The Queen and the Wise King

This is the account of the meeting between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, rendered faithfully according to the historical narratives recorded in the books of First Kings and Second Chronicles. In the days when Solomon reigned over Israel, the Lord God had gifted him with wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. His fame went out into all nations roundabout, for he spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were a thousand and five. The report of this fame—not merely of riches, but concerning the name of the Lord and the wisdom He had bestowed—travelled into distant lands, reaching even unto the ears of the Queen of Sheba. Hearing such fantastic tales, the Queen determined in her heart that she would not rely upon mere rumor. She resolved to journey to Jerusalem to prove this king for herself with hard questions, to see if a mortal man could truly possess such understanding. She arrived in Jerusalem with a very great train. It was a procession of immense splendor: camels bearing spices in abundance that had never before been seen in Israel, and very much gold, and precious stones. When she was come to Solomon, she was ushered into his presence. She did not hold back, but communed with him of all that was in her heart. She presented to him riddles and difficult matters of state, philosophy, and judgment. And Solomon told her all her questions. There was not anything hidden from the king which he told her not. His answers were not merely clever; they were steeped in the discernment given by God, illuminating the darkest corners of her inquiries. Yet, it was not his words alone that captivated the queen. When she had fully seen the wisdom of Solomon put into practice, she looked upon his kingdom with new eyes. She beheld the house that he had built—the magnificent palace of Lebanon forest wood. She saw the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers. Finally, she beheld his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord, and the burnt offerings he sacrificed there. Seeing the order, the prosperity, and the reverence of the king’s court, there was no more spirit left in her; she was breathless with wonder. Then she spoke to the king, saying: "It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it." She confessed freely, "And, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom." Then the queen turned her praise upward. "Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel for ever, therefore made He thee king, to do judgment and justice." In response to this overwhelming display of divine favor, the queen opened her treasures. She gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones. There came no more such abundance of spices as these which the Queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. King Solomon, in his royal bounty, did not let her depart unblessed. He gave unto the Queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, besides that which Solomon gave her of his own royal generosity. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants, bearing the knowledge that the God of Israel was indeed with the son of David.