Exempla of the Rabbis, Tale 392

Midrash Aggadah Exempla of the Rabbis, No. 392

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 16, 2025

11. Ashmedai wished to confuse Solomon's wisdom, so he brought up from the netherworld a man with two heads. Solomon was surprised and so was Benaya, who would not believe it. Asked by Solomon, the man said that he was of the descendants of Cain. Sun and moon shine upon their land called Tebel; they sow and reap and have animals. Sun rises in the west and sets in the east. When he wished to be returned Ashmedai declined, saying it was impossible. The two headed man married, got very rich and left seven sons, one of them with two heads, who

claimed double portion of inheritance. Brought before Solomon. Sanhedrin (the supreme rabbinic court) could not decide. Solomon prayed to God and next morning ordered hot water and strong wine to the brought. Sprinkled one head with hot water and gave the other to drink of the wine. Both suffered pain and both got drunk, and the man confessed that both were one and got only a seventh part of the inheritance. (Variant of No. 113.)

Themes

Wisdom Kings Prayer Animals

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