On King Solomon’s Cunning
On King Solomon’s Cunning Before the birth of Christ, all the dead, sinners and righteous alike, were in hell. Anna the prophetess was there too, and kept…
On King Solomon’s Cunning
Before the birth of Christ, all the dead, sinners and righteous alike, were in hell. Anna the prophetess was there too, and kept prophesying that Jesus Christ would be born and lead all the righteous out of hell. The righteous had long been waiting for deliverance and could hardly bear to wait any longer. They said:
“Anna, you keep prophesying and prophesying, but nothing ever comes true. You’re only deceiving us!”
Anna assured them that everything she had prophesied really would come true.
Then Jesus Christ was born and began walking the earth with the apostles; he went into hell too. Hell began to crack, and Satanail cried out:
“Hell, hold firm!”
But hell went on cracking. The Lord led everyone out of hell with him, but left King Solomon behind. Solomon said:
“Why, Lord, are you leading everyone out of hell and leaving me here alone?”
The Lord said:
“You’re so clever and wise yourself—use your own wisdom to get out!”
So Solomon remained in hell and began measuring it out, saying:
“Here will be a church, here the altar, and here a chapel.”
Satanail stopped him:
“Solomon, what are you doing?”
He replied:
“I’m planning to build a church here, and a chapel over there.”
“What are you thinking, King Solomon! It was cramped enough here before. I was glad to be rid of those troublesome lodgers, and now you’re crowding me again.”
“Well, Satanail, here are three arshins for you in the corner—that’s enough room for you!”
Satanail grew angry and threw King Solomon out of hell—drove him right out. Solomon set off for the kingdom of heaven. He knocked at the gate and asked:
“Brothers! Please tell me, which life is better—the old one in hell or the new one in the kingdom of heaven?”
“Oh no,” they said, “the new one in the kingdom of heaven is better.”
“Let me see just a little of your life here! I’d like to have a look at you.”
They opened the door a little so he could peep inside.
He looked and looked, then stuck his foot in. They began closing the gates of paradise and caught his foot. He shouted:
“You’ve trapped my foot! You’ve trapped my foot!”
As soon as they opened the gate wider, Solomon slipped into the kingdom of heaven—and into a corner. There he stayed, rather than at the front, where those who had arrived first had taken their places.