Tuesday, September 16, 2008

1 Kings 10

1 - 13 Visit of the Queen of Sheba

The Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon to ask him questions. She arrived with camels and spices, gold and jewels, and Solomon answers her questions. The Queen was breathless at the king's wisdom, temple, workers and holocaust, and she compliments him. She gave the king 120 talents, spices, and jewels. Hiram's fleet was used to bring timber and more precious stones and Solomon made harps and lyres out of it. When Solomon gave the Queen everything she desire, she returned to her country.

14 - 29 Solomon's Wealth

Here is a long list of Solomon's possessions. In a word, he was wealthy.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Queen of Sheba

Notes indicate that Sheba was probably a coastal city in SW Arabia who profited from luxury commodities trade from India and east Africa; now Yemen.

Jesus referred to her in Matthew 12:42 "The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it: for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here."
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 for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness." (the queen)
This is the most important part of this chapter since, although not converted, the queen (who is one of the most powerful and important rulers at that time) recognized that Solomon's power and wisdom is God-given. God is glorified, not Solomon.

Karlton said...

That's right - My notes for Matthews: "The Ninevites who repented (see Jon 3, 1 - 10), and the queen of the south (i.e., of Sheba) were pagans who responded to lesser opportunites than have been offered to Israel in the ministry of Jesus. At the final judgment they will condemn the faithless generation that has rejected him.