ATLANTA – Written by M.L. Childs, Paranormal Romance Author, Screenwriter, Copywriter and Dramatic Historian
Everyone is familiar with the Song of Songs in the Bible; however, The Testament of Solomon is a little more obscure. It is considered a non-canonized version of Solomon’s life and it covers the topic of Solomon’s magic more extensively than the scriptures do.
Is this person an authority on the subject?
The version of the book I read was translated by F.C. Conybeare but it is ascribed to King Solomon, son of David. Since it was supposedly written by King Solomon himself, the author is definitely an authority on the subject.
What do peers think of this body of work?
This book is not a part of the Old Testament but is associated with with that period. It was not included in the canon but it does give insight into Solomon’s life outside of what’s included in the Song of Songs in the Old Testament. The Testament of Solomon was not canonized as a religious text so I believe it is left to assume that this body of work is not really taken seriously, at least from a religious standpoint.
Does the writer remain objective?
The entire book is subjective.
Are the writer’s sources reliable?
There are no resources since this book is attributed to King Solomon – allegedly his own words.
Overall Impression of the Book
This book is a simple tale that is probably not as interesting as Biblical or Koranic interpretations of the life of King Solomon. However, it does seem to be the only source of insight into how the Temple was built – allegedly by the demons Solomon controlled using his ring known as the seal, or Pentalpha. The book even includes a confession by King Solomon about his fall from grace from the Lord of Israel due to his involvement with women who practiced idol worship.
The Testament of Solomon was a quick and easy read but I get the impression that the book has no authority whatsoever. I’ll admit that this would have been a good book to read when I wrote my first book, The Vital Sacrifice, because it delves deeper into the mystical and magical aspects of Solomon’s life that are rarely seen in religious texts. But, outside of exploring magic, this piece of work is not something that I would recommend as a serious work to study.
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