BENAIAH SETTING OUT ON HIS JOURNEY.
[[3]]
King Solomon and the Worm
King Solomon, the wisest of men, resolved to build a temple dedicated to the glory of the God of Israel. He remembered the sacred words of Scripture: “And if thou make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it” (Exod. xx. 25). The tools of iron symbolized the sword, the instrument of war and death; whilst the altar and temple were the symbols of peace and life. Solomon desired that not only the altar, but all the stone-work in the sacred edifice should be made ready for the builders at the quarry without using any metal implement, so that in the course of building the temple no instrument of iron should be employed.
How was this wish to be realized? Even Solomon, the wisest of monarchs, did not know how to set about his task. Again and again he asked himself, How is it possible to split [[4]]the immense blocks of stone or to cut down the huge trees if the workmen are not allowed to use metal implements? In despair the King summoned his great council of state, consisting of the wisest men in his kingdom. He told them his difficulty and asked them if they could help him to achieve his purpose. The counsellors listened to the words of their beloved monarch in profound silence. After a while one of the most venerable of those present arose and, turning to the King, spake as follows:—
“Long live the King! Mighty Sovereign! Hast thou not heard that among the countless creatures of the Most High there is one which can serve thee as thy heart desires? It can cut stone better than the sharpest tool of iron. I refer to the tiny but wonderful worm called the Shamir, or diamond insect. Dost thou not know, O wisest of rulers, how the Almighty created ten marvels in the twilight of the eve of the first Sabbath in the week of creation? Among these marvels was the worm Shamir. Its size is that of a grain of barley. It is endowed with miraculous power, for, behold! it can split the hardest stone by merely touching it. Moreover, iron is broken by its mere presence.”
“Excellent wisdom is this which thou shewest [[5]]forth, beloved counsellor,” cried Solomon with joy in his heart. “Now tell me, where is this marvellous little worm to be found?”
“May thy days be as glorious as the days of David thy father,” replied the wise servant of the King, “but more than I have already told thee I know not. No mortal being has ever discovered the home of the Shamir. It is useless to seek the information thou desirest by consulting the sons of men; has not God bestowed upon thee, knowledge and understanding more than He has given to any one else? Is it for nought that thy wisdom exceeds that of all the children of men? Art thou not ruler of all the spirits and demons? Seek their aid, Sire! and thou wilt find the Shamir. Invoke the wisest of the spirits who will reveal to thee even the secrets of the heavens above, of the earth beneath, and of the waters under the earth.”