[78] We are not told here how the demon came to part with
this safeguard of his power. The Muslim form of the
legend, as will be seen presently, is much more
consistent, and corresponds generally with another
rabbinical version, which follows the present one.
Another account informs us that the demon, having cajoled Solomon out of
possession of his magic ring, at once flung it into the sea and cast the
king 400 miles away. Solomon came to a place called Mash Kerim, where he
was made chief cook in the palace of the king of Ammon, whose daughter,
called Naama, became enamoured of him, and they eloped to a far distant
country. As Naama was one day preparing a fish for broiling, she found
Solomon's ring in its stomach, which, of course, enabled him to recover
his kingdom and to imprison the demon in a copper vessel, which he cast
into the Lake of Tiberias.[79]
[79] According to the Muslim version, Solomon's temporary
degradation was in punishment for his taking as a
concubine the daughter of an idolatrous king whom he had
vanquished in battle, and, through her influence, bowing
himself to "strange gods." Before going to the bath, one
day, he gave this heathen beauty his signet to take care
of, and in his absence the rebellious genie Sakhr,
assuming the form of Solomon, obtained the ring.
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