The Queen of Sheba is a mysterious biblical figure who appears in passages about King Solomon. Her story raises many questions that Bible scholars have debated for centuries. While the Scripture does not provide exhaustive details, there are some key points we can gather:
Sheba was a wealthy kingdom
The Queen is consistently referred to as “the Queen of Sheba” (1 Kings 10:1, 2 Chronicles 9:1), indicating she ruled over the kingdom of Sheba. The exact location of Sheba is uncertain, but most scholars believe it was located in the southwest region of the Arabian peninsula, in what is now Yemen and parts of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Some also propose it may have included parts of eastern Africa.
Wherever its precise boundaries, the Bible makes clear Sheba was extremely wealthy. When the Queen visited King Solomon, she arrived with a huge caravan of camels, spices, gold and precious stones (1 Kings 10:2). Solomon gave her “all that she desired and asked for, besides what was given her by the bounty of King Solomon” (1 Kings 10:13), yet she still left with immense riches. Her kingdom was flush with gold and exotic goods that brought prosperity.
She visited King Solomon
First Kings 10 and 2 Chronicles 9 recount the Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem. She had heard rumors of Solomon’s immense wisdom and wealth, and traveled to see for herself if the reports were true (1 Kings 10:1). She brought gifts of 120 talents of gold, precious stones and spices (1 Kings 10:2), though Solomon would give her gifts far exceeding what she presented him (1 Kings 10:13).
During her visit, Solomon answered all of the riddles and difficult questions the Queen posed. She was so astonished by his wisdom and prosperity that “there was no more breath in her” (1 Kings 10:5). She declared that despite hearing reports of Solomon’s grandeur in Sheba, seeing it in person far exceeded what she could have imagined (2 Chronicles 9:5-6). She pronounced blessings on Solomon and the Lord who appointed him king (1 Kings 10:9).
There are several proposed identities, but they are speculative
The Queen of Sheba remains an enigmatic figure, as there are no definitive extra-biblical sources to corroborate the Scripture’s account. However, several ancient cultures feature women who may be the Queen of Sheba, though all identifications rely on circumstantial evidence.
In Arab folklore, she is named Bilqis or Balkis. Some traditions identify her with the ancient Nubian kingdom of Kush. In Ethiopian histories, she is described as ruling both Ethiopia and Sheba, while in Yemenite folklore she is called Queen Balqis and associated with the Saba region of Yemen.
Perhaps the most popular identification is the Queen of Sheba as the ruler of the ancient kingdom of Saba, located in Yemen. The ancient Romans called the territory Saba Arabia Felix (“Arabia the Fortunate”). But linking Saba with Sheba relies heavily on geographic proximity and the similarity of names.
The Queen affirmed God’s blessing on Solomon
Though the visit showed the Queen Solomon’s wealth, the primary focus was the confirmation of God’s blessing and wisdom on Solomon’s rule. The Queen opened her interaction with Solomon by praising “the Lord your God” (1 Kings 10:9), and later affirmed to Solomon “blessed be the Lord your God” (2 Chronicles 9:8).
Her acknowledgment of the Lord as the source of Israel’s unmatched prosperity affirmed the truth of God’s covenant promise to bless the nation through Solomon if they obeyed His commandments (1 Kings 3:13-14, 1 Kings 9:4-5). Solomon even notes in his recollection that the Lord “made me king in place of my father David” (2 Chronicles 9:8).
So while the spectacle of Solomon’s wealth caused the Queen to marvel, the purpose was to display the surpassing greatness of the Lord who orchestrated Israel’s blessings.
Some propose she and Solomon had an affair, but this lacks textual support
Various extra-biblical traditions suggest the Queen of Sheba and Solomon had an affair during her visit to Jerusalem. These accounts allege Solomon got her pregnant, and she later gave birth to a son named Menelik I, whom she raised in Ethiopia.
Centuries later, when Menelik had grown, he visited his father in Jerusalem, then stole the Ark of the Covenant and brought it to Ethiopia, where legend claims it remains to this day in the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion. However, there is absolutely no textual basis in Scripture to support this theory of Solomon fathering a child with the Queen.
Jesus said the Queen would judge unbelievers who rejected greater wisdom
In Matthew 12:42, Jesus tells the Pharisees “The Queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it.” Here, Jesus references the Queen of Sheba’s eager embrace of Solomon’s wisdom in contrast with the Pharisees’ rejection of Christ’s own wisdom and signs.
Jesus affirms the Queen modeled the proper response to witnessing great wisdom and truth. Though she traveled a vast distance to experience Solomon’s gifts, the Pharisees refused to accept God’s wisdom embodied in Christ. So while the Queen sought understanding, the unbelieving Jews rejected the greater wisdom right in front of them.
This brief mention in Matthew provides one of the only concrete details about the legendary Queen’s character: she famously sought after wisdom wherever it could be found. Jesus calls upon her positive example of seeking true wisdom to highlight the foolishness of those who fail to embrace divine wisdom from God.
Key Lessons from the Queen’s Story
Though scarce in details, the account of the Queen of Sheba in Scripture provides some valuable lessons:
- Worldly wealth and power are not enough. The Queen had everything money could buy, but still sought wisdom from Solomon. Material possessions alone leave an emptiness that can only be filled by God.
- Wisdom and truth deserve pursuit. The Queen undertook a long and difficult journey to gain new knowledge. This shows the value of seeking greater understanding, as she was willing to work for wisdom.
- We must embrace Christ’s wisdom. Jesus directly compared the Queen’s eager acceptance of Solomon’s wisdom with the Pharisees’ rejection of the Son of God. We must examine our own hearts – do we eagerly seek Jesus’ wisdom or ignore His truth?
The mysterious Queen of Sheba continues to fascinate students of Scripture today. But her appearance ultimately highlights the surpassing greatness of Christ, the eternal King of Kings before whom one day every knee shall bow.