The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-11-28
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

SUBJECT: The VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF
SHEBA TO SOLOMON.
/. Data
Besides studying XII, 10: 49, one should
read critically 2 Chr 8: 1-12; st. Matt, II: AZ
aud st. Luke, IL: 81. There is remarkable
similarity in the accounts of / Xxi. and ] Chr
Evidently the books of the Chronicles are
mainly compilations. The account found in |
Kings was probably written by some leading
prophet of the times, while Ezra was the com
pller of the two books of the Chronicles We
notice how familiar Christ was with the historic
books of the Old Testament, quoting freely from
them or alluding TO them as authoritative doc
uments. The accounts of SITS. Matthew and
Luke are harmonious. The visit of the Queen
OF Sbeba to Jerusalem was "a grand event, re-
ferred to by the Israeites for centuries after
ward.
2. Time.
The visit of tho Queen took place A. M. 3014
or y. G. 800. Solomon was about AZ years old.
lie had been King for % years 1t was about
500 years after the Exodus, and PA years before
the first 0lympiad. Homer was Ii years old. 1t
was 2579 years ago.
3. Place.
Tho temple and palace and all the grand
treasures OF Solomon were at Jerusalem.
There is much difference Of opinion as to the
location of Sheba Christ, speaking of the
Queen, says she was from the South. (St. Mt,
IL: 42.b Sheba is also spelled Saba. Sabatha.
1t IL IN the southwestern part of Arabia Felix.
30 tho Queen has been called "a Sabaean. The
region was noted for spices. SO Virgil tGeor.
/, c. 2I) says tho Sabaeans furnish their frank
incense. Again. he declares frankincense trees
belong to the Sabaeaus alone. We have the
following eouplet:
" Where to her fame hundred affairs rise,
aud pour Sabaean odors To the skies"
Pliny wrote: The Sabaeans use Odorous
wood only; and even use the incense tree aud
myrrh to cook their vietuuls." That country
also aboundcd in gold aud silver mines and
precious stoues. The Sabacaus had for rulers
only Queens. The Sabacan kingdom was
called Temon The word means south. 1t is
also written Aljemia. The following think the
Queen was from Temen: Stackhouse. kitto,
Barnes, Forster, Bengel, Lauge Whedon. and
Smcth lin his History of the Hebrew Peoplel \.
Many, however. among them Bruce. insist we
are to understand Abyssinia. The Abyssinians
to this day insist their Queen went to Jerusa-
lem to call on Solomon.
We are not so certain as TO the location of
Ophir as we are as to Sheba. For long time
1t was held. without much dissent, that wo
must find Ophir in India. Ophir in Arabic Is
Hind, or India. Joscphus thinks Ophir was
Maacca. Arias Montanus identified it as an
American island. Hispaniola to wit, Haiti.
Camet Thought it was in Armenia, near the
sources OF the Euphrates aai the Tigris. Sam
uel Bochart thought it was Taprobanes, or
Screndih, or Ceylou IIustius puts il on the
eastern coast Of Africa. Herr Carl Mauch, the
eminent German explorer is fixed in opinion
that Uphir isin 20 degrees 10 minutes south lat
itude, aud 20 degrees 80 minutes east longitude
IL is between the Zamhezi aud LinepOpo Rivers
Southwestern Africa. The prevailing opinion
locates Ophir III India. The argument of Prof
Max Muller is SO interesting, IN connection with
our lesson, that we quote it. He says:
great deal has boon written To find out where
this ophir was bat there can bo no doubt Tint
tt was in India. Tie names for apes, peacOctSs
ivory aud aimug-irees brought by Solomon =
fleet from OphiFl are foreign words la Hebrew as
much Euiia. pcrchB tobacco la EngiislI.
Now IL we wished 10 know from what part al tho
world .ui,R pcrrha was first imported into Eng
baud, we might safely conclude that u came from
That countFy where tho maine guit-percha formed
part OF liic spoken language. II. therefore.
find a language in which the name for peacoeks.
apes. ivory ard aiming trees which foreign To
the Hebrew, are indigenous, may he certain
that the country ia which that language WAS
spoken must have been the ophir OF the Bible
That language Is no other but SaHscFit.
IL is said the Queen MAS from the utter
most parts of the earth" (St Matt, IL: AZ }
IL she set out from Arabia Felix her home was
tho borders OF the Arabian SEA-, which was
mt The extreme end of Asatie land. Or the
meaning may be she was from the region out of
the way OF the travel aud familiar reference OF
the israelites. Or she was from the terminus
OF land us then known. Or the expression
may simply mean that she was from a great
distance lDeu., IS: 49,
4. The Queen.
There n great national pride felt In the
fact that the Queen went 10 Solomon and WIS
we'll received by him. Her aspirations for
knowledge were commendable aud matter of
congratulation 10 her subjects. Hence. Arabians
aud Abyssinians aud others quarrel for tue
honor. The Arabians call her Balkis or Bel
ks. The Abyssinians name her Maqueda or
Marqucda. She was also called Nicaule and
Candace She was the daughter of Hadad
Bruce imagiues she WAS u Jewoss. Hebrew
tradition aiirms she was a descendant of Abram
through ketnrah. "A sou Of whom begat Sheba
II CHI, 32.) The Arabians still talk of their
Queen Balkis and of her visit TO SolomSn. The
Abyssinians claim She AS pagan went to SEQ
Solomon, was proselyted aud became Jewess
bore "a son by Solomon, named Merilek, who
became the first King of Abyssinia Some
claim rs. 40 Is prophecy of the visit of the
Queen to solomon. The Queen after time
sent Meriiok back To Jerusalem to be educated
Returning he was crowned Kiug of Ethiopia
He took with him from Jerusalem some Jews
among them the sou of Zadok, Azarias. Meri-
lex succeeded the Queen as ruler, aud after
bH3t tucIS WbIo no tnbIS QuSeus. III Lnclr
claims the Arabians insist Solomon aud the
Queen were married to each other
Solomon was becoming famous. He was given
to commerce. Thus reports rs TO his greatness
would spread The Queen heard of his wonder
full success aud specially OF his remarkable
wisdom. She was eager 10 see him. She went
as an honest inquirer In common with our
race she had a religious nature. Problems rs
TO evil, rs 10 our origin, as TO our destiny, rs
10 Immortality pressed on her mind. She
hoped man so wise might be able TO solve her
difficulties. She may have hoped also to secure
some governmental ideas. As ruler going
10 famous ruler she went in great estate, and
us was usual in Oriental lands, she bore with
her very valuable presents. The talents alone
arc estimated at over 100000.
8. The hterciep.
The Queen was woman of deep thought, and
il required no ordinary wisdom to satisfy her
inquring mind. Solomon's knowledge was put
to test. The woman was bristling with inter
rogatiens. She not only heard, but saw The
amazing proof of wisdom, wealth aud mower
and architectural grandeur, were so oyerwhelm-
ing as TO take away her breath. The daily pro-
visions for his dining room tV. o. were ex.
traordinary. tSee 4: %. % Fame had prom
Used much but fact exceeded It, She eongratn-
lated the citizens subject to such wise and
successful ruler. She went further and saw in
the magniieence about her the evidences of n
perior religious Head. She learned to appre-
ciate the true God. The visit of the Queen
must have spread the fame of Solomon in every
direction. 1t became historic event aud fur
nished topic for conversation at every royal