Kebra Nagast

there because of his riches ; for he was exceedingly rich and had many possessions, and the governors [of Judah] were afraid of him. 76. CONCERNING LYING WITNESSES And there was a certain depraved man of the seed of Benjamin, whose name was Benyas, who used to lead the mule of the King of Israel, and Karmin used to feed him, together with the mule of King Manasseh. And among the neighbours of Karmin there were certain men who were envious of him because of [his] pastures and wells, and because of the multitude of his flocks and herds and servants, for the region [where he had settled] was the inheritance of their fathers, and for this reason they wished to drive him away from their country. And they kept watch upon Benyas, the leader of the king's mule, with evil intent, and they abused Karmin, and said unto Benyas, " This Karmin blasphemeth, and he hath blasphemed the King of This king is not Israel, the anointed of God, saying, the son of a free woman, but the son of an old woman ' servant whom [a certain man] bought for two Kor- measures [of grain] to work at the mill and brickmaking.' Do thou take thy case against him to the king and accuse him, for we will bepfchy witnesses before the And king, and we will not let thee be put to shame." him made a to swore covenant and they together, they that they would bear false witness against Karmin, by whose tongue such a word had never been uttered, and into whose mind such a thought had never entered. And Benyas went to his lord, the King, and told him all this matter. And the King said unto him, " Is " And there any man who hath heard this with thee ? " are said there answered and unto Yea, him, Benyas some who have heard two of the nobles of Israel who " belong to 'Armat em." And the King said unto him, Go now and bring them hither secretly so that we may find 128