Three wanderers were walking along the road. The eve of Saturday arrived. Having agreed, the wanderers hid the money they had with them. At midnight one of them got up and, taking the money, hid it in another place. At the end of the Sabbath day, strangers went to take the money and, not finding it, began to accuse each other of theft. We decided to go to trial before Solomon.
After listening to the story of the wanderers, Solomon invited them to come back the next day for a solution, and he himself began to figure out how to detect the thief, forcing him to incriminate himself. When the strangers came to trial, Solomon addressed them with these words:
“I heard about you that you are enlightened, wise and experienced people in controversial matters, and I ask you to judge the matter with which one king approached me.
In the country of this king, a young man and a girl grew up next to each other. They fell in love with each other, and the young man said to the girl: “Swear to me that you will not become anyone’s wife until I give my consent.” The girl swore. After some time, she became engaged to another man. After the wedding, when the newlyweds were left alone, the bride told the groom: “I cannot become your wife until I go to my first groom, to whom I swore, and receive his consent to this.”
Having come to the first groom, she said: “Take a large ransom from me in silver and gold and allow me to become the wife of the one with whom I was married.” “Since you remained faithful to your oath,” he replied, “I will not take any ransom. Go, you are free." And to the young husband, who was right there, he said: “Rejoice in your lot in the world.”
On the way back they were attacked by robbers. Among the robbers there was one old man who, not content with the stolen money and jewelry, demanded lovemaking from a young woman. “Let me,” she begged, turning to the robber, “tell me about one incident from my life.” And she told the story of her first matchmaking and how both her suitors acted. “Think,” she added in conclusion, “that young man who had every right to me overcame his passion and did not touch me. You, an old man, should curb yourself all the more. Keep all the silver and gold for yourself, just set me and my husband free.”
After listening to her story, the robber raised his eyes to the sky and, deeply repenting of what he, standing on the edge of the grave, intended to do, not only set the young couple free, but also returned all the money and jewelry taken from them, down to the last detail.
“The king,” added Solomon, “in whose country this incident occurred, asks me which of those involved in this story deserves the highest praise?” And so, I ask you to help me judge this matter.
“Sir,” answered one of the wanderers, “in my opinion, the bride who remained faithful to her oath deserves the highest praise.”
The second one said:
“The young husband deserves the highest praise, who managed to resist temptation and did not touch her before the first groom freed her from her vow.
- What is this! - exclaimed the third of the wanderers. - Most of all, I am surprised at the robber: just think: not only did he not touch the captive, but he gave back the money, all the money that was already in his hands!..
And King Solomon said:
- This latter speaks with such delight about money, which he has not even seen, but only heard about; What was he able to do with the money that ended up in his hands?
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru