After the Jinn Epphipas demonstrated one of his powers to the king, Solomon bade him to bring
to him the demon of the red sea, the spirit he so much spoke of to him, so that he could also
witness his powers. But it was a trick, Solomon was not so interested in their demonstrations,
he wanted to contain the spirits, to bring them to nothing, both of them. And as commanded,
Ephippas led the demon of the Red Sea with the column of air. And they both took the column and
raised it aloft from the earth. once they were both under the massive column holding it up in
the air, Solomon quickly sealed the 2 spirits on that very spot from both sides, so that they could
do nothing but stand day and night, year after year, holding up the column, so that they would
never again shake the entire earth from the depths of the sea, nor blow destructive winds
upon the earth, for as long as he Solomon had power over them. He had outwitted the two spirits.
And Solomon questioned the other spirit which came up with the pillar from the depths of the Red Sea,
saying: "Who are you? What are you called? And what is your purpose? For I have heard
many things about you." And the demon answered: "O King Solomon, I am called Abezithibod, and I
am a descendant of an archangel. I Once sat in the first heaven, of which the name is Ameleouth. And
now I am a fierce spirit with a single wing, plotting against every spirit under heaven. I was
present when Moses went in before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and It is I
who hardened the king's heart. I am he whom the magicians, Iannes and Iambres
invoked with Moses and Aaron in Egypt. I am he who fought against Moses with wonders and signs.``
Solomon said to him: "How were you then found in the Red Sea?" And he answered:
"In the exodus of the sons of Israel, I hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and excited
his heart and that of his ministers. I caused them to pursue after the children of Israel,
And Pharaoh followed me with all his army. I was present there, and we pursued them together.
But when we all came up upon the Red Sea, and it came to pass that the children of Israel had
crossed over, the water returned and hid all the host of the Egyptians and all their might.
The water hid me too as I remained in the sea thenceforth, being trapped under this pillar.
But when Ephippas came, being sent by you, he freed me, and fetched me up to you.
Having heard this, Solomon commanded the spirits not to disobey him, but to remain
supporting the pillar. And they both swore, saying: "As long as the Lord your God liveth,
we will not let go of this pillar until the world's end. But whatever day this stone falls,
then shall be the end of the world."
As he writes this testament in his final days, Solomon says to his readers: "Watch. the spirits
have remained upholding the column until this day, for proof of the wisdom bestowed onto me.
Look there, and you will see the pillar of enormous size,
hanging in mid air, supported by the winds. These were the spirits appearing underneath,
like the invisible air, supporting it. And if one looks fixedly, the pillar is a little oblique,
being supported by the spirits; and it is so to this very day.