It wasn't a sudden plunge, but a slow slide fueled by choices… and a little help from the King of Demons himself.
According to Legends of the Jews, Solomon’s troubles began to snowball. You see, while he was building the Temple – that magnificent, awe-inspiring Temple – he ran into a bit of a problem. The Torah is very clear that you can’t use iron tools when you’re building an altar (Exodus 20:25). So how was he supposed to shape the stones from the quarry to fit perfectly?
The scholars reminded him of something fascinating: Moses had used the shamir, a mythical stone with the power to split rocks, to engrave the names of the tribes on the precious stones of the ephod – that ceremonial breastplate worn by the High Priest. The shamir. Talk about a handy tool! But where could Solomon find such a thing?
He turned to his demons, as you do when you're a king with supernatural connections. But even they were stumped! They knew of its existence, but not its location. Finally, though, they offered a clue. They suspected that Asmodeus, King of the Demons, held the secret. They even knew where he lived: a specific mountain.
The demons described Asmodeus' peculiar habits. On this mountain, there was a well, Asmodeus’ source of drinking water. Every day, before ascending to heaven – yes, even demons apparently attend heavenly academies to debate Torah – he would seal the well with a large rock. He’d check the seal when he returned, making sure it hadn’t been disturbed before taking a drink. Imagine the life of a demon king!
So, how does this detail about a well and a rock tie into Solomon's downfall? Well, it’s the beginning of a fascinating story involving trickery, ambition, and the subtle ways even the wisest of us can be led astray. We’ll see how Solomon’s quest for the shamir, and his interaction with Asmodeus, would eventually contribute to the heavy price he had to pay for his sins. As we'll find out, sometimes the most seemingly insignificant detail can be the thread that unravels everything.