Who Exactly Was the Queen of Sheba?

There are many individuals whose lives are documented in the Bible, and they can be an almost endless wellspring of historical and spiritual insight. However, others have such a small section of Scripture dedicated to them that they can be written off as inconsequential, or theologians and pastors will try to mine their lives so deeply for lessons that they begin to make things up. Other characters just cause those studying the Bible to throw their hands up in surrender and take their mention as incidental to a greater point.

The Queen of Sheba has been subjected to all of these treatments, from academia to the pulpit. Mentioned in one historical record during the reign of King Solomon, she was a real ruler whose life has been subject to intense scrutiny among Biblical scholars and secular historians. Her presence in the Bible can be perplexing, but when we are open to what the Holy Spirit wants to teach us, she can give insight into God’s plan, the political situation of Israel at that time, and important spiritual lessons.

Who Was the Queen of Sheba?

The land of Sheba is believed to have been located in present day Ethiopia and Yemen. According to the Bible, while Solomon was the king of Israel, around 970–931 BC, there was a queen ruling in that area. Her visit is documented in 1 Kings 10 and 2 Chronicles 9. Tradition and the Bible both assert she came to see Solomon’s kingdom for herself after hearing about its prosperity, wealth, and power. In particular, her interest in his immense wisdom is emphasized.

Scripture records, “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. 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” (2 Chronicles 9:1-2).

After she returns to her kingdom, the Ethiopian church holds the tradition that she bore a son from Solomon named Menelik. He travelled back to Israel, and returned with the Ark of the Covenant, beginning the tradition of Judaism in the area. This movement today is called Beta Israel, or Falasha.

Why Was the Queen of Sheba’s Interaction with Solomon Significant?

While there is some extra-Biblical evidence suggesting there was a ruler of Sheba named Menelik who ruled in the right time, the Holy Spirit did not guide the chroniclers to delve into it. This silence makes her a mystery, but the importance of her visit cannot be understated.

Perhaps one of the most intriguing things about the Queen of Sheba is that the Ethiopian church and Jewish communities – which have existed there intermittently for thousands of years – attribute the origins of their faith to her visit with King Solomon. When God covenanted with Israel, it was so they could be an example to the world of godliness and so others would come to them, attracted by their differences, to learn about the one true God.

The Queen of Sheba is the only ruler in the Bible who is documented to have done so. She heard about Solomon’s power and wealth and wanted to see it for herself. When she left, she attributed all she saw to the power of Israel’s God, and according to the traditions of many African churches – which have existed longer than many European churches – brought the faith of Israel back to Sheba with her.

“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 10:9).

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, her legacy was furthered when the Apostle Phillip shared the good news of the fulfillment of prophecy in the book of Isaiah to an Ethiopian eunuch, who returned to his homeland as a convert to spread the word to his people.

What Can We Learn from the Queen of Sheba?

Even the little description of this interaction can serve as a good demonstration of the power of a good testimony, and of the role women can play in God’s plan.

Here are five lessons from the Queen of Sheba.

1. King Solomon’s good testimony was an open door for someone to come ask him about his God.

One of the ways to open the door to have conversations about Jesus is by living a life that reflects the Lord to the world; this way of living can be intriguing to people, and can provide the Holy Spirit an opportunity to stir their spirit into pursuing conversation. For people who work in a setting where they cannot necessarily share the Gospel openly every day, it is a good way to find opportunities to live a life for God.

A word of caution though, some Christians rely solely on this idea, believing if they just “live like Jesus” people will inevitably ask, “what makes you different?”, opening the door to Gospel conversations. However, this does not always bear out. Prayer over every situation and pursuing guidance from the Holy Spirit is the best way to pursue evangelism, rather than relying on one type of personal outreach.

2. Women have a role in God’s plan.

God used the Queen of Sheba. In the Bible, it affirms she brought Solomon greater gifts of spice than anyone else.

“Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There were no spices such as those that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon” (2 Chronicles 9:9).

God used her to bless the Kingdom of Israel. It is also highly probable, based on Coptic, Ethiopian, and Orthodox traditions, that God used her to bring worship of Himself to a part of the world where they may not have known Him yet.

3. Women can be leaders.

While it is not seen often in the histories recorded in the Bible, there are women who are called to lead. While some female leaders, like Jezebel, are condemned, there are women who step into that position without negative language or actions associated with them.

Deborah is a good example. The Queen of Sheba’s actions are described without positive or negative language, allowing her actions and words to stand on their own, without commentary from the chroniclers. Her leadership is not presented as a problem.

4. Wisdom is more valuable than great riches.

When discussing the importance of wisdom, most people point to Solomon’s request for wisdom as a gift from God. The Queen of Sheba is another good example of someone in the Bible who understands the importance of true wisdom. The Bible records, “And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 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” (1 Kings 10:3b-5).

She came to see the riches of Israel, but was most interested in seeing if the rumors of Solomon’s wisdom were true. She sought out that wisdom, and it is clear in the Bible that she did not give him gifts until he proved himself.

5. Pursuing the truth is a valuable endeavor.

In the New Testament, the Gospel writers mention several people who heard about Jesus, and sought Him out. Jesus would affirm their pursuit of the truth. He affirmed Nicodemus, but scolded him for his ignorance. He reached out to Zacchaeus, who scrambled up a tree just to get a glimpse of Jesus.

The Queen of Sheba heard rumors, and rather than assuming they were true or false, she travelled hundreds of miles to see if it was true. She is rewarded for this journey, and if the traditions of eastern and African churches are to be believed, she brought that truth back.

For people who are uncertain about the truth of the Bible, helping them pursue the truth of the Bible and Jesus’ teachings is a good way to try to evangelize. The person who is searching for the truth of God’s Word and will – if they have the humility to embrace the conviction and whispering of the Holy Spirit – will be rewarded with the truth and with salvation.

While much of her identity and life remains a mystery, the Queen of Sheba provided a Biblical example of leadership, wisdom, and pursuing the truth. God wanted Israel to serve as a beacon of truth, of His power, and to be a light to the world. While many people were willing to trade with King Solomon for power and money, the Queen of Sheba wanted to see Solomon’s value, and understood it was in the wisdom and power granted to him by his God, to whom she gave all the credit and the glory.

Sources

Coulter-Harris, Deborah. The Queen of Sheba Legend, Literature, and Lore. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2013.

Desta, Alemayehu. Introduction to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Tewaheda Faith. Bloomington: Author House, 2012.

Henry, Matthew. Commentary on the Whole Bible Genesis to Revelation. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1961.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/JadeThaiCatwalk

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.