Portion For Reading 1King 8-10Who was Queen of Sheba?
The Queen of Sheba: Sheba (also known as Sabea) was where modern day Yemen is today (Southern Arabia). We know from geography this was a wealthy kingdom, with much gold, spices, and precious woods. History also tells us that they were known to have queens as well as kings.
i. This was a long trip - up to about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers). She probably came as part of a trade delegation (1 Kings 10:2-5), but there is no doubt that she was highly motivated to see Solomon and his kingdom.
i. This was a long trip - up to about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers). She probably came as part of a trade delegation (1 Kings 10:2-5), but there is no doubt that she was highly motivated to see Solomon and his kingdom.
ii.There is certainly rich evidence for the development and flourishing of a major kingdom called Saba in Yemen. However, there is still no definite answer as to who The Queen of Sheba was, as research has only begun to reveal her actual existence.
What did she come for?
"When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon, and his relation to the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan - with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones - she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions;... And she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones.
Regardless of the result of her search, we can admire her seeking.
· She came from a great distance
· She came with gifts to offer
· She came to question and to learn
· She came and saw the riches of the king
· She came for an extended period
· She came telling all that was on her heart
· She came from a great distance
· She came with gifts to offer
· She came to question and to learn
· She came and saw the riches of the king
· She came for an extended period
· She came telling all that was on her heart
What happened after that?
The Bible records that King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country. (1 King 10:13)
According to world of Antiques : A far more earthy version of the story is provided by the Ethiopian tradition, in which the Queen of Sheba visits Solomon in Jerusalem and later gives birth to their son. This child, Menelik, goes on to found the dynasty from which the Ethiopian royal family today claims descent.
Jesus used the Queen of Sheba as an example of a seeker: The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. (Matthew 12:42) If the Queen of Sheba sought Solomon and the splendor of his kingdom so diligently, how much more should people today seek Jesus and the glory of His Kingdom. She will certainly also rise up in judgment with this generation.
Source:David Guzik