Troublesome Topic: The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon

As I imagine things, Solomon went back to sitting in the judge’s seat and rendering decisions on cases several months after Shuly died. He remembered what Absalom had done to his father when David had stopped making himself available to the common people. So he continued to create proverbs in response to situations presented to him, even though his heart was not in it the way it used to be.

Some time later he got word that someone from a faraway land was coming to visit him. He decided he would use this occasion to force himself back into all the roles he had played before Shuly’s death, well, all except writing psalms and directing choirs. He could not find it within himself to produce music anymore.

I realize that there are many theories about a sexual relationship between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. However, there is nothing in the text that even hints at anything other than a formal and official relationship between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The purpose of her coming was probably to establish a trade agreement with Solomon. She also wanted to learn from his wisdom. She possibly wanted to ask him about some specific questions that had been troubling her.

There are so many alleged versions of who she was, where she was from and what happened. Some say she was black or dark, and from Ethiopia, others say she was Sabean and not black. It is best to simply acknowledge that her identity is shrouded in mystery. It is likely that during her visit to Israel, the public never saw her face because it was covered and Solomon decided to not allow his royal scribes to include specific details about her.

Mt 12:42 and Lk 11:31 both say simply that she was the “queen of the south.” Once again it seems to be purposefully vague. Nothing in the Gospel accounts even hints at anything improper.

I have worked diligently to establish a timeline for the life of Solomon that takes into account everything we know about his life. I trust you will notice that in my timeline everything fits nicely in place. According to my theory the first part of Solomon’s reign was dedicated to building the temple and being obedient to God. After that he met the Shulammite and was totally committed to his relationship with her. Then she died and he was consumed by grief. At no time during what I have just described would an affair with a visiting queen fit as a logical piece of the puzzle. She did not come during the first 4 years of his reign, and I doubt that she came after his apostacy at the very end of his life either. The account of the coming of the Queen of Sheba is portrayed as part of the time when Solomon was powerful and wise, not after he threw away everything he had worked for earlier in his life.

The next lesson is: When Was Ecclesiastes Written?