One day Solomon decided to humble Benaiah to put an end to his boasting. So he summoned his minister and said to him, Benaiah, there is a certain ring I want you to find and bring to me. I wish to wear it for Sukkot. That gives you six months to find it.

If it exists anywhere on earth, your majesty, replied Benaiah, I will find it and bring it to you! But what makes this ring so special?

It has magic powers, answered the king. If a happy person looks at it, that person becomes sad, and if a sad person looks at it, he becomes happy.

Now Solomon knew that no such ring existed in the world, but he wished to give his minister a little taste of humility.

You shall have it in time for Sukkot! promised Benaiah, and eagerly he left the palace to begin his search.

But as hard as he looked, he could not find the ring. He searched all the jewelry shops in Jerusalem, but no jeweler had ever heard of such a ring. He asked caravan drivers who traveled to far-off markets in Egypt and Babylon and the Spice Lands of the East, but they had never run across it. He asked ship captains who sailed the seven seas, but they too were ignorant of such a ring.

Spring passed and then summer, and still Benaiah had no idea where he could find the ring. As Sukkot neared, he became so sad that he avoided seeing people, especially the king.

On the night before Sukkot, he decided to take a walk in one of the poorest quarters of Jerusalem.

Perhaps, he thought, a miracle will happen and I will find the ring tucked away in some forgotten corner of a poor jewelers shop.

But as dawn began to light up the eastern sky, he still had had no luck.

Then he passed by a young merchant who had just begun to set out his days wares on a shabby carpet in front of his shop.

Have you by any chance heard of a magic ring that makes the happy wearer forget his joy and the broken-hearted wearer forget his sorrows? asked Benaiah. If you have such a ring, you may ask any price, and I will pay it.

The young merchant shook his head. But nearby, his grandfather overheard Benaiahs question, and he now beckoned to his grandson with one gnarled finger. He whispered something into his grandson's ear, which made the young man smile broadly.

Wait! he called out to Benaiah, who had begun to walk away. I think I can help you.