p. 728 | The Sabbath-School by W. N. Glenn

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 2, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 46.

The Sabbath-School.

By W. N. Glenn

Notes on the International Lesson.

SOLOMON AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA.

SHEBA, the country whose queen came with such display to visit Solomon, is supposed to have been the southernmost part of Arabia. When Jesus referred to the circumstances of her journey (Matt. 12:42), he spoke of the royal visitor as "the queen of the South," and said "she came from the uttermost parts of the earth."

IT would seem that the queen's errand was not altogether prompted by curiosity, but that she was really in quest of wisdom. She had "heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord," and came to "prove him with hard questions." From this expression we might suppose that she was actuated by a spirit of rivalry, but the Saviour appears to have attributed to her a better motive, by saying that her action would, in the judgment, condemn the course of the Jews of his time. From this indorsement it seems fair to infer that the queen's "hard questions" were concerning matters of importance, rather than mere attempts to puzzle the famous wise man. The immense value of the offerings she brought would indicate that she entertained an exalted idea of the king and his God.

KING SOLOMON treated his inquiring guest with becoming courtesy, and kindly gave her all the information she desired; for it is said "she communed with him of all that was in her heart." And the Lord was evidently interested in her case; for the Spirit of God was the source of Solomon's wisdom, and the record says that "there was not anything hid from the king." The Lord never disappoints any who honestly seek after the truth.

"WHEN the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built," etc., it is said "there was no more spirit in her." On this Adam Clarke remarks: "She was overpowered with astonishment; she fainted. I have seen precisely the same effect produced. A lady, who was herself an artist, viewing some exquisitely finished Oriental paintings, was so struck with astonishment that she twice nearly fainted, and was obliged to leave the room."

ON the expression, "and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord," Clarke comments as follows: "It seems very strange that the steps to the temple should be such a separate matter of astonishment. The original . . . all the versions have translated, 'and the holocaust which he offered in the house of the Lord.' The Vulgate, Septuagint, Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic, all express this sense; so does the German translation of Luther, from which, in this place, we have most pitifully departed: 'And his burnt-offering which he offered in the house of the Lord.'"

THE queen promptly acknowledged the truthfulness of the report she had heard in her own country, but said, "I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it." It is strange, but true, that most people believe error more readily than they will the truth. Many professors of the Christian religion will cling to dogmas based on mere tradition, with no Scripture support but some strained inference, while they will resist to the last doctrines announced in the plainest statements of the Bible. Thomas would not believe the fact of the resurrection of Christ until he had demonstrated it with his own eyes; but the Lord

said, "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

HOWEVER, when the queen of the South heard the wonderful wisdom and saw the great prosperity of Solomon, she at once appreciated the great favors which his God had bestowed upon him. "Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom." It is probable that comparatively few of those who had the privilege so highly valued it. There are few, if any, causes of mental and material poverty so potent as neglected opportunities.

THE present which the queen gave to Solomon was indeed a royal offering. "A hundred and twenty talents of gold" would be over $3,000,000, and the spices and precious stones were "a very great store." It is conceded by commentators that verse 13 should follow verse 10, completing the account of the queen's visit before entering upon the matter pertaining to Solomon's dealings with Hiram.

VERSE 13 says: "King Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked." Just what she asked we are not told, but there has been much speculation in regard to the matter, some of which would reflect seriously upon her character. But unwarranted speculation is no part of Bible study, and has been fraught with much harm to Bible truth. Human life is too short to learn well even that which is revealed, without marring plain truth with the traditions of men. Mr. Bruce, a Scottish traveler and writer of the latter part of the eighteenth century, says: "The Abyssinians, both Jews and Christians, believe the forty-fifth psalm to be a prophecy of the queen's visit to Jerusalem."