Kebra Nagast

unto her, and vision and prophecy were revealed unto him, and he pleased God in all his actions, and he ruled Israel for forty-eight years. " And after him our people entreated God to give them a king like the nations that were round about them. And Samuel the Prophet anointed Saul king, and he reigned forty years. And he was of the tribe of Benjamin, which was the youngest branch of the peoples of Israel. And Samuel the Prophet also anointed thy father David. And when the Philistines fought with Saul the King, Saul was conquered and died with [Yojnathan his son. And those of his sons who were left wished to carry away Zion, when they knew that their father and their brother were dead. And then when they wished to hide her and to transfer her to the Valley of Gelabuh (Gilboa) in order that thy father David might not carry them off, she would not let them carry her away until thy father came and carried her away from their city, but not with offerings, and not with incense and burnt offerings. For it was impossible to carry Zion away unless she wished it and God wished it. And again, when thy father reigned rightly over Israel he took her from the city of Samaria and brought her here to Jerusalem, dancing on his feet before her, and clapping his hands because of joy for her ; for she was taken by him that she might come to the city of And as for that which thou sayest the concerning going of Zion to their city, to the counof try Ethiopia, if God willed it and she herself willed it, for of her own there is no one who could prevent her will she went, and of her own will she will return if God And if she doth not return it will be God's pleaseth. David thy father. ; And God hath willed it as for us, if shall remain to us hast built for wherein thou Jerusalem good pleasure. And now, let not thine heart be but comfort thou thyself with what we have said us a house of God. sad,' unto thee. And the wisdom, which the Lord God of