65. Concerning the Sin of Solomon

The Kebra Nagast, by E.A.W. Budge, [1922], at sacred-texts.com

65. CONCERNING THE SIN OF SOLOMON

Now Solomon sinned an exceedingly great sin through the worship of idols, and from being a wise man he became a fool, and his sin is written down in the Book of the Prophets. And the Archbishops who were there answered and said, "Hath God had mercy on Solomon for this error which is written down [as] his sin?" Yea, God hath had mercy upon him, and his name is numbered with [the names of] Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and David his father in the Book of Life in heaven. For God is a forgiver of those who have sinned. Come now, and consider, which was the greater of the two, the sin of his father David or the sin of his son Solomon? David caused Uriah to be slain in battle by means of a plan of deceit so that he might take his wife Bêrsâbêḥ (Bathsheba), the mother of Solomon; and he repented, and God had compassion on him. And when he was dying he advised his son Solomon, saving, "Kill Joab as he killed ’Amêr (Abner), and kill Shimei because he cursed me" ¹; and he performed the will of his father and slew them after the death of David his father. And Solomon killed no one except his brother when he wished to marry the

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Plate XV. The Baptism of Christ by John. Immediately above his halo is the dove; on the left of Christ are the three chief Archangels

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[paragraph continues] Samênâwît, ¹ the wife of his father David whose name was ’Abîs (Abishag). And as concerning the error of Solomon which is written down I will reveal it to you, even as God hath revealed it to me.

Footnotes

104:1 1 Kings ii, 5 ff.

105:1 I.e. the "Shunammite woman" (see 1 Kings i, 3).