QUEEN OF SHEBA - NYOBS 33.02

QUEEN OF SHEBA

THE LEGEND LIVES

First Word

There is not much said in scripture about the Queen of Sheba except her interest in King Solomon.  With that said; must speculation and imagination has been penned about who she was including

her romantic interests and some entrusted secrets. – To get an idea of “what they were thinking”,

I have to go to books outside the Bible and that’s just the way it is.

Sheba - Saba

• The Hebrew spelling of Sheba was Saba and the people were known as Sabeans.
• The precise location of Sheba is not evident from Biblical sources, however some Scholars insist she ruled the tribes in the mountainous country of Southwest Arabia.
• Archaeological discoveries around 1762 have indicated that the Sabeans were in Southwest Africa (Yemen) and apparently colonized parts of the adjacent Ethiopian coast south of Egypt.
• Josephus, the Jewish Historian describes the Queen’s realm to be Egypt and Ethiopia.
• They had settled in close proximity to the Hamitic (Ham) groups; the Egyptians and Ethiopians which testifies to a blending of Semitic elements in their culture.
• Although Sheba was not a large nation, it enjoyed a sophisticated culture, because of its trade in Frankincense and Myrrh. – They were TRADERS, RAIDERS and SLAVERS.

Job 1:14-15 – Raiders and Slavers

14 A messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,

15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!  NIV

Joel 3:8 - Slave trade

8 I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away. The LORD has spoken. NIV

Merchandise

• Scripture holds that Sheba or Saba was a wealthy country with herds of camels, Slaves and exports of gold, precious stones, Frankincense, Myrrh, and Calamus – They were a strong commercial power and were originally camel nomads.
• Calamus is a tall perennial wetland plant. The scented leaves have traditionally been used medicinally and to make fragrances and the dried and powdered rhizome has been used as a substitute for ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg.
• The Israelites did not use gold for money, but mainly for decorations because the metal was soft enough to be shaped by craftsmen into ornaments; but was too soft for weapons.
• Their trade routes included Africa and India – At times they controlled the Port of Aden and utilized merchant ships for their cargo as well as had overland caravan trade routes.
• King Solomon had built a fleet of ships at the port city of Ezion-Geber that made regular trade voyages on the Red Sea, so trading between the two was very brisk.

Isa 60:6 – Sheba had Herds of camels and incense

6 Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense NIV

Ezek 27:22-23 – Gold, precious stones and spices

22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold.

23 "`Haran, Canneh and Eden and merchants of Sheba, Asshur and Kilmad traded with you. NIV

Jer 6:20 – Sheba had Calamus

20 What do I care about incense from Sheba or sweet calamus from a distant land? NIV

The Story        

• Jesus refereed to her as the “Queen of the South”, so she was an actual person and not a myth. The Legendary name of the Queen of Sheba was Balkis. - She was a contemporary of King Solomon in the tenth Century B.C – The Nation of Sheba was polytheistic with worship of the sun, moon and star gods. - The ONE GOD of Israel intrigued her.
• Despite considerable achievement in agriculture mostly due to favorable rainfall conditions and an effective irrigation system, she still depended on the income from the trade routes.
• The Queen made the trip of some 1,300 miles to see King Solomon; probably at first overland by camel caravan, then by ship the rest of the way and then with great Pomp and ceremony to impress Solomon she come by Camel caravan into the city of Jerusalem.
• Jerusalem Today is the center for Three World Religions, Islam, Judaism and Christianity
• She came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with hard questions and riddles to investigate his fame of unmatched wisdom. - I think she may have also been motivated by her underlying interest in seeking special treatment for her merchants to negotiate unhindered movement in the international trade routes throughout the land that Solomon controlled.
• Solomon collected money from the merchants that used Israel’s trade routes.
• Solomon showed her around and she said that what she had heard was only the half of what she had seen. – She posed many curious questions and mysterious riddles to him which he answered more quickly than she had imagined and was “quite taken” by the King. - She was overwhelmed by the orderly manner of his kingdom and his FAITH – There was no more spirit in her. - Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her
• The Queen blessed King Solomon and blessed the God of Israel for blessing Solomon and Israel with such splendor. – Then she brought in her gifts of gold, spices, incense and some special wood. - Never again did such abundance of spices, come in as that which she gave King Solomon.
• The two great rulers exchanged gifts, respect and a mutual admiration for the ONE GOD of Israel.

Luke 11:31 – Jesus called her the Queen of the South

31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.  NIV

Matt 12:42 - The Queen of the South

42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. NIV

1 Kings 10:1-8 – QUEEN OF SHEBA arrives with a caravan

1 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.

2 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.

3 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her.

4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the Wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built,

5 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed.

6 She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true.

7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard.

8 How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!

2 Chron 9:1-8 – She gave gold, precious stone and spices

1 When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. Arriving 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 she had on her mind.

2 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her.

3 When the queen of Sheba saw the Wisdom of Solomon, as well as the palace he had built,

4 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, the cupbearers in their robes and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed.

5 She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true.

6 But I did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard.

7 How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!

8 Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the LORD your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them, to maintain justice and righteousness."  NIV

2 Chron 9:13-14 - Revenues from merchants and traders

13 The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents, 

14 not including the revenues brought in by merchants and traders. NIV

120 Talents of Gold

• Talent – the heaviest unit of weight measurement in the Hebrew system. The common talent was about 3000 shekels or the weight that a man could carry.
• Four Talent Standards of weight; (1) The Common - (2) The Common Royal (5% heavier than the common weight) - (3) The Heavy Common (twice the common) - (4) The Heavy Common Royal (5% heavier than the heavy common).
• The Queen of Sheba gave Solomon 120 talents of Gold - At first Israel used the Babylonian “common talent” of 66 pounds as their “Talent” standard, but later went to the “heavy common talent” which was 132 pounds – So the Queen gave King Solomon between 7,920 to 15,840 pounds of Gold depending on the standard used..  GOOD GRIEF
• In 1970 the price of gold was $37.00 an ounce or $592.00 a pound
• In 2010 the price of gold was $1,410 an ounce or $22,560 a pound
• So the Queen gave Solomon Gold at the 2010 standard of $178,675,200 to $357,350,400

1 Kings 10:10 – She Gave Solomon 120 talents of gold

10 And she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

2 Chron 9:9 – 120 talents of gold

9 Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

Josephus Account

• This is a partial “selected” account of what Josephus, the Jewish Historian wrote about the Queen of Sheba.  I have shortened it, because it is quite lengthy and wordy.
• You will notice how greatly she was affected by Solomon and it reports furniture that she gave him which apparently was loaded on other boats that accompanied her.

Josephus 8.6.5

5.165 There was then a woman, queen of Egypt and Ethiopia, she was inquisitive into philosophy – When this Queen heard of the virtue and prudence of Solomon, she had a great mind to see him; and the reports that went every day abroad induced her to come to him.

5.166 She proposed questions of very great difficulty, and entreated that he would solve their HIDDEN meanings.  Accordingly she came to Jerusalem with great splendor and rich furniture.

5.167 Upon the Kings reception of her, he both showed her a great desire to please her, and easily comprehending in his mind the meaning of the CURIOUS questions she propounded to him.  He resolved them sooner than anybody could have expected.

5.169 But she was beyond measure astonished at the house which was called the Forest of Lebanon….and the daily sacrifices which were offered to God…

5.170 When she saw that this was done every day, she was in the greatest admiration imaginable, insomuch that she was not able to contain the surprise she was in, but openly confessed how wonderful she was affected.

5.174 Now when the Queen had thus demonstrated in words how deeply the king had affected her, her disposition was known by certain presents, for she gave him twenty talents of gold and an immense quantity of spices and precious stone.

5.175 Solomon also repaid her with many good things, and principally by bestowing upon her what she chose of her on inclination, for there was nothing that she desired which he denied her and he was very generous and liberal in his own temper, so did he show the greatness of his soul in bestowing on her what she herself desired of him…. She returned to her own kingdom.

1 Kings 10:11-12 – Other ships with wood products

11 (Hiram's ships brought gold from Ophir; and from there they brought great cargoes of almugwood and precious stones.

12 The king used the almugwood to make supports for the temple of the LORD and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. So much almugwood has never been imported or seen since that day.) NIV

The Legend Begins

• This is where the Legend of a ROMANCE between the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon begins. - Marriages were often “contracted” to cement alliances with other nations.
• Legend has it that she wanted a child by Solomon and so she became one of his wives and became pregnant before she returned to Ethiopia.
• Ethiopian tradition says the son of Solomon and the Queen was Menelik I, or Ibn al-Hakim which means “Son of the Wise Man”. – It was said that the son visited Solomon and studied about the religion of the Israelites and at some point returned to his home to found his own dynasty.
• The tradition that the royal line of Menelik I is descended from Solomon and the queen is difficult to prove or disprove.
• BAM - In 1955 the revised Ethiopian Constitution states that the Royal line “descends without interruption from the dynasty of Menelik I, son of the Queen of Ethiopia, the Queen of Sheba, and King Solomon of Jerusalem”.

1 Kings 10:13 – Solomon gave the Queen ALL she desired

13 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.

NIV

2 Chron 9:12 – She received ALL she asked for.

12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.

NIV

1 Kings 3:1 – Marriage to obtain alliances with other nations

1 Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh King of Egypt and married his daughter. NIV

Ethiopia – Fiction or Fact

• Other writing not found in the Bible suggest that SOLOMON, concerned about an invading army, built a replica of the Ark of the Covenant for protection and that the real Ark was sent to ETHIOPIA for safe keeping with his SON that he fathered with the Queen of Sheba and is under guard there even today awaiting its return..
• More – June 26, 2009, Abune Paulos, the patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia attested that the Ark is being kept safe and secure in a church in Axum, Ethiopia.
• The Apocrypha says the Ark was carried off into Babylon… did they get a replica? - NYOBS 16.20 ARK OF THE COVENANT

Isa 18:1 – The Ark is in Ethiopia (Angel Wings on the Ark)

1 Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia KJV

1 Esdras 1:54 (Apocrypha) – Carried off to Babylon – Replica?

54 Babylonians took all the holy vessels of the Lord, both great and small, and the ark of God, and the King’s treasures and carried them away into Babylon.

Evangelization

• This is where the rubber meets the road.  Solomon asked God to give him wisdom and He did plus what he didn’t ask for which was riches.  Solomon started out with a heart after God and it showed in his actions of building a temple to God and his daily sacrifices.
• In turn God blessed Solomon and the nation of Israel and that got a lot of people’s attention as multitudes were coming to Jerusalem to worship the true and living God.
• In Sheba they worshiped many gods; the sun, moon and stars
• The Queen of Sheba had heard about a Temple where the common man could approach the one True God and when she came she saw for herself Solomon DAILY going up to the Temple to offer burnt offerings to his God. – Without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of Sin. (Jesus was the final sacrifice)
• Solomon told the Queen the secret of his kingdom, that it was Jehovah God that had given him the wisdom.
• It was then that the Queen of Sheba accepted and blessed the God of Israel as the one and only true and living God.
• This was the zenith of the kingdom of Israel which was characterized by faithful witnessing

1 Kings 4:29 – God gave Solomon wisdom

29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.

NIV

1 Kings 10:24 – Multitudes heard what God put in Solomon’s heart

24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. KJV

1 Kings 4:34 – Men of all nations were Evangelized

34 Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.

NIV

Heb 9:22 - Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness

22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness NIV

2 Chron 9:2 – Solomon told the Queen about his God

2 And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not. KJV

1 Kings 10:9 – The Queen accepted the God of Israel

9 Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness."

                        IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE GOD

OF SOLOMON THE KING OF ISRAEL AND BALKIS THE QUEEN OF SHEBA

THEN CHECK OUT NYOBS 29.02 – THE CASE FOR CHRISTIANITY.

If you do not believe in God then check out NYOBS 06.22 – HELL

Wait, there’s more

• When the time had fully come, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ born of a woman, to redeem and save mankind.
• No one can come to God except through His Son – We can’t do anything to earn salvation – We are saved by His grace; it is a Gift of God.
• If we reject Jesus Christ; God’s ONLY begotten Son, then we are Calling God a LIAR and reject Him and stand condemned already because there is no other way.

Galatians 4:4-5 – When the time had come God sent His Son
⁴ But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
⁵ to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. (NIV2011)

1 John 5:10-12 - You call God a LIAR if you reject His Son
¹⁰Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a LIAR, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.
¹¹ And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (NIV2011)

John 3:18 – If you do not believe, you stand condemned already.
¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (NIV2011)

John 14:6 – No one can come to God except through His Son
⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (NIV2011)

Ephesians 2:8-9– We are saved by God’s Grace
⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast. KJV

In the multitude of counselors,

 there is wisdom.

Prov 11:14

I am grateful for those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders and see further that I otherwise ever could have.

Antiquity of the Jews – Josephus Jewish Historian

Bible Almanac; The – Packer Tenny White

Harper’s Bible Dictionary – Harper & Row

History of Israel – J. Vernon McGee

Illustrated Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Illustrated Bible Dictionary - Tyndale

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas & Tenney

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul Gardner