One of the most famous legends about King Solomon is the one that tells us about the Shamir, which was popularly known as a small "worm" capable of breaking stone and cutting the hardest diamond.
Without a doubt, this is nothing more than a simple legend and an entertaining tale for both children and adults.
The Shamir, said to be able to cut diamonds, is also recounted by the sages as having been used by Solomon to cut the enormous stones of the great Temple of Jerusalem. This story holds one of the greatest secrets of Practical Kabbalah.
We must be extremely careful when dealing with legends attributed to Solomon. To illustrate this, let’s look at an example with the following text:
After subduing the demons, Solomon would have used a bronze vase, sealed with special symbols, each one acting as a lock for each being. If a demon disobeyed, the seal would be destroyed, and the demon would remain trapped for eternity.
Right from the start, we should be skeptical of what the text tells us. As always, we must not interpret things in a flat and literal way. We must be very careful with this. Because when seals are made in Practical Kabbalah to bind Higher Forces (whether you call them angels or demons), that being will be tied to the seal if it is done correctly. But! And here comes the big "but," if the seal is broken, the spiritual being chained within it will be set free!
Be very careful with this, which is why I said we should be skeptical from the beginning. When a spiritual being is bound to a seal, it will remain subject to the seal as long as it remains intact. If the person used that seal for not-so-good purposes, and the seal breaks, that spiritual being will be freed, and it is very likely that it will seek revenge on the one who bound it to do what it did not want to do.
With humility, we must recognize that we are not King Solomon and cannot assume to possess the extremely high level he had, which allowed him to control supernatural forces.
Now, let’s look at the legend of Shamir:
When King Solomon wanted to build the Temple in Jerusalem, he felt ashamed that he could not obtain the necessary cut stones, as the use of any iron tool was prohibited—a metal generally reserved for making weapons of war.
Therefore, he summoned the Sages of his kingdom to consult them on this matter. And they replied:
"There is a worm the size of a grain of wheat, called the Shamir, which is capable of cutting the hardest stone. Moses had already used it to engrave the names of the Twelve Tribes on the precious stones of Aaron's Breastplate."
Solomon, filled with joy, exclaimed:
"I thank you with all my heart, Sages. But tell me, how can I obtain this insect?"
"Oh, our king and master," replied the Sages, "we cannot advise you on this matter. However, compel the demon spirits to appear before your throne; surely, they will inform you."
Immediately, the king summoned all the demons to appear before his throne and asked them where the Shamir was hidden. They replied:
"Oh, king, we do not even know ourselves, let alone the precious Shamir; only our king Asmodeus, the leader of all demons, can give you this information."
Solomon said to them:
"Then, I will keep you imprisoned here until you tell me where Asmodeus, your leader, resides."
After a few days of captivity, the demons declared themselves ready to reveal his residence:
"Far from here, on the other side of the world, in the middle of a forest, resides the King of the Demons. There, he dug a well filled with very clear spring water. To ensure the purity of the water, he placed a heavy stone over the opening of the well, which bears his seal. Every day, he ascends to heaven to learn about heavenly decrees; at nightfall, he returns to earth and, exhausted from this great journey, delights in this pure and fresh drink, not without first ensuring that the seal on the well is intact. Then, he puts everything in order and disappears. This, oh king, is all we can tell you. In your great wisdom, you will see for yourself what you must do."
Immediately, Solomon called his faithful advisor, the brave warrior Benaiah [the most illustrious of the Thirty Warriors], son of Jehoiada. He gave him a golden chain, engraved with the Sacred Name, and several bottles filled with precious wine. Thus equipped, Benaiah, along with some companions, set out to fulfill this difficult and dangerous mission.
After crossing several oceans, walking for weeks, traversing overflowing rivers, and climbing steep mountains, they finally arrived at the magical forest indicated by the demons and found Asmodeus's well there. Quickly, they got to work. They were careful not to touch the cover bearing Asmodeus's seal. They drilled a hole in the side of the well and, through this opening, let the old wine flow in, then restored everything to its original state so that nothing seemed suspicious. Benaiah and his companions hid in the forest and waited for the return of the King of the Demons.
Toward evening, he returned. Benaiah and his companions were dismayed by his tall stature and horrible appearance, but they did not lose heart. As was his custom, Asmodeus began to examine his well and, as it seemed to be in order, removed the cover to drink. But as soon as the liquid touched his lips, he noticed the fraud.
"Ah! It's wine," he cried, "I do not drink wine. Wine delights the emotions but harms knowledge and disturbs reason."
But his thirst tormented him so much that he decided to at least wet his lips with the liquid.
"Just one drop," he told himself, "it really can't hurt."
He brought the jar to his mouth, but instead of one drop, he swallowed two, then three, then four. He barely had time to realize what he was doing before the sweet drink had completely passed his throat.
The effects of the wine were soon felt: the demon fell into a deep sleep. Seeing this, Benaiah and his companions emerged from their hiding place, approached him gently, and placed the chain bearing the Sacred Name around his neck.
When Asmodeus saw the chain around his neck, he became angry and tried to break it, but Benaiah said:
"You will never be able to break this chain, for it is marked with the name of Almighty God [EL SHADDAI]. Now you are in my power."
With these words, the leader of the demons, transformed, willingly followed Benaiah and his men.
During their return journey, curious incidents occurred. One day, the demon leaned against a tree, but with just the contact of his spirit, the tree was uprooted. While crossing the ocean, there were fierce storms, unlike any ever recorded. Another day, already in Egyptian lands, Asmodeus leaned against a small house where a poor widowed mother lived with her son; but as soon as his body brushed against the wall, the entire house shook. Frightened, the poor widow ran out and begged him to have mercy on her and her home.
Continuing their journey, they encountered a wedding procession. Asmodeus began to weep and wail.
"Why are you crying?" Benaiah asked him.
"Because I know the bride will die tomorrow."
Passing by a shoemaker's shop, they heard a man ordering a pair of sandals that would last seven years. Asmodeus shouted:
"A pair of sandals for seven years! But this man only has seven days to live!"
On the way, they also encountered a drunkard who, straying from his path, approached a pit where he almost killed himself. Asmodeus made a vigorous effort and managed to pull the man out of danger. Benaiah, expressing his amazement at such kindness from the leader of the demons, received this response:
"I know very well that this drunkard is a great sinner; it is precisely for this reason that I have rendered him this service, so that he may receive his reward for the little good he has done in this world, and that the afterlife may reserve only punishments for him."
Another day, they met a man in the field who was busy searching for treasures using the energy of the earth. Seeing him, Asmodeus burst into laughter:
"Here is a man," he said, "who searches for treasures everywhere and does not know that there is one hidden beneath the house where he lives."
Finally, they arrived in Jerusalem and immediately went to King Solomon's palace.
The leader of the demons drew a rectangle four cubits long in front of the royal throne and, filled with anger, addressed the monarch with these words:
"Look, once dead, you will have to settle for a piece of earth no larger than this, and now, not content with having subdued so many countries under your dominion, you still want to subjugate the demons!"
Solomon replied:
"Do not be angry, mighty demon! It was not out of ambition or greed that I called you to my throne, but only because I seek your advice for a work I wish to undertake in honor of God; for I know that you spirits honor God as we do."
"Listen then: My father David, before his death, commissioned me to build the Temple of God, which he himself could not build. But as the law forbids me to use iron tools to cut the necessary stones, I find myself in great distress. However, I have learned that there is a small worm, the Shamir, which by its mere touch is capable of cutting the hardest stones; and that only you can provide me with this marvelous insect. That is why I have brought you before my throne."
"My lord and king," Asmodeus replied in a calmer tone, "know that I have no power over the Shamir. It was the Spirit of the Sea who entrusted it to the Purple Rooster, and the latter swore to keep it safe."
When Solomon heard this response, he sent Benaiah in search of this Purple Rooster, to seize the Shamir. Benaiah prepared for this difficult mission. In addition to the necessary provisions, this time he took a thick glass bell.
After numerous searches in wild and desolate regions, where a human being had rarely set foot, he finally discovered the Rooster's nest at the top of a very high mountain (in Northern India), on the tip of a rock. Immediately, he placed the bell over the nest. He and his companions hid behind the trees.
When the Purple Rooster returned to feed his wife and chicks, he could not enter his nest. After exhausting himself in vain to feed his family, he flew away and returned moments later with the Shamir worm in his beak. He placed the worm on the bell, and the Rooster said something to the worm, which then emitted a powerful and blinding ray, shattering the bell at the first attempt. The Rooster then tried to take the Shamir back to its hiding place, but Benaiah and his men suddenly cast a fishing net and trapped the Rooster, shouting at him until he dropped the Shamir from his beak. Very quickly, Benaiah grabbed it and fled with his companions.
They brought the Shamir to Jerusalem, and from then on, King Solomon was able to begin the construction of the Temple. The tiny Shamir cut all the necessary stones for it, and it was discovered that the Shamir's power could also lift heavy stone blocks and place them in their proper positions. Thus, seven years later, the building was completed.
During all this time, Asmodeus was Solomon's prisoner, kept close to him for consultation on the Art of Construction whenever difficulties arose. But one day, Solomon said to him:
"I have acquired much knowledge in divine and profane matters, but I would like to add to my knowledge all that you know, for your superiority over ordinary mortals is evident. Teach me the art of the occult."
Asmodeus replied:
"Remove the chain I wear around my neck and replace it with yours, and then I will satisfy your curiosity, and you will learn wonderful things."
Solomon, delighted at the idea of learning secrets and being initiated into the mysteries of the occult and the royal art of construction, quickly agreed to the demon's request. But as soon as he was freed from the chain bearing the name of Almighty God, Asmodeus regained all his strength; he seized the king and threw him through the air, casting him thousands of leagues away.
When Solomon awoke from his dizziness, he was surprised to find himself in an unknown land among foreign people. But with great courage, he began his journey back. The first few weeks were not too hard for him, as he still had some money, and his clothes and shoes were in good condition; his faith in God sustained him in moments of weakness. But one day, after many hardships, he crossed the seas in a small but ingenious boat he had made himself, arriving in Egypt, stripped of all resources. The rich and powerful King Solomon was forced, like a poor beggar, to knock on doors. When he said, "I am Solomon, King of Jerusalem," no one believed him, and everyone laughed at him.
One day, passing by a school, he heard an Egyptian teacher explaining Solomon's proverbs to his students. He knocked on the door and entered, saying:
"I am King Solomon himself, the author of these wisdom sayings."
But the teacher and students laughed and threw him out.
Finally, after many years of travel, he arrived in Jerusalem. He immediately presented himself to the Sanhedrin, the supreme court of the holy city, and said:
"I am Solomon, King of Jerusalem. Do you not recognize me?"
But there, too, they thought he was mad. For since his disappearance, Asmodeus, having taken on the appearance of the king, had ruled the people, and no one had noticed the deception.
However, as Solomon continued to assert his rights and spoke words that testified to great wisdom, the Sanhedrin decided to examine the case; especially since certain suspicions weighed on the false Solomon. For a long time, the king's servants had been intrigued to see him go to bed without removing his shoes and not behaving like a true Jew. To understand this peculiarity, it is necessary to know that demons who take on the appearance of men can transform their entire bodies except their feet. Now, Asmodeus had feet—one of a rooster and the other of a goat—and he was careful not to let them be seen.
Therefore, the new Solomon was taken to the palace to be brought before the supposed monarch. When Asmodeus saw the true King Solomon entering, carrying a hexagram of gold and silver with the name of the Living God YHVH, he let out a cry that made the entire city of Jerusalem and the land of Israel tremble as far as Jericho. Then, his size grew larger and larger, becoming gigantic; he burst through the roof of the palace, touched the clouds with his head, and suddenly disappeared.
__________________________________________
King Solomon, as protection, had his bed guarded every night by sixty warriors chosen from the heroes of Israel, as written in the Song of Songs (3:7-9):
"Behold, it is the litter of Solomon;
Sixty mighty men are around it,
Of the mighty of Israel.
They all hold swords, being expert in war;
Every man has his sword on his thigh,
Because of fear in the night.
King Solomon made himself a chariot
Of the wood of Lebanon."
__________________________________________
The Secret of Shamir is revealed in the second part,
which you can read by clicking here.