The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon
The queen arrives with a very great caravan — camels carrying spices, gold and precious stones — having heard reports she does not believe, and comes to test Solomon with hard questions. Sheba is generally identified with the kingdom of Saba in south-western Arabia, on the incense route, which makes the visit a trade embassy as much as a curiosity.
Nothing is too hard for him to explain. She sees the palace, the food at his table, the seating of his officials and the ascent by which he went up to the temple, and the phrase the text uses is that there was no more spirit in her. Her verdict is that the half was not told.
She gives four and a half tons of gold and more spices than were ever seen again, and Solomon gives her whatever she asks. Jesus invokes her as a witness against his own generation.
Where in scripture
[1] When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning Yahweh’s name, she came to test him with hard questions. [2] She came to Jerusalem with a very great caravan, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was in her heart. [3] Solomon answered all her questions. There was not anything hidden from the king which he didn’t tell her. [4] When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, [5] the food of his table, the sitting of his servants, the attendance of his officials, their clothing, his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to Yahweh’s house; there was no more spirit in her. …
1 Kings 10:1–13 — opening verses
[1] When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great caravan, including camels that bore spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. When she had come to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was in her heart. [2] Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from Solomon which he didn’t tell her. [3] When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, [4] the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his ministers, their clothing, his cup bearers also, their clothing, and his ascent by which he went up to Yahweh’s house; there was no more spirit in her. …
2 Chronicles 9:1–12 — opening verses
The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here.
Matthew 12:42
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
