1 Kings 10:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 10:1-13

We have here an account of the visit which the queen of Sheba made to Solomon, no doubt when he was in the height of his piety and prosperity. Our Saviour calls her the queen of the south, for Sheba lay south of Canaan. The common opinion is that it was in Africa; and the Christians in Ethiopia, to this day, are confident that she came from their country, and that Candace was her successor, who is mentioned Acts 8:27. But it is more probable that she came from the south part of Arabia the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10:1

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon ,.... Josephus F21 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 6. sect. 2, 5. calls her a queen of Egypt and Ethiopia; but Sheba was in the southern part of Arabia Felix; her name with the Ethiopians is Maqueda F23 Ludolf. Ethiop. Hist. l. 2. c. 3. , and with the Arabic geographer F24 Clim 1. par. 6. Belequis. Some F25 Vid. Coryli Disser. de Reg. Austral. c. l. sect. 1, 2. think that Sheba, or Saba, is not the name of a country, but of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 10:1

When the queen of Sheba heard - As our Lord calls her queen of the south, ( Matthew 12:42 ;), it is likely the name should be written Saba, Azab, or Azaba, all of which signify the south. She is called Balkis by the Arabians, but by the Abyssinians Maqueda. See the account at the end of this chapter, 1 Kings 10:29 ; (note). With hard questions - בחידות bechidoth ; Septuagint, εν αινιγμασι , riddles. With parables and riddles, says the Arabic. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:1

EXPOSITION THE VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA .—The last words of the preceding chapter spoke of Solomon's fleet, of its voyages, and the treasures it brought home. The historian now proceeds to tell of one result to which these voyages led. The fame of the king and his great undertakings was so widely diffused, and excited so much wonder and curiosity, that a queen of Arabia came, among others, to see the temple and the palaces and the many marvels of Solomon's city and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:1-3

The Queen of the South. This incident is remarkable as the only one in the reign of Solomon to which reference is made in the New Testament. Solomon is twice spoken of by our Lord in His recorded discourses. In one case his royal magnificence is declared inferior to the beauty with which God has clothed the "lilies of the field." "Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" ( Matthew 6:29 ). Art can never vie with nature. What loveliness of form or hue that human... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:1-13

The Queen of Sheba. Well may the journey of this Eastern queen have a triple mention in the sacred page ( 1 Kings 10:1-29 .; 2 Chronicles 9:1-31 .; St. Matthew 12:1-50 .; St. Luke 11:1-54 .), for it is almost, if not altogether, sui generis . We are so familiar with the story from our infancy that we often fail to realize its true character and proportions. A woman, a princess, an Arab queen, travels some three thousand miles in search of wisdom. We have read of long voyages... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 10:1-18

The Queen of Sheba. The suggestiveness of Solomon's intercourse with surrounding nations. His magnanimity was as remarkable as his magnificence. His broad policy stood out in striking contrast with the narrowness of some of his contemporaries and successors. It was one evidence of his divinely inspired wisdom. In some respects his enlightenment puts to shame modern diplomacy. Trace his relations with the king of Tyre and the queen of Sheba. These were not exceptionally treated by the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 10:1

Doubt has arisen whether the “queen of Sheba” was an Ethiopian or an Arabian princess. Both countries profess to have traditions on the subject connecting the queen of Sheba with their history; and in both countries, curiously enough, government by queens was common. But the claims of Arabia decidedly preponderate. The Arabian Sheba was the great spice country of the ancient world; whereas Ethiopia furnished no spices. The Arabian Sheba was an important kingdom. Sheba in Ethiopia was a mere... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 10:1

1 Kings 10:1. The queen of Sheba Probably of that part of Arabia called Sabæa, which bordered upon the Red sea, Hence our Lord terms her the queen of the south, and says she came from the uttermost parts of the earth, (Matthew 12:42,) which answers exactly to Arabia Felix, for it lies south of Judea, is at a great distance from it, and is limited by the ocean. Add to this, that it abounded in all the commodities which she brought, gold, precious stones, and all kinds of spices and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 10:1-29

Click image for full-size version9:26-11:43 OTHER FEATURES OF SOLOMON’S REIGNTrade, fame and wealth (9:26-10:29)Always alert in business dealings, Solomon saw the opportunity for further profits by cooperating with Hiram in trade transport. Goods from the Mediterranean were received at Hiram’s port of Tyre, taken overland to the Israelite port of Ezion-geber at the northern tip of the Red Sea, then shipped east, possibly as far as India. Since the Israelites were not a seafaring people, Solomon... read more

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