fourteenth said, "I am called Kumeatêl, and I inflict shivering fits and torpor. If only I hear the words, 'Zôrôêl, imprison Kumentaêl,' I at once retreat."
Testament of Solomon 86
The fifteenth said, "I am called Roêlêd. I cause cold and frost and pain in the stomach. Let me only hear the words, 'Iax, do not bide, do not be warmed, for Solomon is fairer than eleven fathers,' I at [once] retreat."
Testament of Solomon 87
The sixteenth said, "I am called Atrax. I inflict fevers upon men, irremediable and harmful. If you would imprison me, chop up coriander and smear it on the lips, reciting the following charm, 'The fever which is from dirt, I exorcise you by the Throne of the Most High God, retreat from dirt and retreat from the creature fashioned by God.' And at once I retreat."
Testament of Solomon 88
The seventeenth said, "I am called Ieropaêl. I sit on the stomachs of men, and cause convulsions in the bath and in the road; and wherever I am found, or [if I] find a man, I throw him down. But if anyone will say these names to the afflicted in their ear, three times over, into the right ear, 'Iudarizê, Sabunê, Denôê,' I at once retreat."
Testament of Solomon 89
The eighteenth said, "I am called Buldumêch. I separate wife from husband and bring about a grudge between them. If anyone writes down the names of your sires, Solomon, on paper and place it in the antechamber of his house, I retreat from there. And the written legend will be as follows, 'The God of Abram, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob commands you - retire from this house in peace.' And I at once retire."
Testament of Solomon 90
The nineteenth said, "I am called Naôth, and I take my seat on the knees of men. If anyone writes on paper, 'Phnunoboêol, depart Nathath, and do not touch the neck,' I at once retreat."
Testament of Solomon 91
The twentieth said, "I am called Marderô. I send incurable fevers on men. If anyone writes on the leaf of a book, 'Sphênêr, Rafael, retire, do not drag me about, do not flay me,' and tie it around his neck, I at once retreat."
Testament of Solomon 92
The twenty-first said, "I am called Alath, and I cause coughing and hard breathing in children. If anyone writes on paper, 'Rorêx, pursue Alath,' and fasten it around his neck, I at once retire."
Testament of Solomon 93
The twenty-third said, "I am called Nefthada. I cause the reins to ache, and I bring about dysury. If anyone writes on a plate of tin, the words: 'Iathôth, Uruêl, Nephthada,' and fasten it around the loins, I at once retreat."
Testament of Solomon 94
The twenty-fourth said, "I am called Akton. I cause ribs and lumbic muscles to ache. If one engraves this on copper material taken from a ship which has missed its anchorage: 'Marmaraôth, Sabaôth, pursue
Akton,' and fasten it around the loin, I at once retreat."
Testament of Solomon 95
The twenty-fifth said, "I am called Anatreth, and I rend burnings and fevers into the entrails. But if I hear, 'Arara, Charara,' I instantly retreat."
Testament of Solomon 96
The twenty-sixth said, "I am called Enenuth. I steal away men's minds, and change their hearts, and make a man toothless. If one writes, 'Allazoôl, pursue Enenuth,' and ties the paper around him, I at once retreat."
Testament of Solomon 97
The twenty-seventh said, "I am called Phêth. I make men consumptive and cause hemorrhagia. If one exorcises me in wine, sweet-smelling and unmixed by the eleventh aeon, and says, 'I exorcise you by the eleventh aeon to stop, I demand, Phêth (Axiôphêth),' then give it to the patient to drink, and I at once retreat."
Testament of Solomon 98
The twenty-eighth said, "I am called Harpax, and I send sleeplessness on men. If one writes 'Kokphnêdismos,' and binds it around the temples, I at once retire."
Testament of Solomon 99
The twenty-ninth said, "I am called Anostêr. I engender uterine mania and pains in the bladder. If one powders three seeds of laurel into pure oil and smears it on, saying, 'I exorcise you, Anostêr. Stop by Marmaraô,' at once I retreat."
Testament of Solomon 100
The thirtieth said, "I am called Alleborith. If in eating fish, one has swallowed a bone, then he must take a bone from the fish and cough, and at once I retreat."
Testament of Solomon 101
The thirty-first said, "I am called Hephesimireth, and I cause lingering diseases. If you throw salt, rubbed in the hand, into oil and smear it on the patient, saying, 'Seraphim, Cherubim, help me!' I at once retire."
Testament of Solomon 102
The thirty-second said, "I am called Ichthion. I paralyze muscles and contuse them. If I hear 'Adonaêth, help!' I at once retire."
Testament of Solomon 103
The thirty-third said, "I am called Agchoniôn. I lie among swaddling-clothes and in the precipice. And if anyone writes on fig leaves 'Lycurgos,' taking away one letter at a time, and write it reversing the letters, I retire at once. 'Lycurgos, ycurgos, kurgos, yrgos, gos, os.'"
Testament of Solomon 104
The thirty-fourth said, "I am called Autothith. I cause grudges and fighting. Therefore I am frustrated by Alpha and Omega, if written down."
Testament of Solomon 105
The thirty-fifth said, "I am called Phthenoth. I cast an evil eye on every man. Therefore, the much-suffering eye, if it is drawn, frustrates me."
Testament of Solomon 106
The thirty-sixth said, "I am called Bianakith. I have a grudge against the body. I lay houses waste, I cause flesh to decay, and all else that is similar. If a man writes on the front door of his house, 'Mêltô, Ardu, Anaath,' I flee from that place."
Testament of Solomon 107
And I, Solomon, when I heard this, glorified the God of heaven and earth. And I commanded them to fetch water in the Temple of God. And I furthermore prayed to the Lord God to cause the devils outside that hamper humanity, to be bound *38:36 - 38 and made to approach the Temple of God. I condemned some of these devils to do the heavy work of the construction of the Temple of God. I shut up others in prisons. I ordered others to wrestle with fire in (the making of) gold and silver, sitting down by lead and spoon. And to make places ready for the other devils in which they should be confined.
Testament of Solomon 108
And I, Solomon, had much quiet in all the earth, and spent my life in profound peace, honored by all men and by all under heaven. And I built the entire Temple of the Lord God. And my kingdom was prosperous, and my army was with me. And for the rest, the city of Jerusalem had repose, rejoicing and delighted. And all the kings of the earth came to me from the ends of the earth to behold the Temple which I built to the Lord God. And having heard of the wisdom given to me, they did homage to me in the Temple, bringing gold and silver and precious stones, many and diverse, and bronze, and iron, and lead, and cedar logs. And they brought me woods that do not decay for the equipment of the Temple of God.
Testament of Solomon 109
And among them also, the queen of the South, being a witch, came in great concern and bowed low before me to the earth. And having heard my wisdom, she glorified the God of Israel, and she made a formal trial of all my wisdom, of all love in which I instructed her, according to the wisdom imparted to me. And all the sons of Israel glorified God.
Testament of Solomon 110
And behold, in those days, one of the workmen, of ripe old age, threw himself down before me, and said, "King Solomon, pity me, because I am old." So I bade him to stand up, and said, "Tell me, old man, all you will." And he answered, "I implore you king, I have an only-born son, and he insults and beats me openly, and plucks out the hair of my head, and threatens me with a painful death. Therefore, I implore you to avenge me."
Testament of Solomon 111
And I, Solomon, upon hearing this, felt compunction as I looked at his old age; and I bade the child to be brought to me. And when he was brought, I questioned him whether it were true. And the youth said, "I was not so filled with madness so as to strike my father with my hand. Be kind to me, O king. For I have not dared to commit such impiety, the poor wretch that I am." But I, Solomon, upon hearing this from the youth, exhorted the old man to reflect on the matter, and to accept his son's apology. However, he would not, but said he would rather let him die. And as the old man would not yield, I was about to pronounce sentence on the youth, when I saw the devil Ornias laughing. I was very angry at the devil's laughing in my presence; and I ordered my men to remove the other groups, and bring Ornias forward before my tribunal. And when he was brought before me, I said to him, "Accursed one, why did you look at me and laugh?" And the devil answered, "Prithee, king, it was not because of you that I laughed, but because of this ill-starred old man and the wretched youth, his son. For after three days, his son will die untimely; and look, the old man desires to foully make away with him."
Testament of Solomon 112
But I, Solomon, having heard this, said to the devil, "Is that true what you speak?" And he answered, "It is true; O king." And I, upon hearing that, bade them to remove the devil, and that they should again bring the old man with his son before me. I bade them to make friends with one another again, and I supplied them with food. And then I told the old man to bring his son again to me here after three days; and I said, "I will attend to him." And they saluted me, and went their way.
Testament of Solomon 113
And when they were gone, I ordered Ornias to be brought forward, and said to him, "Tell me how you know this;" and he answered, "We devils ascend into the firmament of heaven, and fly about among the stars. And we hear the sentences *15:16 - 18, *37:6 - 8, *72:8 - 9 which go forth upon the souls of men, and forthwith we come, and whether by force of influence, or by fire, or by sword, or by some accident, we veil our act of destruction; and if a man does not die by some untimely disaster or by violence, then we devils transform ourselves in such a way so as to appear to men and be worshipped in our human nature."
Testament of Solomon 114
I therefore, having heard this, glorified the Lord God, and again I questioned the devil, saying, "Tell me how you can ascend into heaven, being devils, and intermingle amidst the stars and holy angels." And he answered, "Just as things are fulfilled in heaven, so also on earth (are) the types of all of them (fulfilled). For there are principalities, authorities, world rulers, and we devils fly about in the air; and we hear the voices of the heavenly beings, *15:16 - 18, *37:6 - 8, *72:8 - 9 and survey all the powers. And as having no ground (basis) on which to alight and rest, we lose strength and fall off like leaves from trees. And men, seeing us, imagine that the stars are falling from heaven. But it is not really so, O king; but we fall because of our weakness, and because we have nowhere to lay hold of anything; and so we fall down like lightnings in the depth of night and suddenly. And we set cities in flames and fire the fields. For the stars have firm foundations in the heavens like the sun and the moon."
Testament of Solomon 115
And I, Solomon, having heard this, ordered the devil to be guarded for five days. And after the five days, I recalled the old man, and was about to question him. But he came to me in grief and with a black face. And I said to him, "Tell me, old man, where is your son? And what does this garb mean?" And he answered, "Look, I have become childless, and I sit by my son's grave in despair. For it has already been two days since he is dead." But I, Solomon, upon hearing that, and knowing that the devil Ornias had told me the truth, glorified the God of Israel.
Testament of Solomon 116
And the queen of the South saw all this, and marvelled, glorifying the God of Israel; and she beheld the Temple of the Lord being built. And she gave a siklos of gold and one hundred myriads of silver and choice bronze, and she went into the Temple. And (she beheld) the altar of incense and the brazen supports of this altar, and the gems of the lamps flashing forth of different colours, and of the lamp-stand of stone, and of emerald, and hyacinth, and sapphire; and she beheld the vessels of gold, and silver, and bronze, and wood, and the folds of skins dyed red with madder. And she saw the bases of the pillars of the Temple of the Lord. All were of one gold... apart from the devils whom I condemned to labour. And there was peace in the circle of my kingdom and over all the earth.
Testament of Solomon 117
And it came to pass, when I was in my kingdom, the king of the Arabians, Adares, sent me a letter, and the writing of the letter was written as follows, "To king Solomon, all hail! Look, we have heard, and it has been heard throughout all the ends of the earth, concerning the wisdom vouchsafed in you, and that you are a merciful man from the Lord. And understanding has been granted to you over all the spirits of the air, and on earth, and under the earth. Now, forasmuch as there is a spirit of the following kind present in the land of Arabia: at early dawn a certain wind begins to blow until the third hour. And its blast is harsh and terrible, and it slays man and beast. And no spirit can live upon earth against this devil. I implore you then, forasmuch as the spirit is a wind, contrive something according to the wisdom given to you by the Lord your God, and deign to send a man able to capture it. And behold, king Solomon, I and my people and all my land will serve you to death. And all Arabia will be at peace with you, if you will perform this act of righteousness for us. Therefore we implore you, do not contemn our humble prayer, and do not allow the eparchy subordinated to your authority to be utterly brought to nothing. Because we are suppliants, both I and my people and all my land. Farewell to my lord. All health!"
Testament of Solomon 118
And I, Solomon, read this epistle; and I folded it up and gave it to my people, and said to them, "After seven days, you will remind me of this epistle." And Jerusalem was built, and the Temple was being completed. And there was a stone, the end stone of the corner lying there, great, chosen out, one which I desired to lay in the head of the corner at the completion of the Temple. And all the workmen, and all the devils helping them came to the same place to bring up the stone and lay it on the pinnacle of the holy Temple, and were not strong enough to stir it and lay it upon the corner allotted to it. For that stone was exceedingly great and useful for the corner of the Temple.
Testament of Solomon 119
And after seven days, being reminded of the epistle of Adares, king of Arabia, I called my servant and said to him, "Order your camel and take a leather flask for yourself, and also take this seal. And go away into Arabia to the place in which the evil spirit blows; and take the flask there, and the signet-ring in front of the mouth of the flask, and (hold them) towards the blast of the spirit. And when the flask is blown out, you will understand that the devil is (in it). Then hastily tie up the mouth of the flask, and seal it securely with the seal-ring, and lay it carefully on the camel and bring it here to me. And if, on the way, it offers you gold or silver or treasure in return for letting it go, see that you are not persuaded. But arrange without using an oath to release it. And then if it points out to the places where there is gold or silver, mark the places and seal them with this seal. And bring the devil to me. And now depart, and farewell."
Testament of Solomon 120
Then the youth did as was bidden to him. And he ordered his camel, and laid a flask on it, and set off into Arabia. And the men of that region would not believe that he would be able to catch the evil spirit. And when it was dawn, the servant stood before the spirit's blast, and laid the flask on the ground, and the finger-ring on the mouth of the flask. And the devil blew through the middle of the finger-ring into the mouth of the flask, and going in, blew out the flask. But the man promptly stood up to it and drew the mouth of the flask tight with his hand, in the name of the Lord God of hosts. And the devil remained within the flask. And after that, the youth remained in that land for three days to make a trial. And the spirit no longer blew against that city. And all the Arabs knew that he had safely shut in the spirit.
Testament of Solomon 121
Then the youth fastened the flask on the camel, and the Arabs sent him forth on his way with much honor and precious gifts, praising and magnifying the God of Israel. But the youth brought in the bag and laid it in the middle of the Temple. And on the next day, I, king Solomon, went into the Temple of God and sat in deep distress about the stone of the end of the corner. And when I entered the Temple, the flask stood up and walked around some seven steps and then fell on its mouth and did homage to me. And I marvelled that even along with the bottle, the devil still had power and could walk about; and I commanded it to stand up. And the flask stood up, and stood on its feet all blown out. And I questioned him, saying, "Tell me, who are you?" And the spirit within said, "I am the devil called Ephippas, that is in Arabia." And I said to him, "Is this your name?" And he answered, "Yes; wheresoever I will, I alight and set fire and do [it] to death."
Testament of Solomon 122
And I said to him, "By what angel are you frustrated?" And he answered, "By the only-ruling God that has authority over me even to be heard. He that is to be born of a virgin and crucified by the Jews on a cross, whom the angels and archangels worship. He frustrates me, and enfeebles me of my great strength, which has been given to me by my father, the devil." And I said to him, "What can you do?" And he answered, "I am able to remove mountains, to overthrow the oaths of kings. I wither trees and make their leaves to fall off." And I said to him, "Can you raise this stone, and lay it for the beginning of this corner which exists in the fair plan of the Temple?" And he said, "Not only raise this, O king; but also, with the help of the devil who presides over the Red Sea, I will bring up the pillar of air, and will stand it where you will in Jerusalem."
Testament of Solomon 123
Saying this, I laid stress on him, and the flask became as if depleted of air. And I placed it under the stone, and (the spirit) girded himself up, and lifted it up on top of the flask. And the flask went up the steps, carrying the stone, and laid it down at the end of the entrance of the Temple. And I, Solomon, beholding the stone raised aloft and placed on a foundation, said, "Truly the Scripture is fulfilled, which says, 'The stone which the builders rejected on trial, that same has become the head of the corner.' For this is not mine to grant, but God's, that the devil should be strong enough to lift up so great of a stone and deposit it in the place I wished."
Testament of Solomon 124
And Ephippas led the devil of the Red Sea with the column. And they both took the column and raised it aloft from the earth. And I outwitted these two spirits, so that they could not shake the entire earth in a moment of time. And then I sealed around with my ring on this side and that, and said, "Watch." And the spirits have remained upholding it until this day, for proof of the wisdom vouchsafed to me. And there, the pillar was hanging of enormous size, in mid air, supported by the winds. And thus, the spirits appeared underneath, like air, supporting it. And if one looks fixedly, the pillar is a little oblique, being supported by the spirits; and it is so today.
Testament of Solomon 125
And I, Solomon, questioned the other spirit which came up with the pillar from the depth of the Red Sea. And I said to him, "Who are you, and what calls you? And what is your business? For I hear many things about you." And the devil answered, "I, O king Solomon, am called Abezithibod. I am a descendant of the archangel. Once as I sat in the first heaven, of which the name is Ameleouth, I then am a fierce spirit and winged, and with a single wing, plotting against every spirit under heaven. I was present when Moses went in before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and I hardened his heart. I am he whom Iannes and Iambres invoked homing with Moses in Egypt. I am he who fought against Moses with wonders with signs."
Testament of Solomon 126
I said therefore to him, "How were you found in the Red Sea?" And he answered, "In the exodus of the sons of Israel, I hardened the heart of Pharaoh. And I excited his heart and that of his ministers. And I caused them to pursue after the Children of Israel. And Pharaoh followed with (me) and all the Egyptians. Then I was present there, and we followed together. And we all came up upon the Red Sea. And it came to pass, when the Children of Israel had crossed over, the water returned and hid all the host of the Egyptians and all their might. And I remained in the sea, being kept under this pillar. But when Ephippas came, being sent by you, shut up in the vessel of a flask, he fetched me up to you."
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I, Solomon, therefore having heard this, glorified God and adjured the devils not to disobey me, but to remain supporting the pillar. And they both swore, saying, "The Lord your God lives, we will not let go of this pillar until the world's end. But on whatever day this stone falls, then it will be the end of the world."
Testament of Solomon 128
And I, Solomon, glorified God, and adorned the Temple of the Lord with all fair-seeming. And I was glad in spirit in my kingdom, and there was peace in my days. And I took wives of my own from every land, who were numberless. And I marched against the Jebusaeans, and there I saw Jebusaean, daughter of a man: and fell violently in love with her, and desired to take her to wife along with my other wives. And I said to their priests, "Give me the Sonmanites (i. e. Shunammite) to wife." But the priests of Moloch said to me, "If you love this maiden, go in and worship our gods, the great god Raphan and the god called Moloch." I therefore was in fear of the glory of God, and did not follow to worship. And I said to them, "I will not worship a strange god. What is this proposal, that you compel me to do so much?" But they said, "...by our fathers."
Testament of Solomon 129
And when I answered that I would on no account worship strange gods, they told the maiden not to sleep with me until I complied and sacrificed to the gods. I then was moved, but crafty Eros brought and laid five grasshoppers by her for me, saying, "Take these grasshoppers, and crush them together in the name of the god Moloch; and then I will sleep with you." And this, I actually did. And at once, the [Holy] Spirit of God departed from me, and I became weak as well as foolish in my words. And after that, I was obliged by her to build a temple of idols to Baal, and to Rapha, and to Moloch, and to the other idols.