Tamrin
Tamrin was a wise man, the leader of a merchant's caravan serving the Queen of Ethiopia. He loaded five hundred and twenty camels and possessed about three and seventy ships. At the time King Solomon wished to build the House of God, Tamrin went to Solomon. The king took what he desired from him and gave the merchant great abundance.
When Tamrin wished to return to his country he bowed low before Solomon, embraced him and asked to depart to his Lady after tarrying long to behold his glory, wisdom and dainty meats. As her servant he received valuable things for Ethiopia and was sent away in peace. He came to his Lady and delivered all the possessions he had brought.
Biography
- Occupation
- Merchant
- Era
- United Monarchy
- Nationality
- Ethiopian
Key Chapters
Key Passages
Tamrin in Kebra Nagast 21
The Kebra Nagast 21:1
And how this Queen was born I have discovered written in that manuscript, and in this manner also doth the Evangelist me...
1nd how this Queen was born I have discovered written in that manuscript, and in this manner also doth the Evangelist mention that woman. And our Lord Jesus Christ, in condemning the Jewish people, the crucifiers, who lived at that time, spake, saying: " The Queen of the South shall rise up on the Day of Judgment and shall dispute with, and condemn, and overcome this generation who would not hearken unto the preaching of My word, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon." And the Queen of the South of whom He spake was the Queen of Ethiopia.
Tamrin in Kebra Nagast 22
The Kebra Nagast 22:1
And there was a certain wise man, the leader of a merchant's caravan, whose name was Tamrin, and he used to load five hu...
1nd there was a certain wise man, the leader of a merchant's caravan, whose name was Tamrin, and he used to load five hundred and twenty camels, and he possessed about three and seventy ships. Now at that time King Solomon wished to build the House of God, and he sent out messages among all the merchants in the east and in the west, and in the north and in the south, bidding the merchants come and take gold and silver from him, so that he might take from them whatsoever was necessary for the work.
Tamrin in Kebra Nagast 23
The Kebra Nagast 23:1
And it came to pass that the merchant Tamrin wished to return to his own country, and he went to Solomon and bowed low b...
1nd it came to pass that the merchant Tamrin wished to return to his own country, and he went to Solomon and bowed low before him, and embraced him, and said unto him, " Peace be to thy majesty! Send me away and let me depart to my country to my Lady, for I have tarried long in beholding thy glory, and thy wisdom, and the abundance of dainty meats wherewith thou hast regaled me.
Tamrin in Kebra Nagast 33
The Kebra Nagast 33:1
And the Queen called Tamrin, the chief of her caravan men and merchants, and she said unto him, " Get ready for thy jour...
1nd the Queen called Tamrin, the chief of her caravan men and merchants, and she said unto him, " Get ready for thy journey and take this young man with thee, for he importuneth me by night and by day. And thou shalt take him to the King and shalt bring him back hither in safety, if God, the Lord of Israel, pleaseth."
Tamrin in Kebra Nagast 36
The Kebra Nagast 36:8
And the King answered and said unto him, " Why givest thou me the ring as a sign? Without thy giving me a sign I discove...
8nd the King answered and said unto him, " Why givest thou me the ring as a sign? Without thy giving me a sign I discovered the likeness of thy form to myself, for thou art indeed my son." And the merchant Tamrin spake again unto King Solomon, saying, " Hearken, O King, unto the message which thy handmaiden, the Queen my mistress, sent by me: ' Take this young man, anoint him, consecrate him, and bless him, and make him king over our country, and give him the command that a woman shall never again reign [in this country], and send him back in peace.
Tamrin in Kebra Nagast 51
The Kebra Nagast 51:2
For his mother said in [her] message by Tamrin her servant, ' Give us some of the fringe of the covering of Zion, so tha...
2or his mother said in [her] message by Tamrin her servant, ' Give us some of the fringe of the covering of Zion, so that we may worship it, we and those who are in subjection unto us and all our kingdom.' And now, give it to him, and say unto him, ' Take [and] worship this covering of Zion, for thy mother sent a message concerning this, and hath said unto thee thyself, ' Give us some of the fringe of its covering, which we can worship, so that we may not, like the heathen, worship another [god].'
Did You Know?
Tamrin led a merchant caravan that loaded five hundred and twenty camels, and he owned about seventy-three ships.
Solomon sent for him to bring red gold, sapphires and black wood that worms could not eat from Arabia for the House of God.
He told the Queen that Solomon set inspectors over seven hundred woodmen who hauled timber and eight hundred masons who hewed stone.
Each morning after his return Tamrin told the Queen what he had seen of Solomon's wisdom, until she resolved to go herself.
The Queen later charged Tamrin to take her son to Solomon and bring him back safely, and he delivered her message to the king.