The Testament of Solomon

And Adarkes, the King of the Arabs, sent a letter, saying thus: “Adarkes, King of the Arabs, to King Solomon, greetings. Behold, we have heard of the wisdom given to you, and that you, being a man, have been granted understanding by the Lord over all spirits, both aerial and terrestrial and subterranean.”

“There is a spirit in Arabia; for in the morning a gust of wind comes until the third hour, and its breath is terrible and kills men and cattle, and no breath can live before the demon.”

“Therefore, I beg you, since the spirit is like wind, devise something according to the wisdom given to you by the Lord your God, and condescend to send a man capable of seizing it.”

“And behold, we shall be yours, King Solomon, both I and all my people and all my land, and all Arabia will be at peace, if you perform this vengeance for us.”

“Therefore, we beg you, do not overlook our supplication, and be our Lord always forever. May my Lord be well always and forever.”

And I, Solomon, having read this letter and folded it, gave it to my servant, saying to him, “In seven days you will remind me of this letter.”

And Jerusalem was being built, and the temple was being completed. And there was a great cornerstone which I wished to place as the head of the corner for the completion of the temple of God.

And all the artisans and all the demons who were assisting came together to bring the stone and place it on the pinnacle of the temple, but they were not able to move it.

But after seven days, I, remembering the letter of the King of the Arabs, commanded my young man and said to him, “Saddle your camel and take a wineskin and this seal,”

“and go to Arabia, to the place where the evil spirit breathes, and hold the wineskin and the ring before the body of the wineskin.”

“And when the wineskin is inflated, you will find that it is the demon that breathes there. Then quickly, with force, tie the wineskin and seal it with the ring, saddle it onto the camel, and bring it here. And go in good health.”

Then the boy did as he was commanded and went to Arabia. And the people of that place disbelieved whether it would indeed be possible to seize the evil spirit.

And rising early, the servant stood before the spirit of the breath and placed the wineskin on the ground; he also placed the ring on it. And it entered into the wineskin and inflated it.

And the boy, standing, tied the wineskin at its mouth in the name of the Lord Sabaoth, and the demon remained inside the wineskin.

And the boy also remained for three days as proof, and the spirit no longer breathed, and the Arabs recognized that he had securely shut in the spirit.

Then he saddled the wineskin onto the camel. And the Arabs sent the boy with gifts and honors, praising God, for they remained in peace. The boy brought in the spirit and placed it at the head of the Temple.

The next day, I, Solomon, entered the Temple; and I was grieved about the cornerstone. And the wineskin rose and walked seven paces, then its mouth stood still and bowed to me.

And I was amazed that the wineskin had powers and walked, so I commanded it to stand up. And the wineskin rose and stood on its feet, inflated.

And I asked it, saying, “Who are you?” The spirit within said, “I am a demon called Ephippas, the one in Arabia.”

And I said to it, “By what angel are you rendered powerless?” And it said, “By the one who is to be born of a virgin, since angels worship him, and who is to be crucified by the Jews.”