The Queen of Sheba

The Queen of Sheba (Hebrew: מַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָׄא‎; Ancient Greek: βασίλισσα Σαβὰ) is a figure recorded in the Hebrew Bible. She was a queen who ruled the East African kingdom of Sheba and lived during the same era as King Solomon. Sheba’s location roughly corresponds to modern-day Ethiopia. At its peak, her power in Africa extended across eastern Africa and encompassed parts of present-day southern Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Solomon’s fame reached far and wide, even to Sheba in Arabia. The Queen of Sheba was half-skeptical of the rumors, so she decided to visit King Solomon to witness his glory and wealth for herself, and to test the depth and breadth of his wisdom. When the queen experienced Solomon’s wisdom and the prosperity of Israel, she was astonished. She praised Yahweh for allowing such a wise man to ascend to the throne. When the queen visited King Solomon, she brought many gifts, including gold, rare precious stones used to adorn temples, and some riddles. When King Solomon gave her “all she desired and asked for,” she was extremely satisfied and gave him all the gifts she had brought (1 Kings 10:10).

Indeed, blessed by Yahweh, Solomon’s reign was the most stable and prosperous period in the history of ancient Israel. However, it is deeply regrettable that Solomon did not continue to act according to Yahweh’s wisdom. He ignored God’s commands, and the people, things, and desires he loved gradually replaced God in his heart, causing his heart to drift further and further away from God.