1 Kings 10-11

READ:  1 Kings 10-11

REFLECT: Sometimes, high points and low points, soaring and plunging, shining and sinking, lie very close together, also in Biblical history. Chapter 10 describes the climax of Solomon’s kingship. One chapter further and we have arrived at the low point. It is a very sharp contrast. 

The Queen of Sheba was not the only one who was drawn to Solomon’s wisdom. See chapter 4:34. However, her visit and her accolades are described as the climax of Solomon’s glorious reign. In connection with this, take a look at the prayer of David in Ps.72:9-11.

Solomon’s fame was connected to the LORD’s name (v. 1). At least at the outset, Solomon himself did not separate his kingship and its glory from the LORD. He wanted to honour the LORD with the fame he had obtained.  Apparently, this is how surrounding nations perceived it too. Thus, Solomon’s fame had a positive effect on the LORD’s fame (see also v. 9).

The Queen of Sheba came to test Solomon with difficult questions. These questions were like the riddle, which Samson told the Philistines (Judges 14:14). Apparently, these questions were sayings with hidden meanings, which the other party had to solve. In those times, people enjoyed putting these ‘intellectual tournaments’ in order to test each other’s wisdom. Thus, the question our passage answers is whether or not Solomon’s wisdom, to which the LORD connected his Name, can measure up to wisdom which does not come from the LORD. The conclusion is definitely positive.

The queen hears and sees a lot during her visit to Solomon. Not only does his wisdom make a deep impression on her, but also his wealth, the organization of his officials and attendants, and his devotion to the LORD, which was clear from the burnt offerings which he sacrificed. In this context, think of verse 1, “and his relation to the name of the LORD”!

You should not conclude that we are dealing here with a conversion story simply because the queen uses the name of the LORD. The homage she pays to Jahweh must be seen in the context of her pagan polytheism. Nevertheless, the LORD receives the honour which he deserves. When this queen recognizes the goodwill of the LORD in Solomon’s reign and glory, then she has hit the nail right on the head!  Also see Jer.31:3, which speaks about the everlasting love of the LORD for his people, as referred to by the queen.

The queen clearly noticed that Solomon put great emphasis on ruling Israel with justice and righteousness. See chapter 3:9!

Notice the plentiful ‘superlatives’ in this passage. Everything is ‘super-special’; for example, the wisdom and prosperity about which the queen remarked to Solomon (v. 7), the spices that she presented to him, and the almug wood that was shipped in (mentioned here because it was just as special as those spices. Compare verse 10b with verse 12b). The gift which Solomon bestowed on her is special also; it is more than normally would be given (v. 13), and more than royal (= befitting a king). The Lord Jesus probably had this event in mind when he spoke about Solomon arrayed in all his glory (Matt.6:29).

RELATE: God shows how glorious Israel’s kingship can be if it indeed is a messianic kingship, a kingship according to his will. Other nations and rulers look up to the kingdom of God and to his anointed king. The glory that radiates from this kingdom and its king holds a great attraction for them. Here we have arrived at the pinnacle of this glory: a queen from the far south who pays tribute to Israel’s king and Israel’s God.

However, comparing this account with Israel’s ensuing history will leave no other impression except shame. The books 1 and 2 Kings have been written, or at least have been completed, around the time of the exile. At that time, glorious events, such as those described in our passage, were out of the question. There was no monarch who brought treasures to Jerusalem and to Israel’s king. There was, instead, a ruler who stripped Jerusalem of its treasures and carried its king away. The glory did not remain because king and subjects did not stay on that messianic track. Therefore, this beautiful account described in our passage serves as an indictment of Israel.

Later, the Lord Jesus uses these events to lodge a complaint against (the leaders of) his people. He warns the Jews that the queen of Sheba will testify against them during the judgment of God. In Matt.12:42 you can read the about the reason for this.

REST: Yet, this account is not written solely to lodge complaints against future generations. It also holds a promise. Here, God gives a preview of what is going to come. In the Jerusalem of the Old Testament, God demonstrates what will happen in the New Jerusalem. Nations and rulers will enter the gates of that New Jerusalem, paying homage to the King of kings. See Isaiah 60:3,5 and 6 (Sheba), as well as Rev.21:24-26. In this way our passage maintains our longing for the future!

TAN TEE KHOON