I Kings 10:1-13
“And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.” (I Kings 10:1-2)
While there is some disagreement as to where Sheba was, the Hebrew word translated Sheba in English is translated Saba in Arabic, and there was a Sabean kingdom known as Saba in present day Yemen. Most of the records about the Sabeans detail trades with other groups, and not much is known about them other than that they were heavily involved in the spice trade and other trading ventures, that their empire at one point included present day Somalia, Yemen and Ethiopia, and that their language and writing resembles Hebrew and other Semetic languages. The only record of warlike behavior is found in Job 1:15, when they seized Job’s oxen. The description of the Queen of Sheba’s caravan and later her gifts to Solomon are in accord with what is known of the Sabeans, as are Hebrew, Ethiopian and Arab traditions.
Having heard of Solomon’s wisdom and how God had blessed him she came to see if the stories were true, having prepared questions to test his wisdom, probably something like the Mensa challenges.
“And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.” (I Kings 10:3)
Solomon was able to answer all the challenges satisfactorily, which was impressive. Even more impressive, he was also able to answer her questions about real world problems. I have wondered why, if the members of Mensa are so much smarter than the rest of us, why they don’t devote some of their efforts to solving real world problems instead of inventing theoretical ones.
“And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.” (I Kings 10:4-5)
After seeing the state of Solomon’s kingdom, and the wealth and power he had, and having learned far more than she expected, the Queen of Sheba’s Chasllenging attitude was completely gone.
“And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.” (I Kings 10:6-9)
She had come with the intention of proving he wasn’t as smart or as rich as people claimed, and instead, she had found out he was both richer and smarter. The country was lucky to have such a wise and good ruler and those who worked with him were blessed to have the opportunity to learn from him. God had richly blessed Israel in giving them such a king.
“And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.” (I Kings 10:10)
As a token of respect she gave Solomon a hundred thirty two thousand troy ounces of gold, worth about two hundred million dollars at today’s prices. She also donated quantities of spices that even Solomon’s traders had not been able to obtain, as well as precious stones, including diamonds.
“And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.” (I Kings 10:11)
Solomon’s joint trading venture with Hiram to send ships down through the Gulf of Aqaba along the gold coast of Africa brought in vast quantities of the gold and precious stones, as well as huge quantities of almug trees, generally believed to be sandalwood from India.
“And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.” (I Kings 10:12)
Sandalwood is a dense aromatic hardwood useful for many purposes. Solomon used it for carved pillars in the temple, as well as for making various musical instruments.
“And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.” (I Kings 10:13)
Solomon freely provided for the Queen of Sheba’s entourage. In addition he gave her anything she asked for, displaying his wealth. She returned to her own country after her visit was over. Despite various traditions, there is no evidence of any deeper involvement.
“And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.” (I Kings 10:1-2)
While there is some disagreement as to where Sheba was, the Hebrew word translated Sheba in English is translated Saba in Arabic, and there was a Sabean kingdom known as Saba in present day Yemen. Most of the records about the Sabeans detail trades with other groups, and not much is known about them other than that they were heavily involved in the spice trade and other trading ventures, that their empire at one point included present day Somalia, Yemen and Ethiopia, and that their language and writing resembles Hebrew and other Semetic languages. The only record of warlike behavior is found in Job 1:15, when they seized Job’s oxen. The description of the Queen of Sheba’s caravan and later her gifts to Solomon are in accord with what is known of the Sabeans, as are Hebrew, Ethiopian and Arab traditions.
Having heard of Solomon’s wisdom and how God had blessed him she came to see if the stories were true, having prepared questions to test his wisdom, probably something like the Mensa challenges.
“And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.” (I Kings 10:3)
Solomon was able to answer all the challenges satisfactorily, which was impressive. Even more impressive, he was also able to answer her questions about real world problems. I have wondered why, if the members of Mensa are so much smarter than the rest of us, why they don’t devote some of their efforts to solving real world problems instead of inventing theoretical ones.
“And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.” (I Kings 10:4-5)
After seeing the state of Solomon’s kingdom, and the wealth and power he had, and having learned far more than she expected, the Queen of Sheba’s Chasllenging attitude was completely gone.
“And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.” (I Kings 10:6-9)
She had come with the intention of proving he wasn’t as smart or as rich as people claimed, and instead, she had found out he was both richer and smarter. The country was lucky to have such a wise and good ruler and those who worked with him were blessed to have the opportunity to learn from him. God had richly blessed Israel in giving them such a king.
“And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.” (I Kings 10:10)
As a token of respect she gave Solomon a hundred thirty two thousand troy ounces of gold, worth about two hundred million dollars at today’s prices. She also donated quantities of spices that even Solomon’s traders had not been able to obtain, as well as precious stones, including diamonds.
“And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.” (I Kings 10:11)
Solomon’s joint trading venture with Hiram to send ships down through the Gulf of Aqaba along the gold coast of Africa brought in vast quantities of the gold and precious stones, as well as huge quantities of almug trees, generally believed to be sandalwood from India.
“And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.” (I Kings 10:12)
Sandalwood is a dense aromatic hardwood useful for many purposes. Solomon used it for carved pillars in the temple, as well as for making various musical instruments.
“And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.” (I Kings 10:13)
Solomon freely provided for the Queen of Sheba’s entourage. In addition he gave her anything she asked for, displaying his wealth. She returned to her own country after her visit was over. Despite various traditions, there is no evidence of any deeper involvement.
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