How Ashmedai Took the Place of Solomon and Was Found Out

Gaster, The Exempla of the Rabbis (1924), No. 4 (Ben Attar)

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·April 19, 2026

Story of how Ashmedai took the place of Solomon but was afterwards discovered.

Themes

Solomon Demons Humility Wisdom

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Legends of the JewsAsmodeus Summons a Double-Headed Man From UndergroundIt all starts, as many good stories do, with a bit of boasting. Asmodeus, the king of demons, challenged Solomon, saying that even with all his famed wisdom, th Legends of the JewsRulers From Every Nation Flock to Solomon's TempleIt wasn't just priests and pilgrims who showed up to admire Solomon's handiwork. According to the Legends of the Jews, rulers from all over the world flocked to Legends of the JewsWisdom of Solomon of BenaiahThe story goes that after his encounter with Asmodeus – that powerful, not-exactly-pleasant demon – Solomon was so shaken by Asmodeus's "forbidding ugliness" th Antiquities of the Jews (Josephus)Solomon Commands Demons and Talks to AnimalsSolomon spent seven years building God's house. He spent thirteen building his own. Josephus does not hide the contrast, the Temple had God's help, he writes, w The Exempla of the Rabbis (1924)Solomon, Ashmedai, and the Man With Two HeadsAshmedai, king of the demons, wanted to humiliate Solomon, whose wisdom was famous in every kingdom. So Ashmedai brought up from the netherworld a man with two The Exempla of the Rabbis (1924)The Ant Who Humbled King SolomonKing Solomon, master of seventy languages, including the speech of birds and insects (1 Kings 4:33), was boasting. He had spent an afternoon detailing to his co