A Jewish Legend by Whittier

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Dec 12, 1878

A Jewish Legend.

By Whittier

According to Jewish and Mohammedan tradition, King Solomon, who was wise beyond all other men, knew the language of animals, and could talk with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. A Rabbinical story is told of him which is in this wise:—

“One day the king rode out of Jerusalem with a great retinue. An ant-hill lay directly in his path, and Solomon heard its little people talking.

“‘Here comes the great king,’ he heard one of them say. ‘His flatterers call him wise, and just, and merciful, but he is about to ride over us, and crush us without heeding our sufferings.’

“And Solomon told the Queen of Sheba, who rode with him, what the ant said.

“And the queen made answer: ‘He is an insolent creature, O King! it is a better fate than he deserves, to be trodden under our feet.’

“But Solomon said: ‘It is the part of wisdom to learn of the lowest and weakest.’ And he commanded his train to turn aside and spare the ant-hill.

“Then all the courtiers marveled greatly, and the Queen of Sheba bowed her head and made obeisance to Solomon.

“‘Now know I the secret of thy wisdom. Thou listenest as patiently to the reproaches of the humblest, as to the flatteries of the great.’” — Whittier.