Queen finds more than she expects from Solomon
By Gerald IveyOriginally published: October 25. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: October 23. 2009 2:02PM
Our study today is found in 1 Kings 10: 1-13. It's about a woman that was wise, wealthy and willing to travel almost 1,200 miles in a camel caravan to visit King Solomon to see if all she had heard about him was true.
Scholars are divided as to where this woman was from. The Bible calls her the Queen of Sheba. Some say she was the queen of the Sabeans (Job 1:15), from Saba in southwestern Arabia, modern Yemen. Others say she was from Ethiopia.
This woman not only came to Solomon with hard questions, or riddles, but also with a great train of spices, gold and precious stones. Solomon answered all her questions and showed her all he had, even his servants. She was so impressed that she said, "The half has not been told."
There was no doubt another reason the queen came to see Solomon: business. Yes, this woman was a very intelligent businesswoman. Her country was in the trade zone and this visit would bring a lot of commercial income to her country. This was a public relations visit along with the desire to see the wisdom of Solomon. She was amazed at what she heard and saw that Solomon had done through the power of God, and she acknowledged the God of Israel. Scholars are divided on whether she accepted God or whether she just added Him to her list of many gods.
The queen gave Solomon an abundance of spices so great that it was never matched. Solomon gave the queen all she desired -- whatever she requested, she received. This doesn't count what he gave her out of the royal bounty. Many scholars believe she also left expecting a child with Solomon who became the king of Ethiopia. I don't know about that, but I do hope she left with the God of Israel in her heart, mind, spirit and life.
Gerald Ivey is pastor of Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church, Walland. His column runs the second and fourth Sundays of each month in the Women's Section. Mail comments to Gerald Ivey, The Daily Times, P.O. Box 9740, Maryville, TN 37802-9740 or e-mail Women's Times Editor Linda Albert at linda.albert@thedailytimes.com.
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