Joshua Bennett
The Queen of Sheba, also known as the Queen of the South, is a biblical figure who travelled to meet King Solomon in Jerusalem. She is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments and is remembered for her search for wisdom and her desire to test King Solomon's intelligence. The Bible does not mention her name, but it does describe her as a wealthy and influential ruler who brought valuable gifts such as gold, spices, and precious stones. While there is no indication in the Bible that the Queen of Sheba married King Solomon, later Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions, including the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, tell of a marriage between the two. These traditions also claim that their son was Menelik I, the first great king of Ethiopia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of relationship | The Queen of Sheba and King Solomon had an egalitarian relationship. |
| Visit of Queen of Sheba | The Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon in Jerusalem. |
| Gifts | The Queen of Sheba brought gifts of gold, spices, and precious stones. |
| Questions | The Queen of Sheba asked King Solomon riddles and difficult questions. |
| Wisdom | The Queen of Sheba was impressed by King Solomon's wisdom. |
| Marriage | There is no evidence in the Bible that the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon were married. However, later Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions tell of a marriage between the two. |
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What You'll Learn
The Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon
The Queen of Sheba, inspired by stories of King Solomon's fame and wisdom, wealth, and peaceful kingdom, decided to visit him in Jerusalem. She wanted to see for herself if he was as wise as she had heard. The Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon is recorded in the Bible in 1 Kings 10:1–13 and 2 Chronicles 9:1–12.
The Queen of Sheba arrived in Jerusalem with a grand entourage, including camels bearing spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones as gifts for King Solomon. The Bible describes how she talked with him about all that she had on her mind (2 Chron. 9:1), testing him with difficult questions and riddles. She was curious about his intelligence and wisdom, challenging him to demonstrate his understanding of hidden connections. One such riddle, which may have hinted at her desire to bear his child, was: "What is this: 7 go out, 9 come in, 2 prepare, and 1 drinks?"
King Solomon, famed for his wisdom, answered all her questions. The Bible notes that nothing was too hard for him to explain to her (2 Chron. 9:2). The monarchs' interaction was marked by qualities like respect, fairness, and shared responsibility, indicating an egalitarian relationship between them. She was impressed by his responses, which confirmed his wisdom and the miracles performed by God.
The Queen of Sheba was also struck by the opulence of King Solomon's court. She observed the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the robes of his servants, and the burnt offerings he made at the Lord's temple. She acknowledged that the reports of his achievements and wisdom were true and that he had "far exceeded" what she had heard (2 Chron. 9:6).
The Queen of Sheba's visit culminated in an exchange of gifts. She bestowed upon King Solomon an abundance of gold, spices, and precious stones. In return, he gave her even more valuable gifts. After their encounter, the Queen of Sheba returned to her country with her servants, concluding a visit that may have lasted several years.
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The Queen's riddle
The Queen of Sheba, having heard of King Solomon's fame and wisdom, decided to visit him in Jerusalem. She came with a large retinue, including camels bearing spices, gold, and precious stones. The Queen of Sheba's visit is recorded in the Bible in 1 Kings 10:1–13 and 2 Chronicles 9:1–12.
The Queen of Sheba is said to have tested King Solomon with difficult questions, including riddles. While the Bible does not specify the content of her questions, they are believed to have come from eastern folklore. One riddle asked by the Queen of Sheba is: "What is this: 7 go out, 9 come in, 2 prepare, and 1 drinks?" This riddle has been interpreted as a hint that the Queen wanted to have a child with King Solomon.
Another riddle posed by the Queen of Sheba relates to gender and family. She asked King Solomon: "How can a woman say to her son: 'Your father is my father; your grandfather, my husband; you are my son, and I am your sister'?" Solomon replied: "The two daughters of Lot, who became pregnant by their father and bore sons." The Queen of Sheba then brought before Solomon two children of the same height and similar attire and asked him to distinguish between the male and female.
A third riddle also indicated the differences between males and females, particularly in young children. This riddle is connected to the shame felt by girls at publicly exposing parts of their bodies. King Solomon's wisdom was evident in his understanding of human nature and his ability to answer the Queen's riddles.
The Queen of Sheba's interaction with King Solomon is portrayed as an egalitarian relationship, with both individuals intellectually well-matched. The biblical accounts emphasize graciousness and the exchange of gifts between the monarchs. The Queen's visit is said to have capped Solomon's rise and Israel's golden age.
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Gifts exchanged between the Queen and King
The Queen of Sheba, also known as Bilqis in Arabic and Makeda in Geez, is a figure first mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. The story goes that she visited King Solomon in Jerusalem with a caravan of camels bearing spices, gold, and precious stones as gifts. She also brought 6000 youths of equal size, all born at the same hour and clothed in purple garments. The Bible mentions that the Queen of Sheba came "to prove him with hard questions" and test his wisdom.
King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba exchanged gifts, with Solomon's surpassing Sheba's. The Bible does not specify what gifts Solomon gave to the Queen, but it is mentioned that she returned to her country with her servants. The meeting between the two monarchs is described as an egalitarian interaction, with both parties expressing appreciation for each other's strengths and intelligence.
The visit of the Queen of Sheba is recorded in the First Book of Kings and Second Chronicles in the Bible. The accounts emphasize a meeting of equals in rank, education, bearing, and statesmanship. The authors of these books place the queen’s visit as capping Solomon’s rise and Israel’s golden age. The positive portrayal of their interaction may have set a precedent for the depiction of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba in Christian iconography, where Solomon represents Jesus and Sheba represents the Gentile Church.
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The Queen's return to her country
The Queen of Sheba, or the Queen of the South, is a biblical figure who is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. She is described as a wealthy and influential ruler of a prosperous kingdom, likely located in present-day Ethiopia, Yemen, or Eritrea. The Bible recounts that she travelled with a large entourage from her distant kingdom to Jerusalem to meet with King Solomon, the son of David. She brought with her valuable gifts such as gold, spices, and precious stones.
The Queen of Sheba is said to have been impressed by King Solomon's wisdom and the splendour of his kingdom. She tested him with difficult questions, riddles, and philosophical, logical, and theological inquiries, to which King Solomon is said to have answered with great wisdom. The monarchs exchanged gifts, with King Solomon's gifts surpassing the Queen's. The Bible states that the Queen of Sheba returned to her country and kingdom after her visit, indicating that she did not marry King Solomon.
The Queen's return journey is not described in detail in the Bible, but it is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 9:12 that she returned to her country with her servants. It is estimated that her trip, state visit to Jerusalem, and stay took around three years.
While the Bible does not suggest that the Queen of Sheba married King Solomon, later Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions tell of a marriage between the two. An Ethiopian account from the 14th century, the "Kebra Nagast", describes the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon as having a sexual relationship, resulting in the birth of a son, Menelik I, who became the King of Axum. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church teaches that Menelik I was the first great king of Ethiopia.
The story of the Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon has inspired numerous artistic works, including films, novels, and poetry.
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The Queen's influence on art and media
The Queen of Sheba has been a source of inspiration for art and media across three major religious traditions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Her influence is particularly evident in the realms of literature, visual art, and architecture.
Literature
The Queen of Sheba has appeared in various literary works, often as a character or inspiration alongside King Solomon. One example is Christopher Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus," where she is referred to as Saba. In Gérard de Nerval's autobiographical novel, "Voyage to the Orient" (1851), the author recounts a tale from a Turkish cafe about King Soliman's love for Balkis, the Queen of Saba. Léopold Sédar Senghor also wrote a love poem about the Queen of Sheba, titled "Elégie pour la Reine de Saba" (1976).
Visual Art
The Queen of Sheba has been a subject of numerous artistic depictions, especially during the Italian Renaissance. Sculptures of the Queen can be found in great Gothic cathedrals, such as Chartres, Rheims, Amiens, and Wells. The 12th-century cathedrals at Strasbourg, Chartres, Rochester, and Canterbury feature artistic renditions of her in stained glass windows and doorjamb decorations. The Italian Renaissance artists Lorenzo Ghiberti, Benozzo Gozzoli, and Raphael all included the Queen of Sheba in their works. Venetian artists Tintoretto and Veronese also created artworks featuring the Queen. In the 17th century, Claude Lorrain painted "The Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba," which is now displayed in the National Gallery in London.
Architecture
The Queen of Sheba's influence can also be seen in Romanesque art, with an enamel depiction of a black woman at the Klosterneuburg Monastery. One of the most notable depictions is on a window in King's College Chapel, Cambridge, where she is shown standing in water before Solomon.
Portrayal in Different Traditions
It is worth noting that the Queen of Sheba is known by different names in various traditions. In the Muslim tradition, she is referred to as Bilqis, while in Arabic, King Solomon is known as Sulaiman. In Ethiopian art, the Queen of Sheba is often depicted with a mocha skin tone, reflecting the belief that she was an Ethiopian ruler.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no mention in the Bible of King Solomon marrying the Queen of Sheba. However, some later Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions tell of a marriage between the two.
Yes, the Queen of Sheba travelled to Jerusalem to meet King Solomon. She brought with her a large entourage and valuable gifts such as gold, spices, and precious stones.
The Queen of Sheba had heard of King Solomon's fame and wisdom and wanted to test him with difficult questions and riddles.
The Queen of Sheba and King Solomon exchanged gifts, with King Solomon's surpassing the Queen's. The two monarchs are described as being intellectually well-matched, and their interaction is characterised by respect, fairness, and shared responsibility.
While the Bible does not mention a romantic relationship between the two, some later traditions, such as the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, teach that the Queen of Sheba gave birth to a son, Menelik I, who became the first great king of Ethiopia.
