Auerbach Central Agency for Jewish Education

Israel Education

Israel
Using Stories to Teach about Jerusalem To Young Children

King Solomon and the Bee

Adapted by Lyndall Miller from The Classic Tales, by Ellen Frankel

Materials:

Puppets

King Solomon
the Queen of Sheba
the bee

Props (optional)

garden background

The Story

Narrator:

Do you remember that last time we heard about the special place in Jerusalem where the Temple was built? This time we are going to hear a story about a palace in Jerusalem that had beautiful gardens in it, and about a king who lived there, called King Solomon.

Solomon:

Hello! That's me -I am King Solomon! You may know about my father, King David. He was a very good fighter and a very good singer. He felt very close to G-d. I feel close to G-d, too. I have asked G-d for something special. I didn't ask to have lots and lots of money and be rich. I didn't ask G-d to have lots of things. I asked G-d to help me be a very very good king and always know how to be fair. I want G-d to help me be a very good thinker.

Narrator:

And many people came to Solomon with their problems because G-d helped Solomon be wise - what do you think "wise" means? Everyone came to hear what Solomon had to say. And Solomon built a special place where everyone could come and sing and pray to G-d, called the Bayt HaMikdash, the Temple. It took him eleven years to build it altogether, and it was very beautiful.

Queen:

Well, I am the Queen of Sheba, and I have HEARD about this famous Jewish king, King Solomon. I have heard that he is really wise. What do you think? I am going to ask him some really hard questions. I will bring him lots of presents, and ask him lots of questions!

Narrator:

All this part of the story is in a holy book called "Melahim Alef - First Kings," even about how the Queen of Sheba wanted to ask him questions. But the book of Kings doesn't tell us any of the hard questions that the Queen of Sheba asked King Solomon. What do you think she asked him? I am now going to tell you some ideas that some other people had about King Solomon. They thought about him, too! This story starts with Solomon resting in his palace garden.

Solomon:

Here I am, resting in my garden on a beautiful day.

Bee:

Oh, what a nice place to rest.

Solomon:

What's that on my nose?!

Bee:

HELP!! (stings him)

Solomon:

OUCH!! Who did that?! My poor nose!

Bee:

Oh, your majesty, I'm so sorry!

Solomon:

So it was you, a little bee!!

Bee:

Yes, you sssee I'm just a little bee and I know a lot about flowerzzz but not too much about anything else!

Solomon:

Well, I don't know what I'm going to do with you.

Bee:

Oh, pleasssse, just let me go. Don't just be wisssse - be kind, too! And maybe I can do something kind for you one day.

Solomon:

Ho, ho! How could you, just a baby bee, help me! Ho, ho! But you are right - I should be kind. Just go before I change my...(bee goes) mind! Hmm...what a funny idea that a bee could help me, the KING! Ha ha!

Oh dear, here comes that Queen of Sheba with her hard riddles and questions. She has asked me so many things, I wonder what else she can ask!

Queen:

Oh, King!

Solomon:

Yes, Queen of Sheba?

Queen:

I have just one more test for you. So far, you have answered all my questions, but now I have one more!

Solomon:

Whatever you would like to ask!

Narrator:

Can you help tell the story? I need you to make your hands be flowers that someone made. And I need YOU (pick one child) to have your hands be regular flowers from the garden. Thank you! Now let’s hear the Queen's question.

Queen:

Very well! Here are some bunches of flowers! All of them but one were made by my people. Just one bunch of flowers are real, the kind you see outside. Without getting close and without touching them, can you tell which ones are real? (Heh heh heh!)

Solomon:

This should be easy! Hmm...uh-oh! They all look the same! I can't get close enough to smell them and I can't feel them... what should I do?

Narrator:

What do you think Solomon should do?

Solomon:

I need HELP!

Bee:

You need help? Can I help you?

Solomon:

Oh, hello little bee. I can't talk now. I have a big problem.

Bee:

Tell me - maybe I can help!

Solomon:

It's a flower problem.

Bee:

A flower problem?! Tell me, tell me!

Solomon:

I have to tell the Queen of Sheba which of those flowers are real without getting close.

Bee:

YOU can't get close, but I can!! Here I go!

(bee buzzes from child to child, then whispers to Solomon) They are the ones on the end!

Solomon:

Oh, thank you, bee! I'm glad I was kind to you - you were so kind to me! Excuse me, Queen, but the real flowers are the ones on the end!

Queen:

How about that!! Now I have to say, that you just are the wisest man there is! Now I will go back home!

Solomon:

I AM very wise - as long as I have kind friends to help me!

Narrator:

And King Solomon lived a very long time in his palace with the gardens full of flowers in the beautiful city of Jerusalem, helping people solve their problems.

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Picture of Jerusalem courtesy of www.HolyLandPhotos.org