1 Kings 10:1 - Meaning and Application

This passage tells us about the visit the queen of Sheba made to Solomon, most likely when he was at the height of his godliness and prosperity. Jesus called her the queen of the south, because Sheba lay south of Canaan. Many think Sheba was in Africa, and Christians in Ethiopia still believe she came from their land and that Candace, mentioned in Acts 8:27, was her successor. But it is more likely that she came from the southern part of Arabia the Happy. She seems to have been a ruling queen in her own right. Many kingdoms would lose some of their greatest blessings if only men could rule them.

Notice first the reason she came. She did not come to talk about trade, settle borders, seek an alliance, or ask for help against an enemy. These are the usual reasons kings and queens meet. She came, first, to satisfy her curiosity, because she had heard of Solomon’s fame, especially his wisdom, and she came to test whether he was as great as people said, as in 1 Kings 10:1. Solomon’s fleet sailed near her country’s coast and may have stopped there for fresh water. That may be how she heard that Solomon was wiser than all the people of the east, and she wanted to know whether the report was true.

She also came to learn from him. She wanted to hear his wisdom and grow in her own understanding, as Jesus later noted in Matthew 12:42. By learning from him, she would be better able to govern her own kingdom with wise principles. Those whom God calls to public service, especially rulers and ministers, should keep growing in the knowledge that helps them serve well. But it seems her deepest concern was to learn about the things of God. She was drawn toward religion, and she had heard not only of Solomon’s fame, but also of the name of the Lord, that is, the great name of the God Solomon worshiped and from whom he received his wisdom, as in 1 Kings 10:1. She wanted to know that God better. That is why Jesus used her search after God through Solomon as a rebuke to those who do not seek God through Jesus Christ, who is far better able to teach them.

Next, notice her great retinue, or royal train. She came with a very large escort, fitting for her rank, and she meant to test not only Solomon’s wisdom, but also his wealth and generosity, and how he would receive a royal guest, as in 1 Kings 10:2. Yet she did not come as a beggar. She brought enough to cover her expenses and to repay Solomon richly for his attention. She brought gold, precious stones, and spices, nothing plain or cheap, because she had come to buy wisdom, and she was willing to pay any cost for it.

Then consider how Solomon received her. He did not look down on her because she was a woman, and he did not blame her for leaving her own affairs to travel so far and cause so much trouble and expense just to satisfy her curiosity. Instead, he welcomed her and all who came with her. He let her ask every question, even if some were trivial, sharp, or overly curious. He allowed her to speak freely about everything on her heart, as in 1 Kings 10:2, and he answered all her questions well, as in 1 Kings 10:3, whether they were about nature, morals, government, or religion. If her questions were meant to test him, he answered in ways that fully satisfied her about his unusual wisdom. If they were meant to help her learn, as we think most of them were, she gained rich instruction from him. He made things seem surprisingly clear that had once seemed impossible to understand, and he convinced her that there was a divine wisdom in this king’s words.

No doubt he also carefully instructed her about God, his law, and the worship God had appointed. In 1 Kings 8:42, Solomon had taken it for granted that foreigners would hear of God’s great name and come there to seek him. Now that such a great foreign visitor had come, we can be sure he did all he could to help her questions and encourage her search. He likely explained the temple, its officers, and its services, so that she might be persuaded to serve the Lord she was now seeking.

Now look at how she responded to what she saw and heard in Solomon’s court. The passage mentions many things she admired, including the buildings and furnishings of his palace, the daily food prepared for his table, the order of his servants, everyone in his proper place, and the ready service of his attendants, all without confusion. She also admired their rich clothing and the way his cup-bearers served at the table. These things added much to his royal splendor. But above everything else, the first thing mentioned, which included the rest, was his wisdom, of which she now had clear proof, as in 1 Kings 10:4. The last thing mentioned, which crowned all the rest, was his devotion to God, seen in the way he went up to the house of the Lord, with seriousness and reverence, and with worship on his face when he went to the temple. He showed as much humility then as majesty at other times. Some old versions read this as the burnt offerings he offered in the house of the Lord. In that case, she would have noticed how generously he gave his sacrifices and how earnestly he took part in offering them. She had never seen such goodness joined with such greatness. Everything was so amazing that she was overwhelmed and stood speechless.

Finally, notice how she spoke about it. She said her expectations had been far exceeded, even though they had already been very high because of the report she had heard, as in 1 Kings 10:6, 1 Kings 10:7. She did not regret the journey or call herself foolish for making it. Instead, she said it was worth coming so far to see what she had not believed from report alone. Usually, things sound greater in common talk and in our own imagination than they prove to be in reality. But here, the truth was greater than both rumor and expectation. Those who, by grace, come to know the joys of walking with God will say that the half was not told them of Wisdom’s ways and the blessing of her gates. Even more, glorified saints will say that the reports they heard about heaven were true, but that even one-thousandth part was not told them, as in 1 Corinthians 2:9.

She said that the servants who always stood near him and waited at his table were blessed. “Happy are your men! Happy are these servants of yours” (1 Kings 10:8). They could grow wiser by listening to him. She was almost jealous of them, and she may even have wished to be one of them.

This reminds us how great an advantage it is to be in a good home and to have steady fellowship with wise, good, and generous people. Many people have this blessing and never value it as they should. How much more can we say this about Christ’s servants: blessed are those who live in his house, because they will keep praising him.

She also praised God, the one who gave Solomon his wisdom and riches and who raised him up to be king. God had done this out of kindness to Solomon, so he could have a greater chance to do good with his wisdom. “He delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel” (1 Kings 10:9). Solomon’s rise began when the prophet called him Jedidiah, because the Lord loved him (2 Samuel 12:25). Our joys are far greater when we have reason to think they come from God’s delight in us. The words can also mean, “It was your pleasure to set him on the throne,” not because Solomon deserved it, but because it pleased God to do so.

God also did this for the sake of the people, because the Lord loved Israel forever and planned lasting blessings for them. Solomon was made king, not so that he could live in comfort and do whatever he wanted, but so that he could carry out justice and fairness. The queen kindly reminded him of that, and no doubt he received it well. Civil rulers and ministers should care more about doing the work of their office than about gaining honor or profit from it.

She gives the credit for Solomon’s success to this, not simply to his wisdom. Wisdom does not always guarantee success, for “the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). But it will go well with the one who does what is right and just (Jeremiah 22:15). So we must give thanks for kings, especially good kings, because they are what God makes them to be.

When they parted, she gave Solomon a generous gift of gold and spices (1 Kings 10:10). David had long before said that gold from Sheba would be given to Solomon (Psalm 72:15). The gifts of gold and spices that the wise men from the east later brought to Christ pointed to this scene (Matthew 2:11). In this way, she paid for the wisdom she had received, and she did not think the price too high.

Those taught by God should give him their hearts, and that gift will be more pleasing than gold and spices. The writer notes Solomon’s great store of riches, even though the queen still offered him these gifts and he accepted them. What we give to Christ is not something he needs, but he is pleased when we show our thanks in this way. The almug trees are mentioned here as something unusual, perhaps because the queen of Sheba found them especially impressive (1 Kings 10:11, 1 Kings 10:12).

Solomon was not outdone by her generosity. He gave her whatever she asked for, which may have included samples of rare items so she could make similar ones, or perhaps written sayings of wisdom and godliness, along with gifts from his royal wealth (1 Kings 10:13). In this, those who come to the Lord Jesus find him greater than Solomon, wiser, and far more generous. Whatever we ask, he will do for us. More than that, in his divine kindness, which is far greater than any king’s generosity, he will do for us far more than we can ask or even imagine.