The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-11-21
Studies in Old Testament History.



her from Jerusalem, to be traversed on
a tedious camel in not less than seventy
five days, was prospect to daunt the
heart of an ordinary woman, or an or
binary man. That che set out on the
journey proves her to have been free
from the excavation OF luxurious living,
and raises her in our estimation to the
range of the heroic. AS such the Saw
Jour himself spoke of her. "the queen of
the south"
She wished to hear with her own ears
the words of wisdom concerning Jeho
vah." of which indistihct report had
come to her in her distant country.
z The Queens Amusement at
SOlOmOn's SpIendOr,-vs. 81.
The lesson-passage gives picturesque
account of her establishment. Solomon
at once solved all her hard problems
She saw the evidence of his wisdom in
the "house" he had built,-the word
signifying range of sumptuous palaces
more or less connected, displaying an
opulence and profusion scarcely sur
passed by the older monarchies of Egypt
and Assyria. She saw the splendor of
his court. in it's gorgeous apparel. She
saw the superbness of his banquets,
where all his plate and drinking vessels
were Of gold; none we're of silver, it was
nothing accounted of in the days of Sol
omon." She saw his public works, con-
spicuously the temple. She saw his
aqueducts,-he being the first known in
history to bring water long distance to
supply city. She saw his fortress. the
whole Territory Of the twelve tribes be-
ing for the first time protected with i'm
pregnable strongholde." She saw bis
ascent, THE private way by which
the king passed from his palace on the
western hill across the ravine (Tyro.
p@um) up the eastern hill to the west
side Of the temple" She had been in
her own country familiar with supera-
bundance of wealth; her present aston
ishment was at the skill with which
superabundance was orga aized into ar
tistic aud governmental splendor. Her
establishment is very graphically de
picted in the words. There lUas no more
spirit I'm her; literally "There was no
more breath in her." Her establishment
took her very breath away.
3. The Queen renders Tribute
in Words and Gifts,-vs. $40.
Her words. 1t was true report I
heard IN my oaon land of thy acts and
of thy soisdom. her confession of previous
incredulty. followed by her acknowl
edgment that the reality far exceeded
the report, the half aUas not told me-
are utterances to be interpreted as ma.
tural to one in such poetic trance of
admiration.
To her it seemed happiness for tn 9
subjects and servants of such king to
listen to his wise words and contribute
to his glory. In this she was, we are
wont to think, under a delusion. A
clearer vision would have revealed to
her that nations real happiness is not
subserved by excessive pomp and luxury
monopolized by its king.
The sincerity Of her ascription to Jeho-
Yah has been by many questioned, yet
seemingly without good warrant That
she did not drink profoundly of spiritual
wisdom is probable. Solomon in his
splendor was scarcely the one to com
mend the true Ideal of Israel. But that
she was impressed by the true wisdom
of Israel. and became susceptible to en-
largement of faith. seem to be attested
by modern historical research. "This
early interchange of hospitality" says
DIR. K,tto, derives peculiar interest
from the fact that 10 much later ages
those of the Maccabees and downwards
the intercourse of the Jews with
Sabea became so intimate and their in
fuence and power so great that Jewish
circumcision took root here, and princes
held sway in Sheba who were called
jewish"
Solomon, no doubt, in return for her
costly presents and astonished admira-
ton, responded not only in rich material
gifts. but with some measure of the
spiritual wisdom which was now indeed
with him fast becoming only form of
words.
With "the queen of the south" we &C.
cord measure of our homage to Solo
mon. Yet We cannot dispute that Solo
mons glory has faded, and his kingdom
become as dust and ashes. So passes
the glory of this world.
This kingdom of Jesus which is not of
this world-in it but not of it's yet 10
vigorous youth after nearly two thous-
aud years of conflict; it is still making
its peaceful conquests; it has the prom.
Use of eternity.
"Ihe queen of the south shall rise up
in judgment against this generation
and shall condemn it: for she came from
the uttermoSt parts of the earth to hear
the a0isdom Of Solomon. and behold
greater than Solomon is here
TEACHING POINTS.
INTRoDUCTIoN.-The queen of Sheba is