Kebra Nagast

Concerning the Glory of Zion so that it (i.e., the kingdom) was blessed with prosperity. And as for the kingship over Israel, after the death of Jesse David reigned in righteousness, and in graciousness. 17. and in integrity, CONCERNING THE GLORY OF ZION And as concerning Zion, the Tabernacle of the Law God at the very beginning, as soon as God had stablished the heavens, He ordained that it should become the habitation of His glory upon the earth. And willing this He brought it down to the earth, and permitted Moses to make a likeness of it. And He said unto of : " him, Make an ark (or, tabernacle) of wood that cannot be eaten by worms, and overlay it with pure gold. And thou shalt place therein the Word of the Law, which is the Covenant that I have written with Mine own fingers, that they may keep My law, the Two Tables of the Covenant." 1 Now the heavenly and spiritual [original] within it is of divers colours, and the work thereof is marvellous, and it resembleth jasper, and the sparkling stone, and the topaz, and the hyacinthine stone (?), and the crystal, and the light, and it catcheth the eye by force, and it astonisheth the mind and stupeit was made by the mind of God fieth it with wonder and not by the hand of the artificer, man, but He HimAnd it self created it for the habitation of His glory. is full of it is a heais a and compassion spiritual thing it is a thing of freedom venly thing and is full of light and a habitation of the Godhead, Whose habitation is in ; ; ; heaven, and Whose place of movement is on the earth, and it dwelleth with men and with the angels, a city of salvation for men, and for the Holy Spirit a habitation. And within it are a Gomor of gold [containing] a measure of the manna which came down from heaven ; and the rod of Aaron which sprouted after it had become withered though no one watered it with water, and one 1 See Exodus xxv, 10 ff. 13