Queen Of Sheba And Her Only Son Menyelek (Illustrated): Kebra Nagast

by E.A. Wallis Budge

Fully illustrated. The Kebra Negast (The Glory of The Kings), of which this book is a translation, is an Ethiopian work which is held in high regard because it is 'proof' of the lineage of the Ethiopian people which can be traced back to the bloodline of Solomon. The book itself has legends and traditions, some of which are historical, some of which are folk tales.

Genres: Religion, History, Ethiopia, Africa, Mythology, Nonfiction, Classics

232 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1350

About the author

Sir Ernest Alfred Thompson Wallis Budge was an English Egyptologist, Orientalist, and philologist who worked for the British Museum and published numerous works on the ancient Near East.

Reviews

[Hamza · Rating 4 out of 5]

The majority of this book is pretty great, and I was sure I'd give it a perfect rating until I reached the last 11 or 12 chapters. At that point, the structure switched completely from narratives and interesting comparisons between Jewish and Christian concepts to simply listing "prophecies" allegedly made about Jesus in the Old Testament. They were not in the most concise order, and some of the quotes were altered or taken out of context so the comparisons would work better.

After a few chapters, the structure switched back and became more acceptable, but this time the issue was several disturbingly anti-Jewish passages. I'm not completely stunned that a book telling how the Ark of the Covenant left Israel and resided in Ethiopia -- an Orthodox Christian country -- would contain some anti-Jewish sentiments, but it gets pretty vicious towards the end. I've read many books I didn't agree with, but it just brought down the epic nature of the book that was established in the first 100 or so chapters. Maybe it's just me.

[Les Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting, enjoyable and informative read.

The relationship between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba remains to be proven, however there are a couple of passages in the Scriptures that may be of interest.

Note the words of the lover in Song of Solomon chapter 1
Verse 5] I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

Verse 6] Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
This verse could very easily refer to an Ethiopian.

Then there is the Ethiopian eunuch in
Acts 8: 27, 28
Sitting in his chariot, he was reading the Book of Isaiah, specifically Isaiah 53:7-8. Philip asked the Ethiopian, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He said he did not ("How can I understand unless I have a teacher to teach me?"), and asked Philip to explain the text to him.

This certainly points to the Ethiopians being greatly influenced by Israel. Note the eunuch had a copy of Isaiah in his possession. The Israelites we’re really protective over the Scriptures. Yet here is one man with his own copy.

[Kaizer Makakole]

Interesting to have went through this old text,today,this lineage reign in the Ethiopian kingship is still believed to be the ruling power which has never been dismantled by an foreign power, however this text dates during the times 'Before Christ'! Ethiopia unlike most African countries claims to have never been colonised.

[Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw an old manuscript copy of the Kebra Nagast in a church in Addis Abeba, I knew I wanted to find out what was said on those fragile, yellowing pages. I can't read the ancient Ge'ez script, but this 1922 translation by Sir Wallis Budge appears to be well done. Kebra Nagast means Glory of Kings, and is the story of the Kings of Ethiopia. The first chapters relate a large part of the Old Testament, albeit in a very condensed form: the creation of the world, Adam (Eve isn't mentioned at all), Cain slaying his brother Abel, Noah and the Flood, Abraham, Moses. Although the stories are slightly different from those in the Bible and much shorter, I think it is fascinating to see how they have spread to Northern Africa to become part of culture in Ethiopia.

When we arrive at Solomon and the construction of the temple, the Kebra Negast takes an interesting turn: it tells us about an Ethiopian merchant called Tâmrîn, who provides some of the materials for the temple construction and is very much impressed with the wisdom of King Solomon. Upon return in his own country, this Tâmrîn tells the Queen of the South (or Queen of Sheba) all about the wise King, and she becomes "very wishful and most desirous to go that she might hear his wisdom, and see his face, and embrace him, and petition his royalty."

The rest reads like a romance: the Queen of Sheba does indeed travel to Jerusalem, and King Solomon seduces her by means of a cunning scheme. When she returns to Ethiopia, she carries a child who is to become King Menyelek I of Ethiopia, the first in a series of monarchs who, Ethiopians believe, all descended from Solomon.

Sir Wallis Budge added several introductory chapters, all very enlightening: on the various manuscripts of the Kebra Nagast and how the existence of the book was unknown in Europe until the Portuguese went searching for the legendary Prester John in what was then called Abyssinia; on the Arabic translation; on what is written about the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon in the Quran (surprisingly, in that version the Queen's legs are hairy as the legs of a donkey); and an alternative legend, in which the Queen of the South travels to Jerusalem not in search of Solomon's wisdom, but to find a cure for her deformed heel.

I am glad to finally have read this, if only to have a better understanding of the traditions in Ethiopia, its many churches and religious holidays. With King Menyelek I alleged to have ruled around 950 BC, these must be very old stories indeed.

[Gabriel Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Ethiopian version of the Bible. Praise to H.I.M

[Connor · Rating 1 out of 5]

Note: I am reviewing the edition not the book, the book I would give a 3/5.

I bought this book intending to read a work of huge importance with regard to the Monophysite faith’s historical development. This edition said, a modern translation, when in fact a comparison with Budge’s classic translation shows that this was the same translation but sections had been taken out form it. Additionally, having read the introduction, I was very confused. The introduction was very black supremacist/racist in nature and was had massive historical errors with regard to dates like Constantine’s death etc. There were no notes and the paper quality was horrendous. It cost me 16 pounds for this horrific edition. I had to return this to amazon with a complaint to the company that lied about the contents of the book.

[Klidell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. The translation and editing was done really well for such a old text. Now I understand why there is such a strong Jewish presence in Ethiopia. It also explains why the people of this country were so receptive to Christianity. Since they were well aware of the prophecies concerning the Messiah, they would have understood that Jesus fulfilled them. Also enjoyed reading about a women who was a queen in such ancient times.

[IVellon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bezolds Übersetzung liest sich sehr gut (trotz ihres Alters). Außerdem fand ich das doch sehr moderne Wissenschaftsverstädnis des Editors sehr angenehm (keinerlei Kommentare über eine angebliche Minderwertigkeit der Verfasser, Schreiber o.ä., das ist nicht selbstverständlich!)
Ich empfehle, die Übersetzung (oder eben den Originaltext) vor Bezold Einleitung zu lesen, dann versteht man letztere besser.

Da es sich um ein religiöses Werk handelt, möchte ich den Inhalt nicht bewerten.

[Katryn Lume · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deep and inconspicuous detail of the fall of the tribes of Judah and the manner with which the holy law was made perverse by the Roman empire and the spiritual reasons for the west oppressing the African. Zion!

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into it assuming it would just be about the kings of Ethiopia and tracing it back to the Queen of Sheba who married Solomon. But it was more of an Ethiopian Orthodox- centric retcon of key parts of the Bible. As is most things canon to Tewahedo- how often does Oriental Orthodox canon rehash Genesis?

And in light of the people who view this book as viciously anti- Semitic, I think it’s more of a general example of the tribalism of religion- Ethiopian Orthodox sees Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian Apostolic as fated to get it all wrong- in addition to their whole stressing the fact that Israel turned their backs on God. In spite of the fact that Ethiopian Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic have very similar Christology and thoughts on the Trinity.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fascinating read. A curious mixture of the old and new testament with a long addition about how the Ethiopians stole the Ark of the Covenant, apparently with Yahweh's blessing.
It's more a book of rather garbled history that is in part made up (the king of Rome was a Jew) than a book of wisdom.
And as far as wisdom goes, it comes across rather misogynistic (women can not rule), anti-Semitic (117: "they were to determine that the Jews were no longer to live"), xenophobe (do not marry outsiders) and homophobe (do not lay with another man).

[Sean Tandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dull at parts (lists of scripture prophecies, e.g.) and with typical medieval prejudices (anti-Jewish rhetoric) but a really important and interesting document outlining the central political mythology of the Ethiopian empire, which traces each Negus of Ethiopia back to King Solomon. It also has other elaborations on biblical stories, interesting ideas about the Fathers at Nicaea, and a theory of how all kings are descendants of Shem. If you’re interested in early Africa or the global Christian tradition, this is a book for you.

[Toby · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is hard to read this without interpreting it as anything but fuel for antisemitism and violence. E.g.
“And the Jews shall weep and repent when it shall be useless to do so, and they shall pass into everlasting punishment; and with the Devil, their father who had directed them, and his demons who had led them astray, and with the wicked they shall be shut in.”(ch. 115 p.196) Wow. All Jews, huh?
They are encouraged to cut Jews into pieces and they “determine[d] that the Jews were no longer to live…” (ch. 117 p. 197)

[Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

After my unfortunate experience with the awful edition published by Red Sea press, I bought this edition. This edition is published by a publishing company specialising in ecclesiastical history.The edition had few notes and is the Budge translation, but at least they didn't lie to me about the contents and the translation.

[Naira · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Je suis d'avis qu'un peuple ne se défend pas seulement avec ses armes, mais avec ses livres."

"I am smitten with the love of wisdom, and I am constrained by the cords of understanding; for wisdom is far better than treasure of gold and silver..."

"...and she adorned her whole body with joy and gladness with the fullest will of the inward mind."

[R.A. Bentinck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helped me connect with my roots

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty redundant, but gets the point across.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explains Ethiopian Orthodox religion and from where it stems.

[Workinesh Mitiku]

review for research

[Mr S Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read that gives a twist to the Solomon story, and the Art that's not beyond imagination

[Steven Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historia curiosa entre el rey David y la reina de Etiopía y como el tabernáculo mudo a otro pueblo

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recalling that scene at the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indiana Jones opens an ancient tome describing the power of the Ark as pictured quelling armies with its power, I wondered where such a story could be found as it was most certainly not in the King James Old Testament that I read. I was thrilled to discover that story and more in the Kebra Nagast. This is a retelling of ancient myths from Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and while the direct translations are included, it was the 90 page Introduction that really told the story of the Queen of Sheba and her son who stole the Ark from Solomon and thus created their own Abrahamic lineage. I was looking for a glimpse of history that I hadn’t experienced before and this definitely satisfied. It was a little tedious to pick through the text but the mix of bible history and mythology kinda made my day.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another purchase when I was in my Ark of the Covenant phase. Some say that it was stolen by Menyelek, son of the Queen of Sheba and King David, out of revenge for being spurned by his father. Menyelek brought it to Ethiopia where it sits today. The Templars followed the clues found when they dug beneath the site of Temple in Israel, and on their journey to Ethiopia built churches throughout Africa, many of which can be seen today. A wonderful theory if anything!

[Fiona Robson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was absolutely fascinating. However, I couldn't help wondering if the stealing of the Ark of the Covenant was really just to big themselves up, like when the Scots pretended that they had the Stone of Scone all along, even though they were quite happy to see our "fake" one returned to them and never produced the real one!

[Lulu]

1322


See Kebra nagast illustrated cloth
[an example here with translated captions by Sally Pomme Clayton] https://mythstories.com/museum-exhibi...
Type “Die Legende der Königin von Saba Öl auf Baumwollstoff, Maler unbekannt, Höhe: 86 cm; Breite: 167 cm, Inv. Nr. 10408, Datierung: wohl Ende der 1920er Jahre” to see other examples

[Deb Omnivorous Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Facsinating Etheopian bible documenting their version of the King
Solomon/ Queen of Etheopia encounter. It describes the ark of
the covenant leaving Solomons kingdom, stolen by the son the Queen conceived during her visit to him.

[Myles Teague · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of randomly interjected Holy Roman Empire trickery, but overall, the story of Solomon, Bathsheba/Makeda, and their son Menelik is solid and fits within the narratives from the official books(Quran, Injeel, Torah) on the great Prophet.

[Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

~ Such a great read!

[Lynn]

An eye opener..

I have studied the Bible my whole life, but the Kebra Nagast brought to light precepts that had me baffled. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have learned so much in reading it.