to be addressed in a tongue which he understood, a Greek demon in Greek, a Syrian demon in Syriac, and so on. A lexicon of all the odd words used in invocations in the magic papyri and in such documents as this Testament is a great desideratum. But perhaps the time is hardly come for one to be made, since every year adds to our store of such documents.
THE TESTAMENT OF SOLOMON
(translated from the codex of the Paris Library, after the edition of Fleck, Wissensch. Reise, bd. ii. abth. 3).
Greek title:—
1. Testament of Solomon, son of David, who was king in Jerusalem, and mastered and controlled[1] all spirits of the air, on the earth and under the earth[2]. By means of them also he wrought all the transcendent works of the Temple. Telling also of the authorities[3] they wield against men, and by what angels these demons are brought to naught[4].
Of the sage Solomon.
Blessed art thou, Lord God, who didst give to Solomon such authority. Glory to thee and might unto the ages. Amen.
2. And behold, when the Temple of the city of Jerusalem was being builded, and the artificers were working thereat, Ornias the demon came among them toward sunset; and he took away the half of the pay of the chief-deviser's[5] little boy, as well as half his food.- ↑ ὑπέταχε. This is the word used in the N. T. to signify control over demons.
- ↑ ἀερίων ἐπιγείων καὶ καταχθονίων. The same classification in Phil. ii. 10, except that for aerial Paul uses celestial.
- ↑ ἐχουσίαι. Regularly used in N. T. in the same sense, e.g. Col. i. 13 and i. 16.
- ↑ καταργοῦνται, which in the sequel I usually translate by "frustrate," is the word used by Paul passim in the sense of to "annul," "reduce to nothing," a sinister power.
- ↑ πρωτομαίστος. The meaning of this word is conjectural only.
