The story as told in the Book of Kings appears diplomatic, and several details suggest that in some earlier legend the strife between the half-brothers had a more romantic relation to "Abishag the Shunammite," who is described as "very fair." Abishag is interpreted as meaning "father of error," and though that translation is of doubtful accuracy, its persistence indicates the place occupied by her in early tradition. According to Yalkut Reubeni the soul of Eve transmigrated into her. She caused trouble between the brothers, whose Jahvist names, Adonijah and Jedidiah,--strength of Jah, and love of Jah,--seem to have been at some time related. However this may be, the fair Shunammite, as represented in the Shulamite of the Song of Songs, fills pretty closely the outlines set forth in the famous epithalamium (Psalm xlv.) which all critics, I believe, refer to Solomon's marriage with a bride brought from some far country. I quote (with a few alterations hereafter discussed) the late Professor Newman's translation, in which it will be seen that several lines are applicable to the Shunammite, whose humble position is alluded to, separated from her "people," and her "father's house": "My heart boils up with goodly matter. I ponder; and my verse concerns the King. Let my tongue be a ready writer's pen. "Fairer art thou than all the sons of men. Over thy lips delightsomeness is poured: Therefore hath God forever blessed thee. "Gird at thy hip thy hero sword, Thy glory and thy majesty: And forth victorious ride majestic, For truth and meekness, righteously; And let thy right hand teach the wondrous deeds. Beneath thy feet the peoples fall; For in the heart of the king's enemies Sharp are thy arrows. "Thy throne, O God, ever and always stands; A righteous sceptre is thy royal sceptre. Thou lovest right and hatest evil; Therefore, O God, thy God hath anointed thee With oil of joy above thy fellow-kings. Myrrh, aloes, cassia, all thy raiment is. From ivory palaces the viols gladden thee. King's daughters count among thy favorites; And at thy right hand stands the Queen In Gold of Ophir. "O daughter, hark! behold and bend thy ear: Forget thy people and thy father's house. Win thou the King thy beauty to desire; He is thy lord; do homage unto him. So Tyrus's daughter and the sons of wealth With gifts shall court thee. "Right glorious is the royal damsel; Wrought of gold is her apparel. In broidered tissues to the King she is led: Her maiden-friends, behind, are brought to thee. They come with joy and gladness, They enter the royal palace. "Thy fathers by their sons shall be replaced; As princes o'er the land shalt thou exalt them. So will I publish to all times thy name; So shall the nations praise thee, now and always."