“Mighty King of man and spirits! I am thy servant, I will always obey
thee if I have the power so to do. Be not angry with me, for I fear I
cannot help thee now. The secret thou desirest to know has not been
revealed to any of the inferior demons. It is only Ashmodai our King
who is in possession of the secret.”
“Tell me,” interrupted King Solomon, “where does Ashmodai, the King of
the demons dwell?”
“May it please your gracious Majesty,” the demon responded, “Ashmodai
lives far, far away from the haunts of men. His palace is built on the
top of a very high mountain. In this same mountain he has had a very
deep well dug. Daily he fetches his drinking water from this well. When
he has obtained sufficient water for his immediate needs, he closes up
the mouth of the well with an enormous rock which he seals with his
signet-ring. He then flies up to heaven to receive the orders of those
who are his superiors. His tasks take him to the ends of the earth,
even beyond the great sea. With the going down of the sun in the west,
he returns to his own home. He examines very carefully the seal on the
rock at the mouth of the well, in order to find out if it has been
tampered with in his absence. He then proceeds to uncover the well and
he partakes of the water. Having quenched his thirst he covers up again
the mouth of the well and seals it afresh.”
King Solomon sat on his wonderful throne of gold whilst the demon told
his tale. Not a word escaped the memory of the wise King. He then
dismissed the demon, who disappeared in less than a second. Thereupon
Solomon summoned to his presence his brave captain and friend Benaiah,
son of Jehoiada. He told him briefly the nature of the task he was
chosen to undertake, saying,—
“Go, trusty servant Benaiah, and capture Ashmodai, the King of the
demons, and bring him before my presence. To assist thee in thy arduous
and perilous undertaking I will give thee this golden chain on the
links of which the letters forming the Divine Name are engraved. I also
will entrust to thy care my signet-ring which is also engraved with the
Holy Name of the Most High. Take with thee also this large bundle of
white wool and these skins full of strong wine.”
After giving him minute instructions about the journey and the way to
overcome Ashmodai, he sent Benaiah on his way, wishing him complete
success in all his undertaking.
The brave warrior, confident of success, set out on his dangerous
expedition. After many days of hard riding across the great desert he
ultimately reached his destination. Never had he seen such a desolate
spot. In front of him stood the towering mountain without sign of any
human habitation in the vicinity. The mountain seemed to be the abode
of silence and death. Undaunted by the uncanny scene, Benaiah began the
ascent of the rugged mountain with a stout heart. He feared neither man
nor spirit, for he was wearing on his little finger King Solomon’s
signet-ring. When half-way up the mountain he bored a hole in order to
discover the whereabouts of Ashmodai’s well. Great was his delight when
he discovered the position of the well. He drew off the water and
stopped up the hole with the wool which he had brought with him. Quite
near to this hole, Benaiah pierced an aperture which ran into the well.
Through this channel he poured all the wine in the skins. After this
labour was completed he concealed himself behind a large crag and
waited impatiently for the arrival of the King of the demons.
Soon after sunset Ashmodai drew nigh. He carefully examined the seal on
the rock over the mouth of the well and found it intact, even as he had
left it early in the morning. After he had rolled away the rock, he
descended into the well to quench his thirst. The strange odour of the
fragrant wine overpowered him so that he quickly returned to the mouth
of the well to inhale the fresh mountain air. Realizing that the well
had been tampered with, he again examined the seal, but it did not
appear to have been touched. Meanwhile a burning thirst in his throat
forced him to descend again in order to obtain something to drink. No
sooner had he tasted the wine than he desired to drink more and more.
After he had partaken very freely of the strong wine, he felt quite
drowsy. All his senses were overpowered. His head became heavy, his
body staggered and his knees gave way. At last he fell to the ground
and slept soundly.
Benaiah now came forth from his hiding-place and crept very quietly to
the sleeping demon. Without wasting a moment, the good captain threw
the golden chain around Ashmodai’s neck and secured it and sealed it
with the golden signet-ring engraved with the Divine Name. Benaiah sat
on the ground close by waiting for the effects of the strong wine to
wear off. After a while Ashmodai awoke and found that he was no longer
free, for he saw the golden chain around his neck and he beheld the
Holy Name on the seal. He uttered such a terrible groan that the
mountain shook. In vain Ashmodai endeavoured to rise up. In his anger
sparks of fire flew from his eyes and foam covered his mouth.
He continued to wriggle and to struggle with the air, but all to no
purpose. He could not arise. He looked at Benaiah and cried in bitter
anger,—
“Is it thou who hast bewitched me?”
“Verily,” replied Benaiah, “behold the Name of the Lord of lords is
upon thee.”
Ashmodai immediately became quiet and calm. He knew that he was
vanquished and realized that all further resistance would be futile. He
told Benaiah that he was quite ready to obey his orders.
“Come then,” cried Benaiah, “we will go at once to King Solomon, thy
master. Arise and follow me.”
Ashmodai arose and followed Benaiah, who was surprised at the peculiar
behaviour of his captive on their way to the Holy City. Wherever they
passed, Ashmodai left behind him a trace of his might or intelligence.
In one village he brushed against a palm tree. After its foliage had
been shaken off by the terrific impact, he uprooted it with one hand.
In another place he knocked his shoulder against a house and overturned
it. In a market-place in a large town they met a happy bridal
procession. When the bride and bridegroom passed, Ashmodai began to
weep.
“Why dost thou weep?” Benaiah asked in surprise.
“Alas!” replied Ashmodai, “within three days the bridegroom will be a
corpse. Do I not do well to weep?”
In the next town on their journey they overheard a farmer asking a
bootmaker to make a pair of shoes which were to last him for seven
years. Whereupon Ashmodai burst out laughing.
“Tell me, Ashmodai” cried Benaiah, “why dost thou laugh?”
“Because the poor fellow will not wear his shoes for even seven days;
behold within a week he will die—yet he asks for shoes to last him
seven years.”
One day they met a blind man going astray. Ashmodai hastened to set him
on the right path. He showed a similar kindness to a drunkard whom they
met at the cross-roads. On another occasion they saw a magician who was
exhibiting his skill in public. He claimed to be able to read the
future and to disclose secrets. Here again Ashmodai found occasion for
mirth and laughter. When Benaiah asked him to explain his strange
conduct, he remarked,—
“Wouldst thou not laugh also at a man who pretends to reveal secrets,
whilst at the same moment he is unaware of the fact that a treasure
lies buried at his feet? We demons judge persons and things according
to their true value and not according to their deceptive appearance in
the eyes of man.”
After many strange adventures they finally came to the Holy City.
Benaiah conducted his captive to the royal presence. As soon as
Ashmodai beheld King Solomon, fear seized him and he began to tremble
violently in every limb. He held a long staff in his hand on which he
supported himself. After his attack of nervousness had subsided,
Ashmodai threw his staff before the King.
“What art thou doing?” asked Solomon.
“Mighty Sovereign, gracious master,” replied Ashmodai, “dost thou not
know that in spite of all thy splendour and glory thou wilt occupy
after thy death no more space in the earth than is measured by yonder
staff, yet thou art not satisfied with ruling the children of men, but
thou must needs hold the spirits and demons in subjection.”
“Be not vexed,” Solomon said in a gentle tone of voice; “thou wilt not
find me a hard master. I merely demand one little service at thy hands.
Know then that I wish to build a great Temple to the glory of the
Creator of heaven and earth, and for this purpose I require the
services of the wonderful worm Shamir. Tell me now, where can I find
this tiny creature?”
“O wisest of mortals,” replied Ashmodai, “dost thou not really know
that the Shamir has not been placed in my charge? Why then hast thou
brought me here?”
“Where is it?” thundered Solomon; “speak, slave! and speak truly.”