seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Kings 10:1 When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the Lord, she came to test Solomon 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 people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 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.”
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.
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.)
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.
BBBBBBBBBBBB
When the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him: She came to Solomon and Israel at their material zenith. The great prosperity, splendor, and wisdom of Solomon’s kingdom were internationally famous.
BBBBBBBBBBBB
The Queen of Sheba, according to the biblical narrative, was a woman of great wealth, beauty, and power. Sheba, believed to be either in Ethiopia or Yemen by most biblical scholars, was a well-established city, and, although there is little evidence outside the Bible as to the nature of the monarchy and how it was established, it is clear that the Queen of Sheba ruled alone and was not enamored with the religions in her own land.
BBBBBBBBBBBB
There is also a type of wood discussed in these verses that could use some clarification. Apparently Algumwood was a superhard redwood. It was known for its strength, terrific look and aroma. Imagine yourself standing in a redwood forest. Now imagine a grand Temple and the aroma of redwood. That's the kind of "over the top" construction Solomon accomplished. It's the attention to detail... right down to the proper aroma for the Temple that caused the name of Solomon to be spread as far as Southern Arabia and beyond.
Now back to the Queen of Sheba. I've heard it said that the Song of Solomon was about an affair Solomon had with Sheba. That would be poetic.... rich Godfearing man with rich independent woman enjoying a hot affair in the Palace. There are also rumors that Sheba left Israel pregnant with Solomon's baby.
Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. How would he know if one more woman had another child of his? I still don't know how he ruled the land and kept all that construction going with so many women to tend to.
Did God move the Queen of Sheba to travel to Solomon? The commentary says the Queen was not impressed with the gods worshipped in her land. Was she looking for the existence of God? Was Solomon the proof of God's existence that she was looking for?
In Verse 9, the Queen of Sheba acknowledges that God is responsible for Solomon's wisdom and wealth. So, according to the Women's Bible Studies I attended over the years... Solomon introduced the Queen of Sheba to his God and she was impressed. The word in verse 5 is "overwhelmed".
Did Solomon take advantage of her? That's what his father would have done. Let's take a lesson from David and Bathsheba.
Was Solomon wise enough to lust but not touch? Are the nations of Israel and Ethiopia, Southern Arabia, related by the blood of Solomon?
With 700 wives and 300 concubines, did Solomon even experience lust anymore?
Was Sheba that itch that Solomon just could not scratch? Is that how she would be the subject of the Songs of Solomon and maintain her independence?
I assume she didn't just lay down.... she was a smart, independent, woman.
She was the Queen of Sheba, an extraordinary woman.
