XXVI
In Pursuit of the Robbers
SOLOMON WAS furious and he commanded his soldiers to set out on the chase.
Arriving in Egypt, Benaiah questioned the border residents.
"Some days ago some strangers passed here," they said.
"They travelled swiftly in wagons like the angels and they were swifter than the eagles of heaven."
"How many days ago was this?" they were asked.
Gathering information, one of Benaiah's aides returned to Jerusalem and told him that his son and his companions had left Egypt almost two weeks before.
Solomon and his contingent of troops went down to Gaza and asked they'd seen the Ark.
"We didn't see anything," they said.
Leaving Gaza, Solomon went deeper into Egypt and met one of Pharoah's ambassadors who told him that he'd seen the Ethiopians in Cairo.
"They were blowing flutes and they travelled on wagons like the host of the heavenly beings. Even our priests knew that the Ark was with them, for our idols were broken into fragments because of its presence."
Then the envoy asked a question, which seared deep into Solomon's soul.
"Why did you give away the Ark, which your fathers kept pure for you? For, according to what we hear, that Ark used to deliver you out of the land of your enemies and you used to be able to talk to your God because of it."
Solomon entered his tent and cried.
"God, I wish you'd taken my life."
He then tried to analyze the reason the Ark was no longer with Israel.
"I know why it's gone," he said to Zadok.
"Why?" said the priest, who slowly was beginning to regain his strength after collapsing in the Temple.
"Because God hates idolatry and seeking the advice of witches and divination and magic and we've been guilty of them as well as drunkeness and false testimony against neighbors. It's because of them that God has taken away the Ark and given it to my son and his descendants."
The tears continually ran down the king's face.
"It must have been the will of God," he sobbed.
"Why are you sad, then?" asked Zadok. "The will of God gave the Ark to your first-born son and he'll rule forever."
Resigning himself to this fate, the king said: "The will of God be done and not the will of man."
The chase was over.
Solomon and his men returned to Jerusalem, a city still in shock.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Solomon's Sorrow
XXV
Solomon's Sorrow
1. THE WOODEN PIECES
IN JERUSALEM, Solomon couldn't understand the sudden panic within himself.
When Zadok found him in a depressed state, he asked:
"What's the matter?"
"Do you remember when Makeda, the queen of Ethiopia, was here?"
"Yes."
"Well, when I slept with her, I had a vision. It seemed as I were standing in the chamber of Jerusalem and the sun came down from heaven into the land of Judah and lighted it up with great splendor and it stayed here for a short time and then it moved on and lighted on Ethiopia and it didn't return to Judah."
"Why didn't you tell me this before that you'd seen a vision of this kind? You make my knees tremble. What if your sons have stolen the Ark?"
Solomon was shocked by Zadok's question.
"When you took off the covering, didn't you check to make certain the Ark was there?"
"No, I didn't," came the reply. "It had three coverings on it and I took off the outtermost and put the covering you gave me on it."
Solomon was like a crazed man.
"Go to the Temple and examine it," he yelled, his voice crackling with anticipation.
Zadok took the keys and entered into the sanctuary and proceeded to cautiously walk in the darkness of the Holy of Holies.
He found nothing except the wooden boards that Azariah had fastened together to resemble the sides of the pedestal of the Ark.
It was gone.
Zadok collapsed in terror.
Benaiah found him there. He thought he was dead and frantically felt his pulse. He lifted him to a table and tried to revive him.
Slowly, Zadok came out of his faint and staggered to his feet.
Looking at the place where the Ark should have been, Zadok started screaming and wailing at the Temple doors.
Solomon, in the nearby king's quarters, now knew his most frightening nightmare had become true.
Army commander Benaiah was ordered to assemble the troops and set out after the thieves, who had taken the greatest treasure on earth, an object on which no monetary value could ever be placed.
Solomon told Benaiah to seize his son and bring him back to Jerusalem and kill the other men in his company.
"As the Lord God of Israel lives, they're men of death and not of life. They deserve to die because they''ve robbed the Temple."
Solomon's Sorrow
1. THE WOODEN PIECES
IN JERUSALEM, Solomon couldn't understand the sudden panic within himself.
When Zadok found him in a depressed state, he asked:
"What's the matter?"
"Do you remember when Makeda, the queen of Ethiopia, was here?"
"Yes."
"Well, when I slept with her, I had a vision. It seemed as I were standing in the chamber of Jerusalem and the sun came down from heaven into the land of Judah and lighted it up with great splendor and it stayed here for a short time and then it moved on and lighted on Ethiopia and it didn't return to Judah."
"Why didn't you tell me this before that you'd seen a vision of this kind? You make my knees tremble. What if your sons have stolen the Ark?"
Solomon was shocked by Zadok's question.
"When you took off the covering, didn't you check to make certain the Ark was there?"
"No, I didn't," came the reply. "It had three coverings on it and I took off the outtermost and put the covering you gave me on it."
Solomon was like a crazed man.
"Go to the Temple and examine it," he yelled, his voice crackling with anticipation.
Zadok took the keys and entered into the sanctuary and proceeded to cautiously walk in the darkness of the Holy of Holies.
He found nothing except the wooden boards that Azariah had fastened together to resemble the sides of the pedestal of the Ark.
It was gone.
Zadok collapsed in terror.
Benaiah found him there. He thought he was dead and frantically felt his pulse. He lifted him to a table and tried to revive him.
Slowly, Zadok came out of his faint and staggered to his feet.
Looking at the place where the Ark should have been, Zadok started screaming and wailing at the Temple doors.
Solomon, in the nearby king's quarters, now knew his most frightening nightmare had become true.
Army commander Benaiah was ordered to assemble the troops and set out after the thieves, who had taken the greatest treasure on earth, an object on which no monetary value could ever be placed.
Solomon told Benaiah to seize his son and bring him back to Jerusalem and kill the other men in his company.
"As the Lord God of Israel lives, they're men of death and not of life. They deserve to die because they''ve robbed the Temple."
Michael's Protection
XXIV
Michael's Protection
AFTER THEY left Jerusalem, a fiery cloud swept over their wagons and the Archangel Michael appeared in it.
He spread out his wings and was their guide to Ethiopia.
It was a supernatural journey, for no man hauled his wagon, with the entire caravan, both man and beast, raised above the ground to the height of at least a dozen inches.
Everyone travelled in wagons like a ship on the sea when the wind blows and like a bat through the air and like an eagle when his body glides above the wind!
They halted at Gaza, Makeda's city, and from there they arrived at Mesrin, on the Egyptian border in one day. The entourage was amazed for the distance usually was a 13-day march and they weren't tired or thirsty.
They all believed that this thing was from God.
The wagons rested at the Nile and they set up their tents.
Ibna Hakim looked around and was baffled by the events.
"I don't understand any of this," he said to Azariah.
"Can we tell you something?" Azariah asked, adding, "Can you keep a secret?"
"Certainly, I can keep a secret. I'll keep it to the day I die."
Azariah, being the group's leader, said: "The sun descended from heaven and was given on Sinai to Israel and it became the salvation of the race of Adam from Moses to the seed of Jesse and behold it is with us by the will of God. It's not through us that this has been done, but by the will of God. The will of God has fashioned it and made it happen.
"God has chosen you and is well pleased with your city to be the servant of the holy and heavenly Zion, the Tabernacle of the Law of God and it will be your guide forever, to you and your seed after you if you will keep His command and perform the will of the Lord your God. For you will not be able to take it back, even you wanted to and your father, Solomon, can't seize it, even if he wanted to, for it goes on its own free will where it wants to and can't be removed from its seat if it doesn't desire it. And now, it's our salvation and our place of refuge"
Azariah signalled to Elyas and said to him: "Go, take the Ark out of the lead wagon and put the proper covering over her.
Ibna Hakim was in shock.
"What does this mean? Did you steal it?" he gasped, barely able to breathe.
Then he looked towards heaven and said, "Have you, O Lord, remembered us, the outcasts?"
The High Priest then took off the great covering and there lay the golden container, glistening in the early African sun. Ibna Hakim began to yelp and dance around it just like his grandfather, David, had so many years before. It was contagious. Soon all Azariah's group joined in, stomping their feet like young bulls, clapping their hands and stretching their hands skyward and then casting themselves on the ground and giving thanks to God.
Then circling the Ark, Ibna Hakim said, "Behold Zion, behold salvation, behold the splendor like the sun."
Suddenly, his words flowed out of his mouth in a strange language and those that listened were astonished, believing they were hearing a prophet.
In Egypt, the Ethiopians blew horns and beat the drums as they continued their journey down the Nile and as they went the idols of men, dogs and cats as well as the obelisks fell down and broke into pieces before the wagon carrying the Ark.
The Egyptians were amazed as they watched the Ethiopians passing before them like shadows.
Finally, they reached the borders of their beloved country -- Ethiopia.
Michael's Protection
AFTER THEY left Jerusalem, a fiery cloud swept over their wagons and the Archangel Michael appeared in it.
He spread out his wings and was their guide to Ethiopia.
It was a supernatural journey, for no man hauled his wagon, with the entire caravan, both man and beast, raised above the ground to the height of at least a dozen inches.
Everyone travelled in wagons like a ship on the sea when the wind blows and like a bat through the air and like an eagle when his body glides above the wind!
They halted at Gaza, Makeda's city, and from there they arrived at Mesrin, on the Egyptian border in one day. The entourage was amazed for the distance usually was a 13-day march and they weren't tired or thirsty.
They all believed that this thing was from God.
The wagons rested at the Nile and they set up their tents.
Ibna Hakim looked around and was baffled by the events.
"I don't understand any of this," he said to Azariah.
"Can we tell you something?" Azariah asked, adding, "Can you keep a secret?"
"Certainly, I can keep a secret. I'll keep it to the day I die."
Azariah, being the group's leader, said: "The sun descended from heaven and was given on Sinai to Israel and it became the salvation of the race of Adam from Moses to the seed of Jesse and behold it is with us by the will of God. It's not through us that this has been done, but by the will of God. The will of God has fashioned it and made it happen.
"God has chosen you and is well pleased with your city to be the servant of the holy and heavenly Zion, the Tabernacle of the Law of God and it will be your guide forever, to you and your seed after you if you will keep His command and perform the will of the Lord your God. For you will not be able to take it back, even you wanted to and your father, Solomon, can't seize it, even if he wanted to, for it goes on its own free will where it wants to and can't be removed from its seat if it doesn't desire it. And now, it's our salvation and our place of refuge"
Azariah signalled to Elyas and said to him: "Go, take the Ark out of the lead wagon and put the proper covering over her.
Ibna Hakim was in shock.
"What does this mean? Did you steal it?" he gasped, barely able to breathe.
Then he looked towards heaven and said, "Have you, O Lord, remembered us, the outcasts?"
The High Priest then took off the great covering and there lay the golden container, glistening in the early African sun. Ibna Hakim began to yelp and dance around it just like his grandfather, David, had so many years before. It was contagious. Soon all Azariah's group joined in, stomping their feet like young bulls, clapping their hands and stretching their hands skyward and then casting themselves on the ground and giving thanks to God.
Then circling the Ark, Ibna Hakim said, "Behold Zion, behold salvation, behold the splendor like the sun."
Suddenly, his words flowed out of his mouth in a strange language and those that listened were astonished, believing they were hearing a prophet.
In Egypt, the Ethiopians blew horns and beat the drums as they continued their journey down the Nile and as they went the idols of men, dogs and cats as well as the obelisks fell down and broke into pieces before the wagon carrying the Ark.
The Egyptians were amazed as they watched the Ethiopians passing before them like shadows.
Finally, they reached the borders of their beloved country -- Ethiopia.
The Covering
XXIII
The Covering
AS SOLOMON watched, he called for Zadok, the priest.
Go, bring that covering which is on the Ark and take this covering which is better and lay it over the two coverings which are over it."
This covering was made of the finest gold wirework twisted together and hammered out into a pattern and they weren't woven like the threats of purple.
"Take the five golden mice which was given to the Ark and the 10 figures of their shame, the emrods, which the Philistines made for their redemption as well as the fringes of figures of gold that came from the land of Kades, which Moses, in the Sinai, commanded should be worked into the Ark's covering, and give them to my son for his mother said in Tamrin's message that they wanted the fringes to worship."
Then he added that the Ark fringes should be their guide, but he insisted it must remain with Israel forever, although he realized it hadn't been paid all the honor it was due."
Solomon towards where his son was standing by the lead wagon and said to him: "Take this covering and place it on your sanctuary as a sign of your worship of the God of Israel. And when you sacrifice to Jerusalem and the Ark, let your face be towards Jerusalem and pray towards us."
"This will be for my Lady," said Ibna Hakim.
Before the caravan departed, Zadok asked Solomon to put his son, Azariah in charge of the Ark's covering and to be the official in charge of anointing future kings of Ethiopia.
The Covering
AS SOLOMON watched, he called for Zadok, the priest.
Go, bring that covering which is on the Ark and take this covering which is better and lay it over the two coverings which are over it."
This covering was made of the finest gold wirework twisted together and hammered out into a pattern and they weren't woven like the threats of purple.
"Take the five golden mice which was given to the Ark and the 10 figures of their shame, the emrods, which the Philistines made for their redemption as well as the fringes of figures of gold that came from the land of Kades, which Moses, in the Sinai, commanded should be worked into the Ark's covering, and give them to my son for his mother said in Tamrin's message that they wanted the fringes to worship."
Then he added that the Ark fringes should be their guide, but he insisted it must remain with Israel forever, although he realized it hadn't been paid all the honor it was due."
Solomon towards where his son was standing by the lead wagon and said to him: "Take this covering and place it on your sanctuary as a sign of your worship of the God of Israel. And when you sacrifice to Jerusalem and the Ark, let your face be towards Jerusalem and pray towards us."
"This will be for my Lady," said Ibna Hakim.
Before the caravan departed, Zadok asked Solomon to put his son, Azariah in charge of the Ark's covering and to be the official in charge of anointing future kings of Ethiopia.
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.'"
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.'"
The Blessing
XXI
The Blessing
"BLESS ME, my father," Ibna Hakim said.
Solomon, with his heart breaking, smiled and embraced him, saying, "Blessed be the Lord my God who blessed my father David and blessed our father Abraham, May he be with you always and bless be your seed even as he blessed Jacob and made his seed to be as many as the stars of heaven and the sand of the sea.
"And as Abraham blessed Isaac even so will your blessing be -- the dew of heaven and the spaciousness of earth -- and may all the birds of the heavens and all the hearts of the beasts of the fields and the fish of the sea be in subjection to you.
"Be full and not lacking in fullness; be perfect and not lacking in perfection; be gracious and obstinate; be in in good health and not suffering; be generous and not vindictive; be pure and not defiled; be righteous and not a sinner; be merciful and not oppressive; be sincere and not perverse; be long suffering and not prone to wrath. And the enemy will be afraid of you and your adversaries will cast themselves under the sole of your foot. And my Lady Zion, the holy and heavenly, the Tabernacle of the Law of God, will be your guide to you all times. A guide in respect of what you should think in your heart and should do with your fingers, whether it be far or near to you, whether it be low or high to you, whether it be strong or weak to you, whether it be inside or out to you, whether it be in the house or in the field, whether it be away from you, whether it be in secret or published abroad to you -- to your Lady Zion, the holy and heavenly, the pure Tabernacle of the Law of God will be your guide.
David II -- Ibna Hakim -- the son of Solomon and Makeda bowed down and then departed.
The Blessing
"BLESS ME, my father," Ibna Hakim said.
Solomon, with his heart breaking, smiled and embraced him, saying, "Blessed be the Lord my God who blessed my father David and blessed our father Abraham, May he be with you always and bless be your seed even as he blessed Jacob and made his seed to be as many as the stars of heaven and the sand of the sea.
"And as Abraham blessed Isaac even so will your blessing be -- the dew of heaven and the spaciousness of earth -- and may all the birds of the heavens and all the hearts of the beasts of the fields and the fish of the sea be in subjection to you.
"Be full and not lacking in fullness; be perfect and not lacking in perfection; be gracious and obstinate; be in in good health and not suffering; be generous and not vindictive; be pure and not defiled; be righteous and not a sinner; be merciful and not oppressive; be sincere and not perverse; be long suffering and not prone to wrath. And the enemy will be afraid of you and your adversaries will cast themselves under the sole of your foot. And my Lady Zion, the holy and heavenly, the Tabernacle of the Law of God, will be your guide to you all times. A guide in respect of what you should think in your heart and should do with your fingers, whether it be far or near to you, whether it be low or high to you, whether it be strong or weak to you, whether it be inside or out to you, whether it be in the house or in the field, whether it be away from you, whether it be in secret or published abroad to you -- to your Lady Zion, the holy and heavenly, the pure Tabernacle of the Law of God will be your guide.
David II -- Ibna Hakim -- the son of Solomon and Makeda bowed down and then departed.
Secret Place
XX
Secret Place
THAT SAME NIGHT, Azariah had another vision when the Angel of the Lord appeared above him like a pillar of fire and he filled the house with his light.
"Stand up, be strong and roust up Elyas, Abis and Makris, " said the angel, adding, "Then take the pieces of wood and I'll open the doors of the sanctuary for you and you will take the Ark out of the Temple without any trouble."
Azariah jumped up and woke up his three companions and they took the pieces of wood and went into the Temple. They found the doors open to the Holy of Holies and the angel directed the entire operation. They carried it to Azariah's house and then they returned to the Temple with pieces of wood. They covered them over with the Ark covering. They took lamps and set them in the place where the Ark was now hidden and there they sacrificed the sheep and burned incense and they spread purple cloths over it and set it again in the secret place for seven days and seven nights.
Secret Place
THAT SAME NIGHT, Azariah had another vision when the Angel of the Lord appeared above him like a pillar of fire and he filled the house with his light.
"Stand up, be strong and roust up Elyas, Abis and Makris, " said the angel, adding, "Then take the pieces of wood and I'll open the doors of the sanctuary for you and you will take the Ark out of the Temple without any trouble."
Azariah jumped up and woke up his three companions and they took the pieces of wood and went into the Temple. They found the doors open to the Holy of Holies and the angel directed the entire operation. They carried it to Azariah's house and then they returned to the Temple with pieces of wood. They covered them over with the Ark covering. They took lamps and set them in the place where the Ark was now hidden and there they sacrificed the sheep and burned incense and they spread purple cloths over it and set it again in the secret place for seven days and seven nights.
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