Solomon spent a great deal of time studying science and the
things around him, and God had given him a special ability to understand what
he studied. Over time, he became well
known for his understanding and wisdom as a result, not just in Israel, but in
other countries as well. Eventually hs
fame spread as far as present day Somalia and Eritrea, known at the time as
Sheba. The queen of Sheba came to
consult with Solomon about some things she needed to know, but she tested his
knowledge and understanding before accepting him as being ghe expert people
said he was, in I Kings 10:1-2. “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.”
Many times when reporters talk about asking hard questions, they
are more interested in promoting their own agenda than in learning the
truth. The queen of Sheba had legitimate
questions which would require serious thought to answer. I Kings 10:3 tells us Solomon was able to
answere all the questions. “And Solomon told her all her questions:
there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.”
The queen of Sheba had not thought anyone knew the answers
to some of her questions. After seeing How
God had blessed in giving Solomon such understanding, and how he used it to
accomplish things in Israel, from the construction of the Temple to his
agricultural research, She was thoroughly impressed, as I Kings 10:4-9 tells
us. “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.
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.”
The claims had seemed so unbelievable, she didn’t think
anyone could do what she had heard, but when she met with him she learned he
far exceeded the claims. As a token of
her respect, she gave huge and very
expensive gifts, including over eight thousand pounds of gold, a huge quantity
of spices, and precious stones, in I Kings 10:10. “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.”
Solomon responded in a similar fashion, not only providing
for her and her retinue while they were there, but giving her any thing she
wanted from his stores, as I Kings 10:13 tells us. “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. “
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