The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1908-02-20

The biblical story OF the queen OF
ssabs thanks to its romantic eharac-
III has had noteworthy career. 1t
vss embellished BY post-Biblical Jew
tsb writer's with vast amount Of fan
e,hl detail. From Jews In north Ara
IA Il passed to the Arabs. and is used
nv Mohammed IN the Koran; In south
Arabia likewise Arabs received it from
Jews and carried It across the Red Sea
into Abyssinia, and learned historic
graobers traced the lineage Of the roy
al family OF Abyssinia 70 the famous
Queen. She became and IS still name
for all that is magnificent and intelli-
gently curious
According to the narrative Il Kings
I: 2 Chronicles, ix), the Queen, hay-
ing heard OF Solomon's wisdom, comes
to Jerusalem in great state, with
spices. gold and precious stones, to test
him: she plies him with hard ques-
ions concerning everything that inter-
ess her, and receives satisfactory an
sEers-there was no problem that Sol
onion was not able to solve. Further
he shows her his palace and his house
hold arrangements, including the fine
bearing and splendid dress of his at
tendants, with the result that she is
lost in admiration Of his riches and
wisdom. Happy" she exclaims, ARE
those who serve you and hear your
wisdom, and blessed be your God who
has bestowed on you such excellence
and happinessi" Then after the usual
exchange Of presents she goes back to
her own land and we hear no more Of
her in the Old Testament.
This story cannot be taken as his
torical The "Sheba" meant, as is evil
dent from the presents brought by the
Queen is the famous region in south
west Arabia later known as Yemen.
''the south,' the Arabic name CYaman)
by confusion with a similar word (Ya-
mini was understood to mean "fortu-
nate" and the consequent Roman des-
ignation, Arabia Felix, has become
part Of our geographical nomenclature
Though the early history Of this region
is not known to us, It is not improb-
able that Kingdom Of Sheba (the ma
tive name is Saba) existed as early as
the times Of Solomon middle Of the
tenth century B. e.. But It is not
probable that the 1sraelites were ac-
quainted with the Sabean land in Solo
mons time. The other mentions Of
Sheba in the Old Testament all belong
in the period after the capture Of Jeru-
salem by the Cbaldeans 1886 B. c.,
when the Jews came into possession of
geographical learning, The
story in Kings is a part of the idealiz-
ing legendary matter that gathered
about Solomon's name. Doubtless he
had reputation in HIS day for some
sort Of wisdom, as David in his day
was esteemed as poet; but David be-
came In the tradition the ideal relig-
lous poet and Solomon the ideal sage.
He is said to have composed 5000 pro-
verbs and 1905 songs. and to have
spoken Of all plants and animals-of
which literary activity no trace has
come to Us. The exuberance Of the
legend appears IN the statement q
Kings ": 81, ~ the English Yersion)
hat visitors from all peoples and all
dngs Of the earth came to him to hear
his wisdom form Of statement that
oetrays the late date when the Jews
anne into contact with a great NUM-
Der Of nations. The visit of the Queen !
u sheba Is a particular illustration Of
he general statement; Sheba Is chosen
. a far of land and famous land She
herself a sage or e student troubled
" ditlicuHles, and she seeks great
nan 10 solve her problem, just as long
tterward wandering scholars IN tie
bsence Of books sought learned men
'veryhere as teachers but this refleh-
I've attitude IS not m accord. with what
ge may surmlsa TO have been the state
q culture ia Sheba and Ia Israel in
he tenth century Bh
The story IS not the less interesting
o. being legendary II, as seems pro-
able, it arose Ia the sixth or the fifth
entufy 3. G., when Sheba became pro-
ninent IN the Old Testament, we may
nfer that at that time solomon was
nought Of mainly as a splendid and
Practically wise king. and had not az
aimed the reputation assigned him by
ne authors and editors Of Proverbs.
ne Song OF Songs and lscciesiasies It
noteworthy, also that the custom
= asking hard questions" existed at
nat time. Unfortunately the story
ioes notteii what these questions were
'nd't this lack the fancy Of later writ
rs undertook to supply Among the
'ltefary productions 81 the post-Bibllcal