Queen of Sheba

1 Kings 10:1-13, 2 Chronicles 9:1-9, 2 Chronicles 9:12, Matthew 12:42

1 Kings 10:1:

When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon (fame due to the name of the LORD), she came to test him with hard questions.

The queen of Sheba had heard of Solomon, and the wisdom given him by the LORD. She came to him seeking knowledge, the answers to "hard questions".

1 Kings 10:2:

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.

This was a powerful woman, who reveals her power in displaying her wealth. In ancient times, the "stage craft" play an important role in politics. The more elaborate a display a ruler presented, the more their perceived power. Yet, this queen had more than just wealth to offer, she had a mind. She was capable of holding an intelligent conversation with one of the wisest men in history.

1 Kings 10:3:

Solomon answered all her questions: there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her.

Solomon shared his wisdom with her. He answered questions about "hidden" things, in our terms we would think of the "things of life". Many times women are told, by Christian groups in particular, that men do not like women to be "too" smart. A man who is comfortable in who he is, who is comfortable with what God has given him as a person, will appreciate what God has given other people. Like Solomon, when we are secure in our gifts, we feel comfortable sharing. There are many wonderful Christian men out there who appreciate the beautiful gift of wisdom and knowledge in women--we need to give them credit and not play dumb.

1 Kings 10:4-5:

When the queen of Sheba had observed 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 valets, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her.

I will be honest, I don't quite get this passage. I do not what is meant by "there was no more spirit in her".

1 Kings 10:6-11:

So she said to the king, 'The report was true that I heard in my own land of you accomplishments and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my owns had seen it. Not even half had been told me; your wisdom and prosperity far surpass the report that I had heard. Happy are your wives! Happy are these your servants, who continually attend you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because th LORD loved Israel forever he has made you king to execute justice and righteousness.'

Solomon had impressed the Queen. She hadn't believed the stories of Solomon and his wealth, seeing the tales as exaggeration. Having seen, however, she acknowledged the source of Solomon's bounty--the Lord. He had wisdom and wealth because God delighted in him and put him on the throne. God made Solomon king to "execute justice and righteousness." This may be a reminder Solomon needed to hear, and should have heeded. Chapter 11 begins by explaining where Solomon went wrong. He followed his wives.

1 Kings 10:10:

Then she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones; never again did spices come in such quantity as that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

Again, the Queen presents a display of her wealth. Spices were treasures in ancient times (before refrigeration and preservatives).

1 Kings 10:13:

Meanwhile King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba every desire that she expressed, as well as what he gave her out of Solomon's royal bounty. Then she returned to her own land, with her servants.

The story is repeated in 2 Chronicles.

2 Chronicles 9:1-9:

When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she discussed with him all that was on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not explain to her. When the queen of Sheba had observed 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, and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit left in her.

"So she said to the king, 'The report was true that I heard in my own land of your accomplishments and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes saw it. Not even half of the greatness of your wisdom had been told to me; you far surpass the report that I had heard. Happy are your people! Happy are these your servants, who continually attend you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the LORD your GOd. Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness.' Then she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, 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 9:12:

Meanwhile King Solomon granted the queen of Sheba every desire that she expressed, well beyond what she had brought to the king. Then she returned to her own land, with her servants.

Jesus also talked about the queen of Sheba.

Matthew 12:42:
"The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!"

Jesus honored the queen of Sheba's desire for wisdom. The Scribes and Pharisees Jesus spoke to, could not see the wisdom Jesus offered. They would not make the effort to see. The Queen of Sheba, however, had taken great pains and trouble to seek out wisdom--yet the only wisdom available was the lessor wisdom of a man. The wisdom Jesus offered, far outshown that of Solomon, yet few would seek it.

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Queen Tahpenes

1 Kings 11:19-21

takh pen ACE

"wife of the king"

1 Kings 11:19-21:

Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him his sister-in-law for a wife, the sister of Queen Tahpenes. The sister of Tahpenes gave birth by him to his son Genubath, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house; Genubath was in Pharaoh's house among the children of Pharaoh.

Tahpenes was the Pharaoh of Egypt's wife. As she was a queen, she may have been his first wife. Her sister was given to Hadad, a refugee from David's massacre in Edom, as wife. Her sister had a son, who Tahpqenes weaned and had cared for with Pharaoh's children.

"The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A, and are used by permission. All rights reserved."