queen of sheba

The Queen of Sheba

Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. 2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. 3 And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. 4 And 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 seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.

6 And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, 7 but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard. 8 Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” (1 Kings 10:1-9)

Solomon and The Queen of Sheba, Giovanni De Min 1789–1859

It was quite an undertaking for the Queen to gather such riches, assemble slaves and servants, and leave her kingdom in what could be mischievous hands, for a lengthy and dangerous journey for many months…to see Solomon and hear his wisdom.

King Solomon is acknowledged to be the person with the most wisdom who ever lived. (2 Chronicles 1:11-12). If the fame of Solomon’s wisdom and right judgements caused the Queen of Sheba to journey for many hundreds of miles to see for herself, learn from him, and test him with hard questions, what will it be like for us when we see Jesus ruling and reigning with perfect wisdom and justice from His temple in the Millennial Kingdom (Ezekiel 43:7, Revelation 20:4)?.

How much are we willing to travel and sacrifice to hear the wisdom of Jesus?

In verse 5 it says that Sheba’s very breath was taken away, so amazed was she at Solomon’s wisdom and his house and possessions. Yet how breathless will we be in seeing our perfect and holy Jesus render justice, and how beautifully adorned His house will be!

Go out of your way to seek Jesus and His statutes. There’s nothing else like them on earth.

The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. (Matthew 12:42)

Jesus is talking to the Pharisees here, and the generation He’s talking about was the generation that saw Messiah arrive, work miracles, preach truth, and reject Him.

Solomon and the Queen of Sheba by Giovanni De Min (1789-1859). Wikipedia

Is this verse a prophecy? A promise? A historical incident? All three. Read the beautiful sentiments Matthew Henry shares in his Whole Commentary on the bible:

As a generation that would be condemned by the queen of the south, the queen of Sheba, v. 42. The Ninevites would shame them for not repenting, the queen of Sheba for not believing in Christ. She came from a far country to hear the wisdom of Solomon; yet people will not be persuaded to come and hear the wisdom of Christ, though he is in every thing greater than Solomon.

[1.] The queen of Sheba had no invitation to come to Solomon, nor any promise of being welcome; but we are invited to Christ, to sit at his feet and hear his word.

[2.] Solomon was but a wise man, but Christ is wisdom itself, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom.

[3.] The queen of Sheba had many difficulties to break through; she was a woman, unfit for travel, the journey long and perilous; she was a queen, and what would become of her own country in her absence? We have no such cares to hinder us.

[4.] She could not be sure that it would be worth her while to go so far on this errand; fame uses to flatter men, and perhaps she might have in her own country or court wise men sufficient to instruct her; yet, having heard of Solomon’s fame, she would see him; but we come not to Christ upon such uncertainties.

[5.] She came from the uttermost parts of the earth, but we have Christ among us, and his word nigh us: Behold he stands at the door, and knocks.

[6.] It should seem the wisdom the queen of Sheba came for was only philosophy and politics; but the wisdom that is to be had with Christ is wisdom to salvation.

[7.] She could only hear Solomon’s wisdom; he could not give her wisdom: but Christ will give wisdom to those who come to him; nay, he will himself be made of God to them Wisdom; so that, upon all these accounts, if we do not hear the wisdom of Christ, the forwardness of the queen of Sheba to come and hear the wisdom of Solomon will rise up in judgment against us and condemn us; for Jesus Christ is greater than Solomon.

Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 1676). Peabody: Hendrickson.

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Category: queen of sheba

The Queen of Sheba and King Solomon

Why did the Queen of Sheba want to visit King Solomon?