Rose Library › Ethiopian canon
The Kebra Nagast (The Glory of Kings)
Ethiopian national epic (14th century) · tr. E. A. Wallis Budge · 1922 · 77,472 words
The Queen of Sheba’s journey to Solomon, the birth of their son Menelik, and how the Ark of the Covenant, “Zion”, came to Ethiopia: the sacred history of the Solomonic kings, woven with prophecy and allegory.
Opening
1. Concerning the Glory of Kings
IN PRAISING GOD THE FATHER, THE SUSTAINER OF THE UNIVERSE, AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHOM EVERYTHING CAME INTO BEING, AND WITHOUT WHOM NOTHING CAME INTO BEING, AND THE HOLY TRIUNE SPIRIT, THE PARACLETE, WHO GOETH FORTH FROM THE FATHER, AND DERIVETH FROM THE SON, WE BELIEVE IN AND ADORE THE TRINITY, ONE GOD, THE FATHER, AND THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The interpretation and explanation of the Three Hundred and Eighteen Orthodox [Fathers] concerning splendour, and greatness, and dignity, and how God gave them to the children of ADAM, and especially concerning the greatness and splendour of ZION, the Tabernacle (tâbôt) of the Law of God, of which He Himself is the Maker and Fashioner, in the fortress of His holiness before all created things, [both] angels and men. For the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit with good fellowship and right good will and cordial agreement together made the Heavenly ZION to be the place of habitation of their Glory. And then the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit said, "Let Us make man in Our similitude and likeness," and with ready agreement and good will They were all of this opinion. And the Son said, "I will put on the body of ADAM," and the Holy Spirit said, "I will dwell in the heart of the Prophets and the Righteous," and this common agreement and covenant was [fulfilled] in ZION, the City of their Glory. And DAVID said, "Remember Thine agreement which Thou didst make of old for salvation, the rod of Thine inheritance, in Mount ZION wherein Thou dost dwell."
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Contents
- 1. Concerning the Glory of Kings
- 2. Concerning the Greatness of Kings
- 3. Concerning the Kingdom of Adam
- 4. Concerning Envy
- 5. Concerning the Kingdom of Seth
- 6. Concerning the Sin of Cain
- 7. Concerning Noah
- 8. Concerning the Flood
- 9. Concerning the Covenant of Noah
- 10. Concerning Zion
- 11. The Unanimous Declaration of the Three Hundred and Eighteen Orthodox Fathers
- 12. Concerning Canaan
- 13. Concerning Abraham
- 14. Concerning the Covenant of Abraham
- 15. Concerning Isaac and Jacob
- 16. Concerning Rôbêl (Reuben)
- 17. Concerning the Glory of Zion
- 18. How the Orthodox Fathers and Bishops Agreed
- 19. How this Book came to be found
- 20. Concerning the Division of the Earth
- 21. Concerning the Queen of the South
- 22. Concerning Tâmrîn, the Merchant
- 23. How the Merchant returned to Ethiopia
- 24. How the Queen made ready to set out on her Journey
- 25. How the Queen came to Solomon the King
- 26. How the King held converse with the Queen
- 27. Concerning the Labourer
- 28. How Solomon gave Commandments to the Queen
- 29. Concerning the Three Hundred and Eighteen [Patriarchs]
- 30. Concerning how King Solomon swore to the Queen
- 31. Concerning the sign which Solomon gave the Queen
- 32. How the Queen brought forth and came to her own Country
- 33. How the King of Ethiopia travelled
- 34. How the young man arrived in his mother's country
- 35. How King Solomon sent to his son the commander of his army
- 36. How King Solomon held intercourse with his son
- 37. How Solomon asked His Son Questions
- 38. How the King planned to send away his son with the children of the nobles
- 39. How they made the Son of Solomon King
- 40. How Zadok the priest gave commands to David the King
- 41. Concerning the blessing of Kings
- 42. Concerning the Ten Commandments
- 43. How the men of the Army of Israel received [their] orders
- 44. How it is not a seemly thing to revile the King
- 45. How those who were sent away wept and made a plan
- 46. How they made a plan concerning Zion
- 47. Concerning the offering of Azâryâs (Azariah) and the King
- 48. How they carried away Zion
- 49. How his Father blessed his Son
- 50. How they bade farewell to his Father and how the city mourned
- 51. How he said unto Zadok the Priest, "Go and bring the Covering (or, Clothing) which is upon…
- 52. How Zadok the Priest Departed
- 53. How the Wagon was given to Ethiopia
- 54. How David [the King of Ethiopia] Prophesied and Saluted Zion
- 55. How the People of Ethiopia Rejoiced
- 56. Of the Return of Zadok the Priest, and the giving of the Gift
- 57. Concerning the Fall of Zadok the Priest
- 58. How Solomon Rose up to Slay them
- 59. How the King Questioned an Egyptian, the Servant of Pharaoh
- 60. How Solomon Lamented for Zion
- 61. How Solomon Returned to Jerusalem
- 62. Concerning the answer which Solomon made to them
- 63. How the Nobles of Israel agreed [with the King]
- 64. How the Daughter of Pharaoh Seduced Solomon
- 65. Concerning the sin of Solomon
- 66. Concerning the prophecy of Christ
- 67. Concerning the lamentation of Solomon
- 68. Concerning Mary, Our Lady of Salvation
- 69. Concerning the Question of Solomon
- 70. How Rehoboam reigned
- 71. Concerning Mary, the daughter of David
- 72. Concerning the King of Rômê (Constantinople)
- 73. Concerning the first judgment of ’Adrâmî, King of Rômê
- 74. Concerning the King of Medyâm
- 75. Concerning the King of Babylon
- 76. Concerning lying witnesses
- 77. Concerning the King of Persia
- 78. Concerning the King of Moab
- 79. Concerning the King of Amalek
- 80. Concerning the King of the Philistines
- 81. How the son of Samson slew the son of the King of the Philistines
- 82. Concerning the going down of Abraham into Egypt
- 83. Concerning the King of the Ishmaelites
- 84. Concerning the King of Ethiopia and how he returned to his country
- 85. Concerning the rejoicing of Queen Mâkĕdâ
- 86. How Queen Mâkĕdâ made her son King
- 87. How the nobles (or governors) of Ethiopia took the oath
- 88. How he himself related to his mother how they made him King
- 89. How the Queen talked to the Children of Israel
- 90. How Azariah praised the Queen and her city
- 91. This is what ye shall eat: the clean and the unclean
- 92. How they renewed the kingdom of David
- 93. How the Men of Rômê destroyed the Faith
- 94. The first war of the King of Ethiopia
- 95. How the honourable estate of the King of Ethiopia was universally accepted
- 96. Concerning the Prophecy about Christ
- 97. Concerning the Murmuring of Israel
- 98. Concerning the Rod of Moses and the Rod of Aaron
- 99. Concerning the Two Servants
- 100. Concerning the Angels who rebelled
- 101. Concerning Him that existeth in Everything and Everywhere
- 102. Concerning the Beginning
- 103. Concerning the Horns of the Altar
- 104. More concerning the Ark and the Talk of the Wicked
- 105. Concerning the belief of Abraham
- 106. A Prophecy concerning the Coming of Christ
- 107. Concerning His entrance into Jerusalem in Glory
- 108. Concerning the wickedness of the iniquitous Jews
- 109. Concerning His Crucifixion
- 110. Concerning His Resurrection
- 111. Concerning His Ascension and His Second Coming
- 112. How the Prophets foreshadowed Him in their persons
- 113. Concerning the Chariot and the Vanquisher of the Enemy
- 114. Concerning the return of Zion
- 115. Concerning the Judgement of Israel
- 116. Concerning the Chariot of Ethiopia
- 117. Concerning the King of Rômê and the King of Ethiopia
- Colophon