The Glory Departs

XXII
The Glory Departs

1. AMONG THE DIRTY CLOTHING

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

2. FROM THE PALACE ROOF

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