The Greater Key of Solomon

SOLOMON, THE "WISE MAN."

“Praise the dead who are already dead”? original: “Praise the dead that are already dead” Consider another instance: A king may issue laws, but many of his subjects may ignore them. Sometimes these laws, even if they are earnestly followed during the life of the person who made them, may be repealed or become outdated after his death. MOSES, however, established many strict laws which have been followed throughout all generations. Therefore, SOLOMON was right to say, “Thereupon will I praise the dead.”

Rabbi Judah, speaking in the name of Rab, further explained this verse. He asked, “What is the meaning of the following passage? ‘Show me a sign of Your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed.’ (Psalm 86:17) The original text cites Psalm 76:17, but this verse appears in Psalm 86 in modern Bibles. DAVID said to God, after his sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12), ‘Lord of the Universe, forgive me for my sin.’ The Lord answered, ‘I will forgive you.’ Then DAVID said, ‘Show me the sign during my lifetime,’ but God said, ‘Not in your lifetime, but in the lifetime of SOLOMON, your son, will I show it.’

Thus, when SOLOMON dedicated the Temple, even though he prayed with fervent devotion, he was not answered until he said, ‘O Lord God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember the faithful deeds of DAVID, your servant.’ (2 Chronicles 6:42.) Then he was quickly answered, for in the next verse we read, ‘And when SOLOMON had finished praying, fire came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house.’ Then the enemies of DAVID were put to shame, for all Israel knew that God had forgiven DAVID for his sin. Did not SOLOMON say well then, ‘Thereupon praised I the dead?’ For this reason, further on in the chapter we read, ‘And on the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people back to their homes original: "unto their tents", joyful and glad in their hearts, because of the good that the Lord had done for DAVID, and for SOLOMON, and for ISRAEL, His people.’”

SOLOMON said, “For a living dog is better off than a dead lion.”

Explaining this verse, Rabbi Judah said, in the name of Rab, “What is the meaning of the verse, ‘Let me know, O Lord, my end, and the measure of my days, what it is; I wish to know when I shall cease to be.’ (Psalm 39:4.)

“David said to God, ‘Let me know, O Lord, my end.’ God answered, ‘I have decreed that for every person, their end must remain hidden in the future.’ Then DAVID said, ‘What is the measure of my days?’ Again God replied, ‘No man may know the measure of his days.’ ‘I wish to know when I shall cease to be,’ continued DAVID; and God answered, ‘You will die on a Sabbath.’

“‘Let me die the day after,’ begged DAVID, but the Lord answered, ‘No; then the kingdom will belong to SOLOMON, and one reign may not take away from another reign even by a hair’s breadth.’ ‘Then let me die the day before,’ David exclaimed, ‘for one day spent in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere,’ and God said, ‘One day spent by you in...’