It is often said that many texts were not included as the bible was translated from
its original language to a common language, or were intentionally removed in the course of the
numerous translations over the centuries and years. One of these texts is the Testament of
Solomon, which tells of Solomon, son of David, who was king in Jerusalem, and mastered and
controlled all spirits of the air, on the earth, and under the earth. By the help of these spirits
he built the magnificent temple and all its transcendent works. It tells of the authorities
these spirits wield against men, and by what angels they are made powerless. Let us begin.
Behold, when the Temple of the city of Jerusalem was being built, and the workmen were all busy,
a demon called Ornias came among them toward sunset he took away half of the pay of the
master workman’s little boy, as well as half his food. Everyday Ornias sucked the thumb of the
child's right hand, and every day, the child grew thin, although he was very much loved by the king.
Thus, King Solomon called the boy one day, and questioned him, saying: "Do I not love you more
than all the artisans who are working in the Temple of God? Do I not give you double wages
and a double supply of food? How is it that day by day and hour by hour you grow thinner?" The child
said to the king: "I pray you, O king. Listen to what has befallen all that your child has.
After we are all released from our work on the Temple of God,
after sunset, when I lie down to rest, one of the evil demons comes and takes away from me
one half of my pay and one half of my food. Then he also takes hold of my right hand and sucks
my thumb. And lo, my soul is oppressed, and so my body waxes thinner every day."
When Solomon heard this, he entered the temple of God, and prayed with all his soul, night and day,
that the demon might be delivered into his hands, and that he might gain authority over him.
And it came to pass that grace was given to him from the Lord God, by Michael his archangel.
Michael brought him a little ring, having a seal consisting of an engraved stone,
and said to him, "Take, O Solomon, king, son of David, the gift which the Lord God has sent you,
the highest Sabaoth. With it you shall lock up all demons of the earth,
male and female; and with their help you shall build up Jerusalem. But you must wear
this seal of God. And this engraving of the seal of the ring sent thee is a Pentalpha.
Solomon glorified the God of heaven and earth, And on the next day, he called the boy, and gave
him the ring, and said to him: "take this, and at the hour in which the demon shall come unto you,
throw this ring at the chest of the demon, and say to him:
'In the name of God, Come! King Solomon summons you! And then
do come running to me child, without any fear of what you may here from the demon."
So the child took the ring, and went off; and behold, at the customary hour, Ornias,
the fierce demon, came like a burning fire to take the pay from the child.
But the child according to the instructions received from the king, threw the ring at the
chest of the demon, and said: "King Solomon calls you." And then he went off at a run to the king.
But the demon cried out aloud, saying: "Child, why have you done this to me? Take the ring off me,
and I will give to you the gold of the earth. Only take this ring off me and give it back to Solomon.
But the child said to the demon: "As the Lord God of Israel liveth, I will not stand
you anymore. So come now." And the child came at a run, rejoicing, to the king, and said:
"I have brought the demon, O king, as thou did command me, O my master. And behold, he stands
before the gates of the court of your palace, crying out, and supplicating with a loud voice;
offering me the silver and gold of the earth if I would not deliver him to you."
And when Solomon heard this, he rose up from his throne, and went outside into the vestibule of the
court of his palace; and there he saw the demon, shuddering and trembling. And he said to him: "Who
art you?" And the demon answered: "I am called Ornias." And Solomon said to him: "Tell me, O
demon, to what zodiacal sign you are subject." And the demon answered: "To the Aquarius. And those
who are consumed with desire for the noble virgins upon earth, these I strangle. While in a trance,
I am changed into three forms. Whenever men come to be enamoured of women, I metamorphose myself
into a comely female; and I take hold of the men in their sleep, and play with them. And after a
while I again take to my wings, and fly to the heavenly regions. I also appear as a lion, and I
am commanded by all the demons. I am the offspring of the archangel Ouriel, the power of God."
Having heard the name of the archangel, Solomon glorified God, and sealed the demon
and set him to work at stone-cutting, so that he might cut the stones in the Temple,
which, lying along the shore, had been brought by the Sea of Arabia. But the demon, fearful of the
iron, continued and said to him: "I pray you, King Solomon, let me go free; and I will bring you all
the demons." He was not willing to be subject to Solomon, so Solomon prayed to the archangel Ouriel
for succour, and lo! he saw the archangel Uriel coming down to me from the heavens.
The angel bade the monsters of the sea out of the abyss.
In the book of Ezra, male sea monsters are named Behemoth, and the female are named Leviathan.
The archangel cast his destiny to the ground, the destiny which made the great demon subject to him,
and he commanded the great demon and bold Ornias, to cut stones at the Temple,
and to bring to completion the construction of the Temple.
Solomon glorified God, and called forth Ornias, and gave him the seal, saying: "Away with thee,
and bring to me the prince of all the demons." So Ornias took the finger-ring, and went off to
Beelzeboul, who has kingship over the demons. He said to him: "Come! Solomon calls you."