The queen of Sheba visits Solomon
1 Kings 10; 2 Chronicles 9; Matthew 12:42
The queen of Sheba traveled from Arabia with spices, gold, and jewels to test Solomon with hard questions, and left amazed.
However, I didn’t believe the words until I came and my eyes had seen it. Behold, not even half was told me! Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.
1 Kings 10:7 (World English Bible)
She came to test his reputation for wisdom and found it was even greater than she had heard. She praised Yahweh for putting Solomon on Israel's throne.
Jesus said she would rise at the judgment and condemn his generation, because she traveled so far to hear Solomon's wisdom, “and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 12:42).
Places
Dating notes
Not dated in Scripture. It follows the completion of Solomon's building projects (1 Kings 9:10), which Ussher places in 992 BC. Sheba is usually identified with the kingdom of Saba in Yemen; some traditions link it with Ethiopia.