A Modern Translation of the Kebra Nagast: (The Glory of Kings)
- Book Review,
by Miguel F. Brooks (Editor)
Book Description
Note from the Editor, This volume contains an English translation of the famous Ethiopian work, Kebra Nagast, The Glory Of Kings. This book has been held in the highest honour in Ethiopia for several centuries and has been, and still is, venerated by the people as containing the final proof of their descent from the Hebrew Patriarchs, and of the kinship of their kings of the Solomonic line with Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In other words, the book proves: 1. That the lawful kings of Ethiopia were descended from Solomon, King of Israel. 2. That the Tabernacle of the Law of God, the Ark of the Covenant was brought from Jerusalem to Aksum by Menyelek, Solomon's firstborn son. 3. That the God of Israel transferred His place of abode on earth from Jerusalem to Aksum, the ecclesiastical capital of Ethiopia. Menyelek was performing the Will of God in removing the Tabernacle of Zion from Jerusalem, as God was satisfied that the Jews were unworthy to be custodians of the Ark wherein His Presence was, and the Ark wished to depart. Ethiopia had stretched out her hands to God (Psalm 68:31) and He went to her with the Ark, to preside over Menyelek's kingdom, which was established in accordance with the commandments that He had given Moses and the prophets and priests of Israel. The line of kings founded by Solomon continued to reign even after the Ethiopians became Christians under the teaching of Frumentius and Adesius, and that line continued unbroken until the tenth century of our era. God then permitted the line to be separated from the throne, and allowed the Zagwe Kings to rule over Ethiopia until the reign of Yekuno Amlak, who restored the Solomonic dynasty in A.D. 1270. Ethiopian literature documents a legend to the effect that when god made Adam He placed in his body a "Pearl" or "Seed" which He intended should pass from Adam into the bodies of a series of holy men, one after the other, until the appointed time when it should enter the body of Mary, and form the substance of her firstborn son Jesus, the Christ. This "Pearl" had passed through the body of Solomon, an ancestor of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ and Menyelek, the son of Solomon by the Queen of Sheba, were sons of Solomon, and so, they were akin to each other. But Christ is the Son of God, and therefore, being the kinsman of Christ, Menyelek was divine. The Kebra Nagast asserts that the kings of Ethiopia who were descended from Menyelek were of divine origin, and that their words and deeds were those of gods. The Ark of the Law which Menyelek removed from the Temple of Jerusalem was a rectangular box made of hardwood plated with gold, and measuring about four feet long, two feet six inches wide, and two feet six inches deep. It was provided with a cover upon which rested the Mercy seat and figures of the Cherubim. In the Kebra Nagast no mention is made of the Mercy sear and the Cherubim, but we read there that Moses made a case shaped like the "belly of a ship," and in this the Two Tables of the Law were placed. The case made by Moses carried the written Word in stone, and later on the Women carried the living Word Incarnate. Although western history is silent as to the place where the Tabernacle of the Law was finally deposited, Ethiopian tradition asserts that it survived all the troubles and disasters that came upon the Abyssinians in their wars with the Muslims, and that it was preserved at Aksum. This complete, modern translation of the Kebra Nagast derives mainly from the Spanish version of the work which appeared in Toledo in 1528 and in Barcelona in 1547, with its French version published in Paris in 1558. Many subsequent translations and editions have been made into German, English, Italian and other languages. This popular edition conforms to the classic literary style of Budge's Translation-Commentary, with its elegant Old English phraseology and syntax. After verifying and
Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
From the Back Cover
Lost for centuries, the Kebra Nagast (The Glory of Kings) is a truly majestic unveiling of ancient secrets. These pages were excised by royal decree from the authorized 1611 King James version of the Bible. Originally recorded in the ancient Ethiopian language (Ge'ez) by anonymous scribes, The Red Sea Press, Inc. and Kingston Publishers now bring you a complete, accurate modern English translation of this long suppressed account. Here is the most startling and fascinating revelation of hidden truths; not only revealing the present location of the Ark of the Covenant, but also explaining fully many of the puzzling questions on Biblical topics which remained unanswered up to today. "...(O)nly in the Kebra Nagast, and not in the Bible...the bold assertion is made...that the Ark had gone from Jerusalem to Ethiopia." "...(H)ow could the most important Biblical object in the world end up in the heart of Africa...? The Kebra Nagast...with a great deal of weight and historical authenticity...offers a clear answer to this question...as Ethiopia's claim to be the last resting place of the lost Ark remains unchallenged..." "...(T)he Kebra Nagast's audacious claim of a massive cover-up...(and) all information about the tragic loss of the Ark during Solomon's reign had been suppressed, which is why no mention is made of it in the Scriptures." "...a great epic...a remarkable document ...erected above a solid foundation of historical truth."
About the Author
Dr. Miguel F. Brooks is a teacher, author-publisher, biblical scholar and researcher. Born in Panama of Jamaican parents, he received his early training in sciences, literature, philosophy and medicine. A graduate of the Instituto Istmeno in Panama and Universidad de Carabobo in Venezuela, he is member of several academic and philosophic societies and holds a B.Sc. degree in General Sciences and a Ph.D. in Psychology. A trained interpreter and translator (English, Spanish, Portuguese), Dr. Brooks is an ordained elder and lay preacher in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and is currently engaged in biblical and historical research in prophetic interpretation and Old Testament exegesis.
Excerpted from A Modern Translation of the Kebra Nagast : (The Glory of Kings) by Miguel F. Brooks. Copyright © 1996. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved
The Seduction of The Queen of Sheba - King Solomon sent a message unto the Queen, saying: "Now that thou hast come here, why will thou go away without seeing the administration of the kingdom, and how the meals for the chosen ones of the kingdom are eaten after the manner of the righteous, and how the people are driven away after the manner sinners? From the sight of it thou wouldst acquire wisdom. Follow me now and seat thyself in my splendour in the tent and I will complete thy instruction, and thou shalt learn the administration of my kingdom; for thou lovest wisdom and she shall dwell with thee until thine end forever." The Queen sent a reply message, saying: "From being a fool I have become wise by following thy wisdom, and from being a thing rejected by the God of Israel I have become a chosen woman because of this faith which is in my heart; and henceforth I will worship no other God except Him. And as concerning that which thou sayest, that thou wishest to increase in me wisdom and honour, I will come to thee according to thy desire." And Solomon rejoiced because of this message, and he arrayed his chosen ones in splendid apparel, and he added a double supply to his table. He had all the arrangements concerning the management of his house carefully ordered, since the house of King Solomon was made ready for guests daily. Then he ordered the royal table according to the law of the kingdom. And the Queen came and went into a place set apart in splendour and glory and she sat down directly behind him where she could see and learn everything. And she marvelled exceedingly at what she saw and heard, and she praised the God of Israel in her heart. She was struck with wonder at the splendour of the royal palace which she saw, for she could see though no one could see her, even as Solomon had arranged in his wisdom for her. He had beautified the place where she was seated and had spread over it purple hangings and laid down carpets, and decorated it with marbles and precious stones; then he burned aromatic powders and sprinkled oil of myrrh and cassia round about, and scattered frankincense and costly incense in all directions. When they brought the Queen into this abode, the scent all round was very pleasing to her, and even before she ate the dainty meats therein she was satisfied with the smell of them. With wise intent Solomon sent to her meats which would make her thirsty and drinks that were mingled with vinegar, and fish and dishes made with pepper; and he gave them to the Queen to eat. The royal meal had come to an end, and the administrators, the counsellors, the youngmen and the servants had departed, and the King rose up and he went to the Queen, and he said unto him: "Take thine ease for love's sake until daybreak." And she said unto him: "Swear to me by thy God, the God of Israel, that thou wilt not take me by force. For if I, Who according to the law of men in sorrow, affliction and tribulation." Solomon's Oath To The Queen Of Ethiopia - Solomon answered and said unto her: "I swear unto thee that I will not take thee by force, but thou must also swear unto me that thou wilt not take by force anything that is in my house." The Queen laughed and said unto him: "Being a wise man why dost thou speak as a fool? Shall I steal anything, or shall I carry out of the house of the King that which the King hath not given to me? Do not imagine that I have come here through love of riches. Moreover, my own kingdom is as wealthy as thine, and there is nothing which I wish for that I lack. Surely I have only come in quest of thy wisdom." And he said unto her: "If thou wouldst make me swear, swear thou to me also that neither of us may be unjustly treated." And she said unto him: "Swear to me that thou wilt not take me by force, and I on my part will swear not to take by force thy possessions." And he swore to her and made her swear also. And the King went up on his bed on one side of the chamber and the servants made ready for her a bed on the other side. Then Solomon said unto a young manservant: "Wash out the bowl and set in it a vessel of water whilst the Queen is looking on, and shut the doors and go and sleep." And Solomon spoke to the servant in another tongue which the Queen did not understand, and he did as the King commanded and went to sleep. The King had not as yet fallen asleep, but he only pretended to be asleep and he was watching the Queen intently. The Queen slept a litle and when she woke up her mouth was dry with thirst, for the food which Solomon had given her in his wisdom had made her thirsty indeed. Her mouth was dry and she moved her lips and sucked with her mouth but found no moisture. Then she determined to drink the water which she had seen, and she looked at King Solomon and watched him carefully; she thought he was sleeping a sound sleep. But he was not asleep; he was waiting until she should rise up to steal the water to quench her thirst. She rose up, and making no sound with her feet, she went to the water in the bowl and lifted up the jar to drink the water. But Solomon seized her hand before she could drink the water, and said unto her: "Why hast thou broken the oath that thou wouldst not take by force anything that is in my house?" And the Queen said: "I have sinned against myself and thou art free from thy oath. But let me drink water for my thirst." Then Solomon said unto her: "Am I then free from the oath which thou hast made me swear?" And the Queen said: "Be free from thy oath , only let me drink water." And he permitted her to drink water and after she had drunk water he worked his will with her and they slept together. Immediately after he slept there appeared unto King Solomon in a dream a brilliant sun, and it came down from heaven and shed exceedingly great splendour over Israel. And when it had tarried there for a time it suddenly withdrew itself, and it flew away to the country Ethiopia, and it shone there with exceedingly great brightness forever, for it desired to dwell there. And the King said: "I waited to see if it would come back to Israel, but it did not return. And again while I waited a light rose up in the heavens, and a sun emerged from the tribe of Judah, and it sent forth light which was very much brighter than before." And Israel , because of the brightness of that sun treated that sun with cruelty and would not walk in the light thereof. And that sun paid no heed to Israel, and the Israelites hated Him, and it became impossible that peace should exist between them and the sun. They lifted up their hands against Him with staves and knives, and they wished to extinguish that sun. And they cast gloom upon the whole world with earthquake and thick darkness, and they imagined that that sun would never more rise upon them. And they destroyed His light and cast themselves upon Him and they set guard over His tomb wherein they had cast Him. He came forth where they did not look for him, and brightened the whole world, especially the First Sea and the Last Sea, Ethiopia and Rome. And He paid no heed whatsoever to Israel, and He ascended His former throne. When Solomon the King saw this vision in his sleep his soul became disturbed, but his understanding was snatched away by a flash of lightning, and he woke up with an agitated mind. Moreover Solomon marvelled concerning the Queen, for she was vigorous in strength and beautiful of form. and she was undefiled in her virginity. She had reigned in her country for six years and, notwithstanding her gracious attraction and her splendid form, had kept her body pure. Then the Queen said unto Solomon: "Dismiss me, and let me depart to my country." And he went into his house and gave unto her whatsoever she wished for of splendid things and riches, beautiful apparel which bewitched the eyes and everything of great value; camels and wagons six thousand in number, which were laden with beautiful things of the most desirable kind, and wagons wherein loads were carried over the desert, and a vessel to travel over the sea. Solomon's Sign To The Queen Of Ethiopia - The Queen rejoiced and she went forth in order to depart, and the King set her on her way with great pomp and ceremony. And Solomon took her aside so that they might be alone together, and he took off the ring that was upon his little finger and gave it to the Queen, and said unto her: "Take this ring so that thou mayest not forget me; and if it happens that I obtain seed from thee, this ring shall be unto it a sign; and if it shall be a man-child he shall come to me, and the peace of god be with thee! Whilst I was sleeping with thee I saw many visions in a dream, and it seemed as if a sun had risen upon Israel, but it snatched itself away and flew off and lighted up the country of Ethiopia; maybe that country shall be blessed through thee; God knoweth. As for thee, observe what I have told thee, so that thou mayest worship god with all thy heart and perform his will. For He punisheth those who are arrogant and He showeth compassion upon those who are humble, and He removeth the thrones of the mighty, and He maketh to be honoured those who are needy. For death and life are from Him, and riches and poverty are bestowed by His will. For everything is His and none can oppose His command and His judgment in the heavens, in the earth, in the sea or in the abysses; and may God be with thee! Go in Peace." Then they separated from each other.
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