The Anointing of Solomon's Son as King of Ethiopia

Illustration of The Anointing of Solomon's Son as King of Ethiopia
Era
Kings and Prophets
Date
Twenty-ninth year of Solomon's reign ○ Traditional
Reference
The Kebra Nagast 39:1-5

At twenty-two the son of Solomon and the Queen, called Bayna-Lehkem in this book and Menyelek on this site, travelled to Jerusalem with Tamrin. Solomon embraced him, said that David had risen from the dead in him, and tried to keep him as heir to Israel. The young man refused, because he had sworn to his mother that he would return.

Solomon then agreed with his councillors to make him king of Ethiopia and to send their firstborn sons with him. The young man was brought into the Holy of Holies and took hold of the horns of the altar. Sovereignty was given to him by the mouth of Zadok the priest and of Benaiah, and he was anointed with the oil of kingship. He was named David, set on Solomon's mule and led around the city, and Zadok taught him the curses and blessings of the law.

0:00

Did You Know?

1

After the anointing the young man was called David, because, the book says, the name of a king came to him by the law.

2

He was made to ride on King Solomon's own mule and was led around the city to shouts of 'Long live the royal father'.

3

Some in the crowd declared that his dominion should run from the River of Egypt to the setting sun, and from Shoa to the east of India.

4

Azariah, son of Zadok the priest, heads the list of firstborn sons of Israel's nobles appointed to go with the new king.

5

The city rejoiced at the anointing, but the nobles wept with their families and secretly cursed Solomon for taking their firstborn sons.

Key Passage

The Anointing of Solomon's Son as King of Ethiopia

The Kebra Nagast 39:1-5

And they made ready the ointment of the oil of kingship, and the sounds of the large horn, and the small horn, and the f...

A1nd they made ready the ointment of the oil of kingship, and the sounds of the large horn, and the small horn, and the flute and the pipes, and the harp and the drum filled the air; and the city resounded with cries of joy and gladness.

2 And they brought the young man into the Holy of Holies, and he laid hold upon the horns of the altar, and sovereignty was given unto him by the mouth of Zadok the priest, and by the mouth of Joas (Benaiah) the priest, the commander of the army of King Solomon, and he anointed him with the holy oil of the ointment of kingship. 3 And he went out from the house of the Lord, and they called his name David, for the name of a king came to him by the law. And they made him to ride upon the mule of King Solomon, and they led him round about the city, and said, " We have appointed thee from this moment "; and then they cried out to him, " Bah [Long] live the royal father! " And there were some who said, " It is meet and right that thy dominion of Ethiopia shall be from the River of Egypt to the west of the sun (i.e., to the setting sun); blessed be thy seed upon the earth! — and from Shoa to the east of India, for thou wilt please [the people of these lands]. 4 And the Lord God of Israel shall be unto thee a guide, and the Tabernacle of the Law of God shall be with all that thou lookest upon. And all thine enemies and foes shall be overthrown before thee, and completion and finish shall be unto thee and unto thy seed after thee; thou shalt judge many nations and none shall judge thee." 5 And again his father blessed him and said unto him, " The blessing of heaven and earth shall be thy blessing," and all the congregation of Israel said, " Amen." And his father also said unto Zadok the priest, " Make him to know and tell him concerning the judgment and decree of God which he shall observe there " [in Ethiopia].

Read full chapter: The Kebra Nagast 39 →

Did You Know?

1

After the anointing the young man was called David, because, the book says, the name of a king came to him by the law.

2

He was made to ride on King Solomon's own mule and was led around the city to shouts of 'Long live the royal father'.

3

Some in the crowd declared that his dominion should run from the River of Egypt to the setting sun, and from Shoa to the east of India.

4

Azariah, son of Zadok the priest, heads the list of firstborn sons of Israel's nobles appointed to go with the new king.

5

The city rejoiced at the anointing, but the nobles wept with their families and secretly cursed Solomon for taking their firstborn sons.

Related

Characters

Geography

Themes