The Glory of Kings

His knowledge of history and chronology was flawed, and his study of how languages relate original: "comparative philology" was exceptionally strange, even for the time in which he lived.

In the colophons Notes at the end of a manuscript providing details about its production Isaac says: "I have worked hard for the glory of the kingdom of Ethiopia, for the revelation original: "going forth (manifestation?)" of the heavenly Zion, and for the glory of the King of Ethiopia." These words shed light on Isaac’s motivation for translating the book and provide the reason for his dedicated work. He firmly believed:

1. That the legitimate kings of Ethiopia were descendants of Solomon, King of Israel.
2. That the Tabernacle of the Law of God—that is, the Ark of the Covenant—had been brought from Jerusalem to Aksum original: "Aksûm" by Menyelek, who the Ethiopians believe was Solomon’s firstborn son.
3. That the God of Israel had moved His earthly home from Jerusalem to Aksum, the religious and political capital of Ethiopia.

The methods Menyelek used to take possession of the Ark of the Covenant did not bother Isaac’s conscience at all; in fact, he celebrated them. To him, it was clear that Menyelek was carrying out God’s will by removing the Tabernacle of Zion from Jerusalem. According to Isaac, God was convinced that the Jews were no longer worthy to be the guardians of the Ark containing His presence, and the Ark itself desired to leave. Ethiopia had "stretched out her hands to God" Psalm 68:31, and He went to her, accompanied by the Ark, to rule over Menyelek’s kingdom. This kingdom was established according to the commands God had given to Moses and the prophets and priests of Israel.

It should be remembered that the royal line founded by Solomon continued to rule even after the Ethiopians converted to Christianity through the teachings of Frumentius and Adesius (the slaves of the merchant Meropius), and that the lineage remained unbroken until the tenth century AD. Isaac knew that God then per-