The Queen of Sheba and Her Only Son Menyelek (Kebra Nagast)

Këbra Nagast off the head of √ebrêlês, which fell into the dish. Delilah seized the sword from the body of √ebrêlês and tried to kill Akam˙êl, but he hid behind a pillar and in turn tried to kill her. When Maksâbâ strove to pacify him he turned on the two women like a wild bear and drove them from the apartment. Before she left Maksâbâ gave him purple cloths from her couch, and promised him the throne of Philistia, and that evening Akam˙êl took possession of it and was acclaimed king. In Chaps. 82 and 83 the well-known story of Abraham’s visit to Egypt with Sarah is told, and a description of Ishmael’s kingdom is added.

Isaac’s narrative now returns to Menyelek. He and his company and Zion travelled from Jerusalem to Wa˚êrô in one day, and he sent messengers to Mâkëdâ, his mother, to announce their arrival (Chap. 84). In due course he arrived at Dabra Mâkëdâ (Axum?), the seat of his mother’s Government, where the Queen was waiting to receive him. He pitched his tent in the plain at the foot of the mountain, and 32,000 stalled oxen and bulls were killed and a great feast was made. Seven hundred swordsmen were appointed to watch over Zion (Chap. 85), and the Queen and all her people rejoiced. On the third day Mâkëdâ abdicated in favour of her son Menyelek, and she handed over to him 17,700 fine horses and 7,700 mares, 1,700 mules, robes of honour, and a large quantity of gold and silver (Chap. 86). Further, she made the nobles swear that henceforth no woman should rule over Ethiopia (Chap. 87), and that only the male offspring of her son David should be kings of that country. At the coming of Zion to Ethiopia the people cast away their idols, and abandoned divination, and sorcery, and magic, and omens, and repented with tears, and adopted the religion of the Hebrews. Menyelek swore to render obedience to his mother, and Azaryas was to be high priest and Almeyas Keeper of Zion, the Ark of the Covenant. Menyelek then related to Mâkëdâ the story of his anointing by Zadok in Jerusalem, and when she heard it she admonished him to lxxiv