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Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, Vol. 1 - Apocalyptic Literature and Testaments
The Testament Of Solomon
The Testament of Solomon has stood the test of time and remained one of the seminole occult works of antiquity. Far predating the Lesser Keys and associated works, it dates to between the first and fifth centuries, seemingly basing part of its content on proto-judaean lore and Greek works as well. It contains, as well, an allusion to the concept, simply, "As above, so below"- one of the earlier references to such, if the earlier dating is true. It describes a host of demons encountered by King Solomon during his time spent enslaving the same, for the purposes of the building of the temple at Jerusalem. Attendant to him in his wisdom, the "Queen of the South" (presumably Egyptian) and the land of Arabia, entreating his wisdom and power to rid them of demonic forces. To any who wish to practice later works involving these same demonic entities or associated forces (such as with the Lesser Keys) this remains one of the more valuable pieces of source material; far older and potentially closer to the original story.
50 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1898
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* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 19, 2019
Loads of interesting information here for anyone with an eye for occult learning. The short introduction provides some context. Still, I would definitely like to know more about the supposed origins of the testament, if there is much more to know. After all, this tale is very old.
November 11, 2012
Purpose of the reading of this book: After a thorough review of spirituality and the nature of spirits as an attempt to understand my own nature, I came to the inevitable need to understand the origin of daemons, since everything in the realm of spirituality seems to rotate around good and evil, the center of which, are devils. This led me to The Testament of Solomon The Wise, which appears to have been the first human being to have described, systematically named (and apparently, subdued) daemons. Moreover, since Grimoires, Kabbalah, Witchcraft, and all sorts of old Magic were inspired by this book, and Solomon also wrote other books of the bible (Book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes & Song of Songs (and possibly Psalms)), this book should be critical to the understanding of what underlies the related religious beliefs.
The book itself: meant to be Solomon´s testament by himself, although written in the third person. It is a highly unrealistic, prejudiced, folkloric personal delirium that is essentially rooted in old fashioned taboos and superstitions of that Dark Age, maybe earlier, possibly written in the Pliny age. According to Prof. ConyBeare, with Christian, Jewish and Gnostic traces, it describes the supposed supernatural power that dwells in Solomon – also called the glory of God, through which he has power over all spirits of the air, on earth and under the earth. The story starts as Solomon decides to build the temple of Jerusalem, and the first daemon (or vampire) mentioned in the book, Ornias, comes upon and harasses a young boy (who was Solomon´s ‘favourite’ little boy). Among other weird things, Ornias starts ‘to suck the thumb of the right hand every day...’. Solomon prays for God, and Archangel Michael grants him a ring in which there was a stone, or pentalpha, which gave him power over all daemons. Then, Solomon starts to call before him all daemons, and demand they say their names, their star, they zodiac sign, the place where they dwell (or hide) and the angel to which they are subjected. All daemons are vanquished and compelled to work in the construction of the temple of Jerusalem. One after the other, Solomon describes the daemons that revealed themselves to him. He sealed them all as he pleased, sometimes in sacs, sometimes in flasks, sometimes under heavy stone blocks. The first female daemon mentioned, Onoskelis, ‘consort with men in the semblance of a woman, and ... ...with those of dark skin). Interesting is his explanation of the circle of devils existence, which is nothing more than an attemptive explanation to ‘falling stars’ or lightening: a daemon ascend into the firmament; fly above the stars; overhear sentences from men and from holly angels; loose strength and with no-ground to alight or rest, fall off to earth = the falling stars or lightening.
Benefit of the testament to Solomon: Self propaganda. In his testament Solomon is very keen in doing self propaganda. He says that ‘Solomon is fairer than eleven fathers’. He says that he has been honoured by all men and by all under heaven, and boasted that he built the temple of the Lord God (were all this the least true, wouldn´t it have been the daemons who built the temple after all?). He carries on: all the kings of the earth came to me from the ends of the earth to behold the temple that I built to the Lord God. And having heard of the wisdom given to me... ... bringing gold and silver and precious stones, many and divers, and bronze, and iron. And among them also the wueen of the south, being a witch, came in great concern and bowed low before me, and asked for pity on her. And all the sons of Israel glorified him. But at the end dealing with daemons appears to have ruined Solomon. His fate was to sacrifice grasshoppers to devil Moloch.
What are the consequences of this book in contemporary life? Although it should appear highly unlikely, most of Solomon testament was reproduced and incorporated in various religions, and accepted as immutable unquestionable truths. Here follows some curious examples. The Pleiades, or seven spirits, or daemons, are also mentioned throughout the new testament and in Judaism; Paul also speaks of the kosmokrators in the new testament, and also believes in the decani and zodiacal signs and their influence over men; religions still today use incantations to get rid of daemons, such as sprinkle of the house with water from leaves infusion, with coriander, with salt and oil; use names and numbers to avoid daemons; the phrase ‘The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob commands thee – retire from this house in peace’ is still used today, in prayers and in dispossession; the tale of the red sea in which one of the daemons elicited it, and afterwards was kept trapped in the water column. Luke in the new testament also mentions Solomon in which daemons fall from heaven (referring in fact to lightening).
My realization of what this book is: It is a desperate attempt to explain the events of nature that were unknown to them, and through it, to control people’s minds and attitudes. In a very much local scenario (red sea, Arabia...), nature events (thunder, falling stars, lightening, darkness), and local representation of men and animals, the testament refers to those events of life and nature that could cause them suffering and pain and curse them as being the result of daemons influence. Solomon repeatedly mentions their current problems, such as pregnant woman´s womb, children´s deafness, moon and its phases, sea and shipwreck, migraine, tumour, tetanus, strength of the shoulders (bursitis?), colic, adultery, nervous illness, fevers, torpors, cold, frost, pain in the stomach (intestinal paralysis?), hard breathing (asthma), lumbic pain, teethlessness, hemorrhagic, sleeplessness (insomnia), uterine and bladder illness, the swalling of fishbones, and muscle paralysis, among others. Most of these ordinary diseases that today are even rare or extirpated from earth were all related to daemons and possession. According to Solomon, one should make use of names, amulets, and incantations to overcome it. God should not be enough. All this rubbish is indeed what not only inspired subsequent religions, but also rules the world up to today and should do so for many more periods of history. This is what perpetuates taboos, prejudgements and superstition, the heavy chains that prevent human spiritual evolution.
The book itself: meant to be Solomon´s testament by himself, although written in the third person. It is a highly unrealistic, prejudiced, folkloric personal delirium that is essentially rooted in old fashioned taboos and superstitions of that Dark Age, maybe earlier, possibly written in the Pliny age. According to Prof. ConyBeare, with Christian, Jewish and Gnostic traces, it describes the supposed supernatural power that dwells in Solomon – also called the glory of God, through which he has power over all spirits of the air, on earth and under the earth. The story starts as Solomon decides to build the temple of Jerusalem, and the first daemon (or vampire) mentioned in the book, Ornias, comes upon and harasses a young boy (who was Solomon´s ‘favourite’ little boy). Among other weird things, Ornias starts ‘to suck the thumb of the right hand every day...’. Solomon prays for God, and Archangel Michael grants him a ring in which there was a stone, or pentalpha, which gave him power over all daemons. Then, Solomon starts to call before him all daemons, and demand they say their names, their star, they zodiac sign, the place where they dwell (or hide) and the angel to which they are subjected. All daemons are vanquished and compelled to work in the construction of the temple of Jerusalem. One after the other, Solomon describes the daemons that revealed themselves to him. He sealed them all as he pleased, sometimes in sacs, sometimes in flasks, sometimes under heavy stone blocks. The first female daemon mentioned, Onoskelis, ‘consort with men in the semblance of a woman, and ... ...with those of dark skin). Interesting is his explanation of the circle of devils existence, which is nothing more than an attemptive explanation to ‘falling stars’ or lightening: a daemon ascend into the firmament; fly above the stars; overhear sentences from men and from holly angels; loose strength and with no-ground to alight or rest, fall off to earth = the falling stars or lightening.
Benefit of the testament to Solomon: Self propaganda. In his testament Solomon is very keen in doing self propaganda. He says that ‘Solomon is fairer than eleven fathers’. He says that he has been honoured by all men and by all under heaven, and boasted that he built the temple of the Lord God (were all this the least true, wouldn´t it have been the daemons who built the temple after all?). He carries on: all the kings of the earth came to me from the ends of the earth to behold the temple that I built to the Lord God. And having heard of the wisdom given to me... ... bringing gold and silver and precious stones, many and divers, and bronze, and iron. And among them also the wueen of the south, being a witch, came in great concern and bowed low before me, and asked for pity on her. And all the sons of Israel glorified him. But at the end dealing with daemons appears to have ruined Solomon. His fate was to sacrifice grasshoppers to devil Moloch.
What are the consequences of this book in contemporary life? Although it should appear highly unlikely, most of Solomon testament was reproduced and incorporated in various religions, and accepted as immutable unquestionable truths. Here follows some curious examples. The Pleiades, or seven spirits, or daemons, are also mentioned throughout the new testament and in Judaism; Paul also speaks of the kosmokrators in the new testament, and also believes in the decani and zodiacal signs and their influence over men; religions still today use incantations to get rid of daemons, such as sprinkle of the house with water from leaves infusion, with coriander, with salt and oil; use names and numbers to avoid daemons; the phrase ‘The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob commands thee – retire from this house in peace’ is still used today, in prayers and in dispossession; the tale of the red sea in which one of the daemons elicited it, and afterwards was kept trapped in the water column. Luke in the new testament also mentions Solomon in which daemons fall from heaven (referring in fact to lightening).
My realization of what this book is: It is a desperate attempt to explain the events of nature that were unknown to them, and through it, to control people’s minds and attitudes. In a very much local scenario (red sea, Arabia...), nature events (thunder, falling stars, lightening, darkness), and local representation of men and animals, the testament refers to those events of life and nature that could cause them suffering and pain and curse them as being the result of daemons influence. Solomon repeatedly mentions their current problems, such as pregnant woman´s womb, children´s deafness, moon and its phases, sea and shipwreck, migraine, tumour, tetanus, strength of the shoulders (bursitis?), colic, adultery, nervous illness, fevers, torpors, cold, frost, pain in the stomach (intestinal paralysis?), hard breathing (asthma), lumbic pain, teethlessness, hemorrhagic, sleeplessness (insomnia), uterine and bladder illness, the swalling of fishbones, and muscle paralysis, among others. Most of these ordinary diseases that today are even rare or extirpated from earth were all related to daemons and possession. According to Solomon, one should make use of names, amulets, and incantations to overcome it. God should not be enough. All this rubbish is indeed what not only inspired subsequent religions, but also rules the world up to today and should do so for many more periods of history. This is what perpetuates taboos, prejudgements and superstition, the heavy chains that prevent human spiritual evolution.
February 28, 2025
Why read Tolkien or Lewis when you can get better than didactic demon parties from biblical psuedoepigraphia? If you rub The Bible ten times and then count to seven and tap it on the spine with your thumbnail three times, this lost book will manifest itself randomly somewhere after Song of Solomon but before Habakkuk. The position of its apperaance is said to be based on the star under which one was borne.
July 17, 2024
Very interesting conceptually, not as much with the content. Worth the read since it’s short though
October 11, 2019
One of the few coherent occult texts that doesn't need annotations or a multitude of sources to understand, and, for once, it's a story or a legend, not a spell book. The edition I have, which is not listed on Goodreads, also includes a brief description of Solomon's ring, which, in the story, the archangel Michael gave to King Solomon. Solomon uses the ring to control demons and make them build his temple. It's a fascinating read given King Solomon is a well-known historical figure, the text is considered extra-biblical and the legend is a basis for the Solomonic grimoires (like The Lesser Key of Solomon: Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis and The Grand Grimoire). You can read the text in its entirety here: http://www.esotericarchives.com/solom...
September 11, 2013
Solomons is known to be the wisest man that lived. If this book is only a short part of what he knew, then he was truly a remarkable man. The Testament Of Solomon is very interesting. I like how it exposes the demons and what each one could do. It makes it more clear to me now why Jesus spoke to demons that had control over some people. So now when certain things happen in this world, we could possibly find which demon did what when they controlled an individual. Maybe thats why us humans can be forgiven for strange things that some do.
July 14, 2018
A handy guide, one supposes, if you encounter any of the demons within, and wish to protect yourself against their baleful influences. The Testament of Solomon has stood the test of time and is in essence a catalog of the encounters Solomon has with various demons of his time, his subduing of each, and setting them to work on his Temple.
Mercifully short and to the point. A breezy afternoon read of an important historical occult text.
Mercifully short and to the point. A breezy afternoon read of an important historical occult text.
May 29, 2017
Great book
I enjoyed reading this book. It is very informational. I would recommend this book to others, who are eager to gain insight. I gave this book four stars because I did not like the way the book ended. I was looking for more to read what happened to the demons after King Solomon lost of God's power.
I enjoyed reading this book. It is very informational. I would recommend this book to others, who are eager to gain insight. I gave this book four stars because I did not like the way the book ended. I was looking for more to read what happened to the demons after King Solomon lost of God's power.
January 1, 2022
Silly and goofy guy that king solomon
September 3, 2024
Super short read, definitely worth reading especially if you are prone to be a materialist. The testament of King Solomon is the tale of how King Solomon took over the spiritual realm through a ring given to him by God. With this powerful ring he imprisons all the demons of the earth, making them build Gods temple. Ultimately, Solomon sees a beautiful woman whom he desires and because she will not submit to his God he succumb to her gods and is given over to demon worship. Thus, he is hounded by the demons he used to rule over.
I do not hold this writing to be Scripture or in the same category as Scripture (2Tim 3:16) but that does not mean it is completely and utterly false. I believe that all truth is Gods truth and this story presents a truth about our world, it’s more than stuff (matter, atoms, etc.). It also presents a theological truth, no one but God has all authority over heaven and earth. For a time Solomon (atleast in this story, and what he did have was given by God, thus he was still subordinate to the Creator) did, which was but a foreshadowing for the Lord Jesus Christ, or Emmanuel as referred to in the book.
I do not hold this writing to be Scripture or in the same category as Scripture (2Tim 3:16) but that does not mean it is completely and utterly false. I believe that all truth is Gods truth and this story presents a truth about our world, it’s more than stuff (matter, atoms, etc.). It also presents a theological truth, no one but God has all authority over heaven and earth. For a time Solomon (atleast in this story, and what he did have was given by God, thus he was still subordinate to the Creator) did, which was but a foreshadowing for the Lord Jesus Christ, or Emmanuel as referred to in the book.
April 4, 2025
Viendo las reseñas no entiendo los halagos que le dan, es un libro que va principalmente de demonios, pero es más un catálogo que algo de lo que aprender, no me ha parecido ver una demonología especialmente interesante, sino que presupone una que no explicita y cataloga muchos con sus nombres y atributos, pero nada de demonología desarrollada. Luego tiene una parte de sellos mágicos y yatromagia en general.
June 29, 2022
A classic work
April 4, 2024
Fascinating legend and good for beginners
December 16, 2024
Exactly what it seems and a nice interesting short read. King Solomon is a very interesting person and this is a nice way to see how he was likely regarded.
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November 12, 2014the testament of solomon did not exist in bible because its not inspire message of christ to the world and we need to be deviate fro the word of novelist and philosopher. in either, for us not to be led astray thank you
September 15, 2018
For what it is, namely a comprehensive edition of the Greek text of several versions of the pseudepigraphic Testament of Solomon, redacted from the extant manuscripts thereof and furnished with comparative critical apparatus, McCown's volume is an invaluable scholarly resource.
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January 3, 2014cool
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews