Solomon and Sheba Page #3

With the completion of the temple,

Solomon had fulfilled | a most sacred pledge to his father.

Solomon, king over Israel.

Lord God of Israel, | there is no god like thee.

Heaven of heavens cannot contain thee,

how much less this house | that I have builded unto thy name?

Yet hear thy servant and his supplication,

and let thy word be verified | which thou spakest unto my father David.

And of thy people Israel, | when they shall pray towards this place,

hear thou in heaven, | and when thou hearest, forgive.

For they be thy people | as this house is thine,

that all the earth may know | the Lord is God.

There is none else.

Amen.

Come. Come.

Come...

Come...

Oh, Majesty!

Come and join us, Baltor. | I am teaching my bird to obey.

Takyan disapproves. I need an ally.

That is exactly what the Pharaoh | is complaining about.

The Pharaoh is complaining? | We will have to teach him.

Another message | has just arrived from Egypt.

- Let it wait. | - But it is a serious matter.

The Pharaoh has called a conference | of all the kings.

Sit down, Baltor. | You make Tokki nervous.

A deeper shade, Takyan.

Pomegranate. That is the right colour.

Well, Baltor?

What is the problem this time?

Your Majesty, | the problem is the Israelites.

They proclaim peace yet strengthen | their army, and for what purpose?

They are afraid of the Pharaoh, perhaps.

What have we to fear?

In spite of our eternal hatred, | we now have friendly relations with Israel.

True, but our security is threatened.

Almost fanatically | they support their great King Solomon.

A dreamer. A man of peace.

But a man of ideas, and there is nothing | more dangerous than a man with an idea.

- The threat is real? | - Very real.

Solomon"s threat | is not only his army, but his god.

His god? We have a hundred gods.

This is one god who teaches that | all men are equal and none are slaves.

What a foolish idea.

And yet... if that idea | were to take hold of the people,

the Queen of Sheba would soon | come crashing down from her throne.

As would all other absolute monarchs.

Therefore I strongly advise | Your Majesty to attend this conference.

You see, Baltor? | To catch the bird, first bait the trap.

Perhaps we can help the Pharaoh | solve the problem of Solomon,

and kill two birds with one stone.

Since Solomon came to the throne of | Israel, I"ve watched his strength grow

until now his power | has become a threat to my borders.

And the wealth and trade which once | came to us now finds its way to him.

For too long we have delayed | plans for his destruction.

- Yes, take up arms against him. | - Raise a great host.

- Trample Israel into the dust. | - King Eglon.

- From Moab, I want 1,000 chariots. | - I will send you 2,000.

Kaldu, from Chaldea | you will send me 5,000 archers.

- More if they are needed. | - We will attack exactly as I have planned.

From the north, the east and the south, | at the same time, by surprise.

They will not know | how or where to make a defence.

- We will drive them into the sea. | - And Sheba.

What force will you send | against Solomon?

None.

Why? Are you not my ally?

We must put an end to Israel, and with it | this dangerous idea of one god.

You talk of war. How can you | destroy an idea, a faith,

with the point of your spears?

There is only one way it can be done.

What do you suggest? Have you a plan?

I have.

But for every plan, there is a price.

What do you want this time?

The port of Melish on the Red Sea | in return for the downfall of Solomon.

- That is impossible. | - Melish is my port.

This time you ask for too much, Sheba.

Tell me, what would be | the cost of a war against Israel?

You know very well.

And I offer you a plan almost without cost.

His Majesty hesitates, Baltor.

Perhaps we should return to Sheba | rather than to visit Jerusalem.

Wait.

I grant it.

- And how will you destroy Solomon? | - It is said that Solomon is wise.

But no matter how wise a man may be,

he is still human, with a human weakness.

I will sit at the feet of Solomon | like the wise men who flock to Jerusalem.

And perhaps I will learn | from his own lips the way to destroy him.

Truly, the way of a woman | is beyond our understanding.

The way of a woman is simple, my lord.

It is always to follow | the way of a man.

I shall keep myself informed | of your progress in Jerusalem.

Mother! Come! Look! Mother!

Halt!

My compliments. I am Benaiah, | sent to escort you into Jerusalem.

Greetings. | Her Majesty the Queen of Sheba.

Your Majesty, the king of Israel wishes | me to convey his greetings to you.

Truly, your king has built nobly.

There is no such splendour, | even in Egypt.

And all that for a god he cannot even see.

Forward.

Do you think she will be | as beautiful as we have heard?

This is something I never thought to see, | a pagan welcomed to Israel.

How can a pagan be converted | to the true God unless she knows him?

We must never forget | she is an ally of Egypt.

Because she is an ally of Egypt, we must | show her our unity and our strength.

Let us offer her our friendship | in the hope that we have one less enemy.

She is very beautiful, isn"t she?

Your Royal Majesty.

Permit me to present my sovereign, | Her Royal Majesty, the Queen of Sheba.

Israel extends a warm welcome | to Your Majesty.

I am grateful for your permission | to visit your beautiful country.

After so much travelling, you must be | pleased to have reached your destination.

If I had travelled ten times the distance | it would be forgotten

in the face of the marvels I have seen,

and in the splendour | of your city of Jerusalem.

If it pleases you, we can dispense | with ceremony and let you rest.

You are most considerate.

But first, let me offer | a token of my appreciation

for the kindness you have shown | to a stranger within your gates.

- Baltor. | - Haran!

- So many gifts. | - Yes, and brought from so far.

Such riches.

I have no adequate words to express | my thanks and the gratitude of my people.

Along with them, I offer my hand

in the hope that this day will mark | the beginning of a closer friendship

between Israel and Sheba.

That would be | the most welcome gift of all.

Benaiah, do you suppose the land | of the Shebans is always like this?

I would think so, yes.

We must not keep the queen waiting.

Welcome.

A message for your queen.

Her Majesty the Queen.

His Majesty King Solomon | sends his greetings

and has commanded me - | has commanded us -

to inform Your Majesty that in response | to Your Majesty"s request

he will be most happy | to receive you in private audience.

He is most gracious.

How thoughtful of the king | to send so charming an envoy.

He doesn"t know I"m here.

I was so anxious to come.

Then I am even more pleased. Come in.

You are the first of His Majesty"s court | to visit me.

How interesting your encampment is.

Are your people | always so carefree and gay?

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