Set during the reign of Solomon in the tenth century BCE and narrated in the voice of the king himself, the Testament of Solomon presented an elaborate legend relating how the biblical monarch employed a magical ring given to him by the archangel Michael to command a host of demons to construct the First Temple, the sacred building that housed the Ark of the Covenant. A parade of demons appeared before his throne, each forced by the ring’s power to reveal its name, purpose, and weakness. In the end, Solomon’s power did not last; having succumbed to lust and idolatry, he subsequently lost his power over the demonic host. Most likely written by a Christian author between the first and third centuries CE, the Testament of Solomon is the richest narrative about demon lore to survive from antiquity. The anonymous author drew on traditions about malevolent spirits from cultures around the Mediterranean rim. Originally written in Greek, this legend percolated for centuries in many forms and languages in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim literary traditions.
Testament of Solomon, Son of David, who reigned in Jerusalem, and subdued all the spirits of the air, of the earth, and under the earth; through [them] he also accomplished all the magnificent works of the Temple; [this tells] what their authorities are against men, and by what angels these demons are thwarted.
Blessed are you, Lord God, who has given this authority to Solomon. Glory and power to you forever. Amen.
Once upon a time, when the Temple of the city of Jerusalem was being built and the artisans were working on it, Ornias the demon came as the sun was setting and took half the wages and provisions of the master workman’s little boy. Also, each day (the demon) was sucking the thumb of [the boy’s] right hand. So the little boy, who was much loved by me, grew thin.
But I, Solomon, interrogated the boy one day and said to him, “Have I not loved you more than all the other artisans working in the Temple of God, and have I not been paying you double wages and provisions? Why then are you growing thinner every day?”
The boy said, “I beg you, King, listen to what is happening to me. After we are dismissed from work on the Temple of God, when the sun has set and I am resting, an evil spirit comes and makes off with half my pay and half my provisions. Also he grabs my right hand and sucks my thumb. You can see that when my soul is in distress, my body grows thinner every day.”
When I, Solomon, heard these things, I went into the Temple of God and, praising him day and night, begged with all my soul that the demon might be delivered into my hands and that I might have authority over him. Then it happened that while I was praying to the God of heaven and earth, there was granted me from the Lord Sabaoth through the archangel Michael a ring which had a seal engraved on precious stone. He said to me, “Solomon, Son of David, take the gift which the Lord God, the highest Sabaoth, has sent to you; [with it] you shall imprison all demons, both female and male, and with their help you shall build Jerusalem when you bear this seal of God.”
Now I became so joyful that I continually sang hymns of praise to the God of heaven and earth and glorified him. The next day, I ordered the child to come to me and I gave the seal to him. Then I said to him, “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.”
Now it happened that at the usual time the pesky demon Ornias came like a flaming fire to take the little boy’s pay, as was his custom. According to Solomon’s instructions to him, the little boy flung the ring into the chest of the demon and said to him, “Come! Solomon summons you!” and started to take off running to Solomon as fast as he could go. But the demon screamed and said to the little boy, “Why have you done this? Remove the ring and give it back to Solomon, and I shall give you all the silver and gold of the earth.”
But the little boy replied, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, I will never withstand you if I do not deliver you to Solomon.” Then the little boy went and spoke to Solomon, “King Solomon, I brought the demon to you just as you commanded me; observe how he is standing bound in front of the gates outside, crying out with a great voice to give me all the silver and gold of the earth so that I would not deliver him to you.”
When I heard these things, I, Solomon, got up from my throne and saw the demon shuddering and trembling with fear. I said to him, “Who are you? What is your name?” The demon replied, “I am called Ornias.”
I said to him, “Tell me, in which signs of the zodiac do you reside?” The demon replied, “In Aquarius. I strangle those who reside in Aquarius because of their passion for women whose zodiacal sign is Virgo. Moreover, while in a trance I undergo three transformations. Sometimes I am a man who craves the bodies of effeminate boys and when I touch them, they suffer great pain. Sometimes I become a creature with wings [flying] up to the heavenly regions. Finally I assume the appearance of a lion. In addition, I am descended from an archangel of the power of God, but I am thwarted by Ouriel, the archangel.”
When I, Solomon, heard the archangel’s name mentioned, I honored and glorified the God of heaven and earth. After I sealed [the demon] with my seal, I ordered him into the stone quarry to cut for the Temple stones which had been transported by way of the Arabian Sea and dumped upon the seashore. But being terrified to touch iron, he said to me, “I beg you, King Solomon, let me have a measure of freedom, and I shall bring up all the demons.”[2] Since he did not want to be subject to me, I prayed that the archangel Ouriel would come to help me. Immediately I saw the archangel Ouriel descending to me from heaven.
The angel commanded sea monsters to arise out of the sea and he withered up their species and cast his fate to the ground. In this same way he also subjected the great demon Ornias to cut stones and to bring to completion the construction of the Temple which I, Solomon, was in the process of building. Again, I glorified the God of heaven and earth and I commanded Ornias to come near according to his fate. Then I gave him the seal and said, “Go and bring here to me the Prince of Demons.”
So Ornias took the ring and went to Beelzeboul, and said to him, “Come! Solomon summons you!” But Beelzeboul said to him, “Tell me, who is the Solomon of whom you speak?” Then Ornias flung the ring into the chest of Beelzeboul and replied, “Solomon the king summons you!” Beelzeboul cried out like [one who is burned] from a great burning flame of fire, and when he had gotten up, he followed [Ornias] under coercion and came to me. When I saw the Prince of Demons approaching, I glorified God and said, “Blessed are you, Lord God Almighty, who has granted to your servant Solomon wisdom, the attendant to your thrones, and who has placed in subjection all the power of the demons.”
Then I interrogated him and said, “Tell me, who are you?” The demon said, “I am Beelzeboul, the ruler of the demons.” I demanded that without interruption he sit next to me and explain the manifestations of the demons. Then he promised to bring to me all the unclean spirits bound. Again, I glorified the God of heaven and earth, continually giving thanks to him.
I now asked the demon if there were any female demons. When he replied that there were, [I said that] I wanted to see [one]. Beelzeboul went off and showed me Onoskelis, who had a very beautiful form. Her body was that of a woman with a fair complexion, but her legs were those of a mule.
When she came to me, I said to her, “Tell me who you are.” She responded, “My name is Onoskelis. I am 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 have a many-sided character. Sometimes I strangle men; sometimes I pervert them 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 are of the same constellation. It is also true that they worship my star secretly and openly. They do not 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.”
Next I asked her how she came into being. She said, “I was generated from an unexpected voice which is called a voice of the echo of the black heaven, emitted in matter.”
I said to her, “By what heavenly body do you travel?” She replied, “By the full moon, because by the moon I pass over more things.” Then I said, “What angel thwarts you?” She responded, “One that is also in you, King!” Now because I thought these [remarks were meant] in ridicule, I commanded a soldier to strike her. But she cried out in a loud voice and said, “I say to you, King, by God’s wisdom I have been entrusted to your power.”
So I uttered the name of the Holy One of Israel and commanded her to spin the hemp for the ropes used in the construction of the Temple of God. She was sealed and bound in such a way that she was made powerless, so that she had to stand day and night to spin the hemp.
I commanded another demon be brought to me; and he [Beelzeboul] brought me the evil demon Asmodeus, bound. I asked him, “Who are you?” He scowled at me and said, “And who are you?” I said to him, “You [dare to] answer [so arrogantly] when you have been punished like this?” He continued to give forth the same look and said to me, “How should I answer you? You are the son of a man, but although I was born of a human mother, I [am the son] of an angel; it is impossible for one of heavenly origin [to speak] an arrogant word to one of earthly origin. My constellation [is like an animal which] reclines in its den in heaven; some men call it 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 do not 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 shall disperse among human beings again with the result that we shall be worshiped as gods because men do not know the names of the angels who rule over us.”
When I, Solomon, heard these things, I bound him with greater care. Then I ordered him to be flogged with a rod and to defend himself by stating his name and [reporting] his activity. The demon stated, “I am the renowned Asmodeus; I cause the wickedness of men to spread throughout the world. I am always hatching plots against newlyweds; I mar the beauty of virgins and cause their hearts to grow cold.”
I said to him, “Is this all that you do?” He spoke again, “I spread madness about women through the stars and I have often committed a rash of murders.”
Then I abjured him by the name of the Lord Sabaoth, “Asmodeus, fear God, and tell me by which angel you are thwarted.” The demon said, “Raphael, the one who stands before God; but also a liver and a gall of a fish smoking on coals of charcoal drives me away.” I asked him again, saying, “Do not hide anything from me, for I am Solomon, Son of David. Tell me the name of the fish you fear.” He replied, “It is called the sheatfish. It is found in the rivers of Assyria and it is hatched only there; I am also found in those parts.”
I said to him, “Is there not something else about you, Asmodeus?” He said to me, “The power of God which binds me with unbreakable bonds by his seal knows that what I have related to you is true. I beg you, King Solomon, do not condemn me to water.” But I smiled and replied, “As the Lord, the God of my fathers, lives, you shall have irons to wear and you shall mold clay for all the vessels of the Temple, eliminating the cost of the mold.” Then I ordered ten water jars to be made available and [I commanded] him to be encircled by them. Though he complained bitterly, the demon carried out the things which he had been commanded. Asmodeus did this because he also had knowledge of the future. So I, Solomon, glorified God, who gave me this authority; then, taking the liver and the gall of the fish, along with a branch of storax, I lit a fire under Asmodeus because he was powerful, and his voice was thwarted, as well as a tooth full of venom.[3]
Then I summoned Beelzeboul to appear before me again. When he was seated, I thought it appropriate to ask him, “Why are you alone Prince of the Demons?” He replied, “Because I am the only one left of the heavenly angels [who fell]. I was the highest-ranking angel in heaven, the one called Beelzeboul. There also accompanied me another ungodly [angel] whom God cut off and now, imprisoned here, he holds in his power the race of those bound by me in Tartarus. He is being nurtured in the Red Sea; when he is ready, he will come in triumph.”
I said to him, “What are your activities?” He replied, “I bring destruction by means of tyrants; I cause the demons to be worshiped alongside men; and I arouse desire in holy men and select priests. I bring about jealousies and murders in a country and I instigate wars.”
Then I said to him, “Bring to me the one you said is being nurtured in the Red Sea.” He retorted, “I will bring no one back to you. But there will come a certain demon whose name is Ephippas who will bind him and bring him up out of the abyss.” I responded, “Tell me why he is in the abyss of the Red Sea and what his name is.” He, however, said, “Do not ask me; you are not able to learn that from me. He will come to you because I, too, am with you.” So I said to him, “Tell me in which star you reside.” “The one called by men the Evening Star,” he said.
Then I said, “Tell me which angel thwarts you.” “The Almighty God,” he replied. “He is called by the Hebrews Patike, the one who descends from the heights; he is [called] by the Greeks Emmanouel. I am always afraid of him, and trembling. If anyone adjures me with the oath [called] ‘the Elo-i,’ a great name for his power, I disappear.”[4]
Now when I, Solomon, heard these things, I commanded him to cut blocks of Theban marble. As he was beginning to cut, all the demons cried out with a loud voice because [he was their] king, Beelzeboul.
Nevertheless, I, Solomon, persisted in interrogating him, saying, “If you wish to obtain a release, inform me about heavenly things.” Beelzeboul replied, “Listen, King, if you burn oil of myrrh, frankincense, and bulbs of the sea along with spikenard and saffron, 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 the heavenly dragons and the way they wriggle along and pull the chariot of the sun.” When I, Solomon, heard these things, I rebuked him and said, “Be silent and continue cutting marble just as I ordered you.”
After I praised God, I, Solomon, requested the presence of another demon and he appeared before me. He was bearing his face on the air high above and the remaining part of his body was crawling along like a little snail. Suddenly, he broke through a large contingent of soldiers, raised up a blustering cloud of dust from the earth, transported it upward, and hurled it against me many times [while I watched] in amazement. I exclaimed, “What do we have here?” [But this continued] for a long time. When I stood up, I spat on the ground at that spot and I sealed [him] with the ring of God. As a result, the moving air stopped. Then I asked him, saying, “Who are you?” After he had stirred up another cloud of dust, he answered me, “What do you want, King Solomon?” I answered him, “Tell me what you are called; also, I want to interrogate you.” Thus, I give thanks to God who instructs me as to how to respond to their evil plots.
So the demon said to me, “I am called Lix Tetrax.” “What is your activity?” I queried. He responded, “I create divisions among men, I make whirlwinds, I start fires, I set fields on fire, and I make households non-functional. Usually, I carry on my activity in the summertime. If I get the chance, I slither in under the corners of houses during the night or day. I am the direct offspring of the Great One.” I asked him, “In which constellation do you reside?” He replied, “Toward the very tip of the horn of the moon when it is found in the South—there is my star. Therefore, I was 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] these three names, ‘Baltala, Thallal, Melchal,’ and I heal them.” Then I, Solomon, said to him, “But when you wish to do evil, who grants you the power?” He replied, “The angel by whom also the day-and-a-half fever is stopped.”
Finally, I asked him, “By what name are you thwarted?” He responded, “The name of the archangel Azael.” Then I placed my seal on the demon and commanded him to pick up stones and hurl them up to the heights of the Temple for the workmen; compelled, the demon complied with his orders.
Again, I glorified God, who gave me this authority, and I commanded another demon to appear before me. There came seven spirits bound up together hand and foot, fair of form and graceful. When I, Solomon, saw them, I was amazed and asked them, “Who are you?” They replied, “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 position together and we live together, sometimes in Lydia, sometimes in Olympus, sometimes on the great mountain.”
Then I, Solomon, continued questioning them, beginning with the first. “Tell me what you do.” He responded, “I am Deception. I plot deception and I devise the most evil heresies. But there is one who thwarts me, the angel Lamechiel.”
The second said, “I am Strife. I cause strife by making available clubs, pellets, and swords, my implements of war. But I have an angel who thwarts me, Baruchiel.”
Likewise, the third said, “I am called 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 is an angel who thwarts me, Marmaroth.”
The fourth [, Distress,] said, “I cause men to lack moderation; I divide them into factions; I keep them separated. Since Strife follows in my footsteps, I set men against each other and do many other similar things to them. But why am I talking so much? There is an angel who thwarts me, the great Balthioul.”
The fifth said, “I am Error, King Solomon, and I am leading you into error, and I led you into error when I made you kill your brothers.[5] I lead people into error by hunting for graves and I 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 is an angel who thwarts me, Ouriel.”
Likewise, the sixth said, “I am Power. I raise up tyrants, I depose kings, and I grant power to all those who are enemies. There is an angel who thwarts me, Asteraoth.”
Similarly, the seventh said, “I am The Worst, and you, King, I shall 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 is] a desire which corresponds to myself [which is] wisdom. For if anyone is wise, he will not follow in my steps.”
But I, Solomon, when I heard these things, sealed them with the ring of God and commanded them to dig the foundation of the Temple. It stretched out 250 cubits in length. So all the things which were commanded them were accomplished.
Again, I asked that other demons visit me in succession and there was brought to me a demon, a man [who had] all his limbs, but no head. I said to him, “Tell me who you are and what you are called.” The demon replied, “I am called Murder; for I devour heads, wishing to get a head for myself, but I do not consume enough. I long for a head to do exactly what you do, King.”
When I heard these things, I stretched out my hand against his chest and put my seal on him. Then the demon jumped up, tore himself loose, and muttered, saying, “Woe is me! How did I fall in with a traitor, Ornias? I do not see.” So I said to him, “How is it possible for you to see?” He replied, “Through my breasts!” When I, Solomon, heard the delight in his voice, I wished to learn more. So I asked him, “How is it possible for you to speak?” He responded, “My voice has taken over voices from many men; for I have closed up the heads of those among men who are called dumb. When infants are ten days old, and if one cries during the night, I become a spirit and I rush in and attack [the infant] through his voice. What is 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 my neck. I am the one who inflames the limbs, inflicts the feet, and produces festering sores. It is by a fiery flash of lightning that I am thwarted.” I ordered him to stay with Beelzeboul until the time when a friend might arrive.
Then I ordered another demon to make his presence before me. He became before me in the form of a gigantic dog, and he spoke to me in a loud voice, “Hail, O King Solomon!” I was astounded and said to him, “Who are you, dog?” He said, “You suppose that I am a dog; but before your time, King, I was a man. I accomplished many unlawful deeds in the world and I was so extremely strong that I restrained the stars of heaven and now I am preparing more evil works. Consequently, I deceive men who follow my star closely and I lead [them] into stupidity; I also subdue the hearts of men through their throats and in this way I destroy [them].”
I said to him, “What is your name?” he replied, “Scepter.” Then I said to him, “What is your activity and why do you seem to me to be so prosperous?” The demon said, “Turn over your manservant to me and I shall spirit him off to a place in the mountains where I shall show him an emerald stone shaken loose from its foundation. With it, you will adorn the Temple of God.”
When I heard these things, I immediately ordered my household servant to accompany him and to take the ring bearing God’s seal with him. I told him, “Go with him and whoever shows you the emerald stone, seal him with the ring, observe the place in detail, and bring the ring back to me.” So when [the demon] went out and showed him the emerald stone, [the household servant] sealed him with the ring of God, and brought the emerald stone back to me. I then decided to have the two demons, the headless one and the dog, bound, and [to request that] the stone be carried about day and night like, as it were, a light for the working artisans.
Next I extracted from that moving stone 200 shekels for the supports of the altar, for the stone was shaped like a leek. Then I, Solomon, when I had glorified the Lord God, locked up the treasure chest containing the stone and commanded the demons to cut marble for the construction of the Temple. Also, I asked the dog in private, “By which angel are you thwarted?” he replied, “By the great Briathos.”
I commanded another demon to come before me. He came roaring like a stately lion and he took his place and questioned me by word: “King Solomon, I have this particular form [and am] a spirit which can never be bound. I am one who sneaks in and watches over all who are lying ill with a disease and I make it impossible for man to recover from his taint. I have another activity. I involve the legions of demons subject to me for I am at the places [where they are] when the sun is setting. The name for all demons which are under me is legion.”[6] Then I asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “The Lion-Shaped Demon, an Arab by descent.” So I said to him, “How are you and your demon thwarted, that is, who is your angel?” The demon said, “If I tell you his name, I place not only myself in chains, but also the legion of demons under me.”
So I said to him, “I adjure you by the name of the great God Most High: By what name are you and your demons thwarted?” The demon said, “By the name of the one who at one time submitted to suffer many things [at the hands] of men, whose name is Emmanouel, but now he has bound us and will come to torture us [by driving us] into the water at the cliff. As he moves about, he is conjured up by means of three letters.”
So I sentenced his legion to carry wood from the grove [of trees. Then I sentenced] the Lion-Shaped One to saw it up as kindling with his claws and to throw it under the perpetually burning kiln.
Now when I had worshiped the God of Israel I ordered another demon to come forward. This time a three-headed dragon with an awful skin appeared before me. I asked him, “Who are you?” He said, “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 backwards 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 thwarted [, namely,] by [the site] which is marked ‘Place of the Skull,’ for there an angel of the Wonderful Counselor foresaw that I would suffer, and he will dwell publicly on the cross. He is the one who will thwart me, being the one among [the angels] to whom I am subject.
“But at the place at which he ascended, King Solomon, he will erect a dark pillar formed on the air after Ephippas 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.” So I, Solomon, sent my servant and found [that it was] just as the demon told me. After I sealed [him with] the ring, I praised God.
Next I said to him, “Tell me what you are called.” The demon replied, “Head of the Dragons.” So I ordered him to make bricks for the Temple of God.
Then I ordered another demon to appear before me. There came before me one who had the shape of a woman but she possessed as one of her traits the form of one with disheveled hair. I said to her, “Who are you?” She replied, “And who are you? Or what need is there for you to inquire about the sort 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 ask me and then you will learn, King, who I am.”
When I had done this and had sat on my throne, I, Solomon, asked her and said, “Who are you?” She replied, “Obyzouth. I do not rest at night, but travel around all the world visiting women and, divining the hour [when they give birth], I search [for them] and strangle their newborn infants. I do not go through a single night without success. You are not able to give me orders. I even make the rounds [and go] into the remotest areas. Otherwise, my work is limited to killing newborn infants, injuring eyes, condemning mouths, destroying minds, and making bodies feel pain.”
When I, Solomon, heard these things, I was amazed. I did not look at her shape, for her body was darkness and her hair savage. I, Solomon, said to her, “Tell me, evil spirit, by what angel are you thwarted?” She said to me, “By the angel Raphael; and when women give birth, write my name of a piece of papyrus and I shall flee from them to the other world.” When I heard these things I ordered her to be bound by the hair and to be hung up in front of the Temple in order that all those sons of Israel who pass through and see might glorify the God of Israel who has given me this authority.
I again ordered another demon to appear before me; and there came to me one who was 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. When I saw him, and became amazed, I said to him, “Who are you and from where have you come?”
The spirit said to me, “This is the first time I have stood before you, King Solomon, a spirit made a god among men, but thwarted by the seal which was given to you by God. Well, I am the so-called Winged Dragon. I do not copulate with many women, but with 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 winged 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 could not be tolerated by men, that woman perished. This is my activity. Suppose, then, that I alone am content while the rest of the demons troubled by you, being downcast, should speak the whole truth; they will cause the stack of wood about to be gathered by you for construction of the Temple to be consumed by fire.”
As the demon was saying these things, suddenly the breath coming out of his mouth set the forest of Lebanon on fire and burned up all the wood which I was going to put into the Temple of God. Now I, Solomon, saw what the spirit had done and I was amazed.
After I glorified God I asked the dragon-shaped demon, saying, “Tell me by what angel you are thwarted.” He replied, “By the great angel who is seated in the second heaven, who is called in Hebrew Bazazath.” When I, Solomon, heard these things and invoked his angel, I condemned him to cut marble for construction of the Temple of God.
Then I praised God and commanded another demon to come before me. Again there came before me a spirit who had the shape of a woman, but on her shoulders were two separate heads with arms. I asked her, “Tell me who you are.” She answered, “I am Enepsigos, but I am called by countless names.” Then I said to her, “By what angel are you thwarted?” She responded to me, “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, do not 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 am 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 a heavenly body is invincible, incalculable, and impossible to thwart. At any rate, changing into three different forms, I also descend and become like what you see. I am thwarted by the angel Rathanael, who takes his seat in the third heaven. On account of this, therefore, I say to you, this Temple cannot contain me.”
Accordingly, when I, Solomon, had prayed to my God and invoked the angel Rathanael about whom she spoke, I made use of the seal and sealed her down with a triple-link chain; and as I bound her down, I made use of the seal of God. Then the [evil] spirit prophesied to me, saying, “You are doing these things to us now, King Solomon, but after a period of time your kingdom shall be divided. At still a later time this Temple shall be destroyed and all Jerusalem shall be demolished by the king[s] of the Persians and Medes and Chaldeans. Also, the implements of the Temple which you are making shall serve other gods. Along with these [events], also all the vessels in which you have entrapped us shall be broken in pieces by the hands of men. Then we shall come forth with much power and we shall 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 upon the cross.[7] For there has not yet arisen a king like him, one who thwarts all of us, whose mother shall not have sexual intercourse with a man. Who holds such authority over the spirits except that one? The one whom the first devil shall seek to tempt, but shall not be able to overcome, the letters of whose name add up to six hundred forty-four—he is Emmanouel. Because of this, King Solomon, your time is evil, your years are short, and your kingdom shall be given to your servant.”
When I, Solomon, heard these things, I glorified God. Though I was amazed at the defense of the demons, I distrusted them and did not believe the things which were said by them until they occurred. But when they happened, then I understood, and at my death I wrote this testament to the sons of Israel and I gave [it] to them so that [they] might know the powers of the demons and their forms, as well as the names of the angels by which they are thwarted. When I had glorified the God of Israel, I commanded the spirit to be bound up with unbreakable bonds.
When I had praised God, I commanded another spirit to appear before me. There came before me another demon who had the form of a horse in front and a fish in back. He said in a great voice, “King Solomon, I am 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 in against the ships, for this is my activity: to receive beneath the sea treasures and men. For I raise myself up, take men, and hurl them under the sea. So I am always lusting after [their] bodies, but until now I have been casting [the treasures] out of the sea. However, since Beelzeboul, the ruler of the spirits of the air and the earth and beneath the earth gives advice about the activities with respect to each one of us, I therefore came up out of the sea to have some consultation with him.
“But I also have another reputation and activity: I change myself into waves, come up from the sea, and show myself to men. They call me Kunopegos because I change myself into 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 Beelzeboul, he bound me up and delivered me into your hands. Now I am standing before you and, because of not having water for two or three days, my spirit is ceasing from speaking to you.”
So I said to him, “Tell me by what angel you are thwarted.” He replied, “By Iameth.” Then I ordered him to be cast into a broad, flat bowl, and ten receptacles of seawater to be poured over [it]. I fortified the top side all around with marble and I unfolded and spread asphalt, pitch, and hemp rope around over the mouth of the vessel. When I had sealed it with the ring, I ordered [it] to be stored away in the Temple of God.
I ordered another spirit to appear before me. There came a spirit having the shadowy form of a man and gleaming eyes. I asked him, saying, “Who are you?” He replied, “I am the lecherous spirit of a giant man who died in a massacre in the age of giants.” So I said to him, “Tell me what you accomplish on earth and where you make your dwelling.”
He replied, “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 should not 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.” So I said to him, “Fear the God of heaven and earth and tell me by what angel you are thwarted.” He replied, “He who is about to return [as] Savior thwarts me. If his mark is written on [one’s] forehead, it thwarts me, and because I am afraid of it, I quickly turn and flee from him. This is the sign of the cross.” When I heard these things, I, Solomon, locked up the demon just like the other demons.
Then I commanded another demon to appear before me. There came to me thirty-six heavenly bodies, their heads like formless dogs. But there were 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. When I, Solomon, saw these beings, I asked them, saying, “Well, who are you?” All at once, with one voice, they said, “We are thirty-six heavenly bodies, the world rulers of the darkness of this age. But you, King, are not able to harm us or to 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.”
Then I, Solomon, summoned the first spirit and said to him, “Who are you?” He replied, “I am the first decan of the zodiac [and] I am called Ruax. I cause heads of men to suffer pain and I cause their temples to throb. Should I hear only, ‘Michael, imprison Ruax,’ I retreat immediately.”
The second said, “I am called Barsafael. I cause men who reside in my time period to have pains on the sides of their heads. Should I hear, ‘Gabriel, imprison Barsafael,’ I retreat immediately.”
The third said, “I am called Artosael. I do much damage to the eyes. Should I hear, ‘Ouriel, imprison Artosael,’ I retreat immediately.”
The fourth said, “I am called Oropel. I attack throats, [resulting in] sore throats and mucus. Should I hear, ‘Raphael, imprison Oropel,’ I retreat immediately.”
The fifth said, “I am called Kairoxanondalon. I cause ears to have obstructions. If I hear, ‘Ourouel, imprison Kairoxanondalon,’ I retreat immediately.”
The sixth said, “I am called Sphendonael. I produce tumors of the parotid gland and tetanic recurvation. If I hear, ‘Sabael, imprison Sphendonael,’ I retreat immediately.”
The seventh said, “I am called Sphandor. I weaken the strength of the shoulders and deaden the nerves of the hand, and I make limbs paralyzed. If I hear, ‘Arael, imprison Sphandor,’ I retreat immediately.”
The eighth said, “I am called Belbel. I pervert the hearts and minds of men […] If I hear, ‘Karael, imprison Belbel,’ I retreat immediately.”
The ninth said, “I am called Kourtael. I call forth colics into the bowels. If I hear, ‘Iaoth, imprison Kourtael,’ I retreat immediately.”
The tenth said, “I am called Metathiax. I cause pains in the kidneys. If I hear, ‘Adonael, imprison Metathiax,’ I retreat immediately.”
The eleventh said, “I am called Katanikotael. I unleash fights and feuds in homes. If anyone wishes to make peace, let him write on seven laurel leaves the names of those who thwart me: ‘Angel, Eae, Ieo, Sabaoth, imprison Katanikotael,’ and when he has soaked the laurel leaves [in water], let him sprinkle his house with the water and I retreat immediately.”
The twelfth said, “I am called Saphthorael. 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 Sabaoth,’ and wears them around his neck, I retreat immediately.”
The thirteenth said, “I am called Phobothel. I cause loosening of the tendons. If I hear, ‘Adonai,’ I retreat immediately.”
The fourteenth said, “I am called Leroel. I bring on chill[s] and shivering and sore throat. If I hear, ‘Iax, do not stand fast, do not be fervent, because Solomon is fairer than eleven fathers,’ I retreat immediately.”
The fifteenth said, “I am called Soubelti. I unleash shivering and numbness. If I hear only, ‘Rizoel, imprison Soubelti,’ I retreat immediately.”
The sixteenth said, “I am called Katrax. I inflict incurable diseases on men. If anyone wants 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.”
The seventeenth said, “I am called Ieropa. I sit on the stomach of a 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.”
The eighteenth said, “I am called Modebel. I separate wives from husbands. If anyone writes the names of the eight fathers and places them in the doorways, I retreat immediately.”
The nineteenth said, “I am called Mardero. I inflict incurable fevers; write my name in some such way in the house, and I retreat immediately.”
The twentieth said, “I am called Rhyx Nathotho. I locate myself in the knees of men. If anyone writes on a piece of papyrus ‘Phounebiel,’ I retreat immediately.”
The twenty-first said, “I am called Rhyx Alath. I produce the croup in infants. If anyone writes, ‘Rarideris,’ and carries it, I retreat immediately.”
The twenty-second said, “I am called Rhyx Audameoth. I inflict heart pain. If anyone writes, ‘Raiouoth,’ I retreat immediately.”
The twenty-third said, “I am called Rhyx Manthado. I cause the kidneys to suffer pain. If anyone writes, ‘Iaoth, Ouriel,’ I retreat immediately.”
The twenty-fourth said, “I am called Rhyx Aktonme. I cause the ribs to suffer pain. If anyone writes on a piece of wood from a ship which has run aground, ‘Marmaraoth of mist,’ I retreat immediately.”
The twenty-fifth said, “I am called Rhyx Anatreth. I send gas and burning up into the bowels. If I hear ‘Arara, Arare,’ I retreat immediately.”
The twenty-sixth said, “I am called Rhyx, the Enautha. I make off with minds and alter hearts. If anyone writes, ‘Kalazael,’ I retreat immediately.”
The twenty-seventh said, “I am called Rhyx Axesbuth. I cause men to suffer from diarrhea and hemorrhoids. If anyone adjures me in pure wine and gives it to the one who is suffering, I retreat immediately.”
The twenty-eighth said, “I am called Rhyx Hapax. I unleash insomnia. If anyone writes, ‘Kok; Phedismos,’ and wears it down from the temples, I retreat immediately.”
The twenty-ninth said, “I am called Rhyx Anoster. I unleash hysteria and cause pains 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 Marmaraoth,’ I retreat immediately.”
The thirtieth said, “I am called Rhyx Physikoreth. I bring on long-term illnesses. If anyone puts salt into [olive] oil and massages his sickly [body with it] saying ‘Cherubim, seraphim, help [me],’ I retreat immediately.”
The thirty-first said, “I am called 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.”
The thirty-second said, “I am called Rhyx Ichthuon. I detach tendons. If I hear, ‘Adonai, malthē,’ I retreat immediately.”
The thirty-third said, “I am called Rhyx Achoneōth. I cause sore throat and tonsillitis. If anyone writes on ivy leaves, ‘Leikourgos,’ heaping them up in a pile, I retreat immediately.”
The thirty-fourth said, “I am called Rhyx Autoth. I cause jealousies and squabbles between those who love each other. But the letters Alpha and Beta, written down, thwart me.”
The thirty-fifth said, “I am called Rhyx Phtheneoth. I cast the evil eye on every man. But the much-suffering eye, when inscribed, thwarts me.”
The thirty-sixth said, “And I am called Rhyx Mianeth. I hold a grudge against the body; I demolish houses; I cause the flesh to rot. If anyone writes on the front entrance of his house as follows, ‘Melto Ardad Anaath,’ I flee from that place.”
When I, Solomon, heard these things, I glorified the God of heaven and earth and I ordered them to bear water. Then I prayed to God that the thirty-six demons who continually plague humanity go to the Temple of God.
I condemned some of the demons to do the heavy work of the construction of the Temple of God. Some I locked up in prisons. Others I ordered to battle the fire in [the production of] gold and silver, and to sit down beside lead and cinerary urns, and for the rest of the demons to prepare places in which they ought to be locked up.
Then I, Solomon, was honored by all men under heaven, for I was building the Temple of God and my kingdom was running well. All the kings were coming to me to observe the Temple of God that I was building, and they supplied me with gold and silver, and brought in bronze, iron, lead, and wood for the Temple furnishings.
Among them Sheeba, Queen of the South, who was a witch, came with much arrogance and bowed down before me.
Now it happened that one of the artisans, a dignified man, threw himself down before me, saying, “King Solomon, Son of David, have mercy on me, an elderly man.” I said to him, “Tell me, old man, what you want.” He replied, “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 to send me to a terrible death. Because he did this, I came forward [to request] a favor—that you will avenge me.”
When I heard these things I commanded his son to be brought before me. When he came I said to him, “Do you admit to this?” He replied, “I did not become so filled with rage, King, that I struck my father with my hand. Be kind to me, O King, for it is not right to pay attention to such a story and [to his] distress.” Therefore, when I, Solomon, heard the young man, I summoned the elderly man to come and reconsider. But he did not want [to come] and said, “Let him be put to death.”
Then, noticing that the demon Ornias was laughing, I became very angry that he would laugh in my presence. Dismissing the young man, I ordered Ornias to come out and I said to him, “Cursed one, did you laugh at me?” He replied, “I beg you, King; I did not laugh because of you, but because of the wretched old man and the miserable young man, his son, because after three days he will die. See, the old man has the intent of doing away with him in an evil manner.”
I said, “Does he really have such an intent?” The demon said, “Yes, King.” Then I commanded the demon to go away and the old man and his son to come back, and I ordered them to become friends. Then I said to the elderly man, “In three days bring your son back to me.” When they had prostrated themselves before me, they departed.
Then I ordered Ornias to be brought to me again and I said to him, “Tell me how you know that the young man will die in three days.” He responded, “We demons go up to the firmament 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 transformed, cause destruction, whether by domination, or by fire, or by sword, or by chance.”
I asked him, “Tell me, then, how you, being demons, are able to ascend into heaven.” He replied, “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 which to rest; so we fall down like leaves from the trees and the men who are watching think that stars are falling from heaven. That is not true, King; rather, we fall because of our weakness and, since there is nothing on which to hold, we are dropped like flashes of lightning to the earth. We burn cities down and set fields on fire. But the stars in heaven have their foundation laid in the firmament.”
When I, Solomon, heard these things, I commanded the demon to be kept under guard for five days. After five days I summoned the old man but he did not want to come. Then when he did come, I saw that he was depressed and mourning. I said to him, “Where is your son, old man?” He replied, “I have become childless, O King, and without hope I keep watch at the grave of my son.” Upon hearing these things and knowing that the things which were spoken to me by the demon were true, I glorified the God of heaven and earth.
Now when Sheeba, the Queen of the South, saw the Temple I was building, she thought it was marvelous and contributed ten thousand copper shekels.[8] She entered the inner part of the Temple and saw the altar, the cherubim and seraphim overshadowing the mercy seat, the two hundred gems glittering from the various ornaments of the lamps, and lamps also decorated with emeralds, hyacinth, and lapis lazuli. She also saw the silver, bronze, and gold vessels and the bases of the pillars entwined with bronze wrought in the pattern of a chain. Finally, she saw the Bronze Sea, which was supported by thirty-six bulls. And all were busy working in the Temple […] of pay amounting to one gold talent apart from the demons.
The king of Arabia, Adarkes, sent a letter containing the following:
“King of Arabia, Adarkes, to King Solomon, greetings. I have heard about the wisdom which has been granted to you and that, being a man from the Lord, there has been given to you understanding about all the spirits of the air, the earth, and beneath the earth. There still 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 [counter-] blast is ever able to withstand the demon. I beg you, therefore, since this spirit is like the wind, do something wise according to the wisdom which has been given to you by the Lord your God and decide to send out a man who is able to bring it under control. Then we shall belong 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, do not ignore our prayer and do become our lord for all time. Farewell my lord, as ever.”
After I, Solomon, read this letter, I folded it, gave it to my servant, and said to him, “After seven days, remind me of this letter.” So Jerusalem was being built and the Temple was moving toward completion. Now there was a gigantic cornerstone which I wished to place at the head of the corner to complete the Temple of God. 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 were not strong enough to budge it.
When seven days had passed and I remembered the letter of the king of Arabia, I summoned my servant boy and said to him, “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 in front of the neck of the flask [against the wind]. As the flask is being filled with air, you will discover that it is the demon who is filling it up. Carefully then, tie 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.”
Then the boy obeyed the orders and went to Arabia. Now the 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 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 that the demon had been overcome, the boy remained three days and, [when] the spirit did not blow any longer, the Arabs concluded that he had really trapped the spirit.
Then he loaded the flask on the camel. The Arabs sent the boy on his way with gifts and honors, shouting praises to God, for they were left in peace. Then the boy brought in the spirit and put it in the foremost part of the Temple. The following day I, Solomon, went into the Temple [for] I was very worried about the cornerstone. [Suddenly,] the flask got up, walked for seven steps, and fell down on its mouth before me. I was amazed that [even though the demon was entrapped in] the flask, he had the power to walk around, and I ordered him to get up. Panting, the flask arose and stood up. Then I asked him, saying, “Who are you?” From the inside the spirit said, “I am a demon called Ephippas [and I live] in Arabia.”
I said to him, “By what angel are you thwarted?” He said, “By the one who is going to be born from a virgin and be crucified by the Jews.”
Then I said to him, “What can you do for me?” He responded, “I am able to move mountains, to carry houses from one place to another, and to overthrow kings.” I said to him, “If you have the power, lift this stone into the beginning of the corner of the Temple.” But he responded, “I will raise not only this stone, King; 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 shall set it up where you wish.”
When he had said these things, he went in underneath the stone, lifted it up, went up the flight of steps carrying in the stone, and inserted it into the end of the entrance of the Temple. I, Solomon, being excited, exclaimed, “Truly the Scripture which says, It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the keystone, has now been fulfilled,” and so forth.[9]
Again, I said to him, “Go, bring me the one you said [would help lift up the] pillar [which is] in the Red Sea. So Ephippas went off and brought forth the demon and both transported the pillar from Arabia. However, having outwitted [them] because these two demons could have upset the whole world with one tip of the scales, I sealed [them] around on one side and the other, and said, “Keep watch [on them] carefully.” Thus, they have remained holding up the pillar in the air until this very day as a proof of the wisdom granted to me. 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. When we looked intently, the lower part of the pillar became somewhat oblique, and so it is to this day.
Then I interrogated the other spirit, the one who came up out of the sea with the pillar. “Who are you, what are you called, and what is your activity? For I have heard many things about you.” But the demon said, “I, King Solomon, am called Abezethibou; and once I sat in the first heaven whose name is Amelouth. Therefore, I am a hostile, winged demon with one wing, plotting against every wind under the heavens. I was present at the time when Moses appeared before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, hardening his heart. I am the one whom Jannes and Jambres, those who opposed Moses in Egypt, called to their aid. I am the adversary of Moses in [performing] wonders and signs.”[10]
I therefore said to him, “How is it that you are found in the Red Sea?” He responded, “During the time of the Exodus of the sons of Israel, I gave Pharaoh pangs of anxiety and hardened the heart of him, as well as of his subordinates. I caused them to pursue closely after the sons of Israel, and Pharaoh followed with [me] and [so did] all the Egyptians. I was there at that time and we followed together. We all approached the Red Sea. Then it happened that at the time when the sons of Israel crossed over, the water turned back upon 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.”
Next I, Solomon, adjured him to hold up the pillar until the End. Then, under [the direction of] God, I adorned the Temple of God in total beauty. And I was rejoicing and praising God.
I now took countless wives from every land and kingdom. I also took a journey to the kingdom of the Jebusites and saw a woman in their kingdom, and I fell madly in love with her and wanted her to be a wife in my harem. So I said to their priests, “Give me this Shummanite because I am madly in love with her.” They replied, “If you love our daughter, fall down before our gods, the great Raphan and Moloch, and take her.” However, I did not want to worship [their gods], so I said to them, “I worship no foreign god.”
But they threatened violence against the maiden, saying, “If you have the opportunity to go to the kingdom of Solomon, say to him, ‘I will not go to bed with you unless you become like my people and take five locusts and sacrifice them in the name of Raphan and Molech.’ ” So because I loved the girl—she was in full bloom and I was out of my senses—I accepted as nothing the custom [of sacrificing] the blood of the locusts. I took them in my hands and sacrificed in the name of Raphan and Molech to idols, and I took the maiden to the palace of my kingdom.
So the spirit of God departed from me and from that day on my words became as idle talk. 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 was darkened and I became a laughingstock to the idols and demons. For this 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 to the first things, in order that they may finally find grace forever. Amen.