Testament of Solomon

Summary:

The Testament of Solomon is a testament in name only. It actually belongs to the genre of magical literature, with a few features of testamentary literature added. The story takes the form of a haggadic folktale in which Israel's King Solomon employs magic to force demons to aid with the construction of the Temple. The author also links demonology with astrology and provides information regarding ancient magic, medicine, astrology, and angelology.

Canonical Status: Old Testament pseudepigrapha

 

Sources:

1 Kgs 9:5-14 (LXX 4:29-34) Widespread Jewish traditions about Solomon's magical wisdom

 

Author:

Allegedly the last words of King Solomon, the pseudonym of the actual author An anonymous Christian, probably of Egypt, attracted to "white" (protective) magic

 

Date: 1st to 3rd centuries AD

 

Original Language: Koinē Greek

Notes prepared by Mark Seitz (Junior Biblical Literature Major)

for the Wesley Center for Applied Theology at Northwest Nazarene University

Copyright 2000 by the Wesley Center for Applied Theology

Text may be freely used for personal or scholarly purposes or mirrored on other web sites, provided the notice below the horizontal line is left intact. Any use of this material for commercial purposes of any kind is strictly forbidden without the express permission of the Wesley Center at Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, ID 83686. Contact the webmaster for permission or to report errors.