1 Kings 10:2

_AND SHE CAME TO JERUSALEM WITH A VERY GREAT TRAIN, WITH CAMELS THAT BARE SPICES, AND VERY MUCH GOLD, AND PRECIOUS STONES: AND WHEN SHE WAS COME TO SOLOMON, SHE COMMUNED WITH HIM OF ALL THAT WAS IN HER HEART._ A very great train, with camels. These animals could not have come from the shores of the Indian Ocean, both on account of the immense deserts that intervened and the hostile opposition of countless tribes. A long train of those beasts of burden forms the common way of traveling in Arabia; and the presents specified consist of the native produce of that country. Of course, a royal entourage would be larger and more imposing than an ordinary caravan. SPICES. Arabia surpassed every other country in the world for the richness of its spices. Milton, in alluding to these fragrant products, speaks of the breezes which waft far out to sea `Sabaean odours from the spicy shore Of Araby...

1-13 The queen of Sheba came to Solomon to hear his wisdom, thereby to improve her own. Our Saviour mentions her inquiries after God, by Solomon, as showing the stupidity of those who inquire not after God, by our Lord Jesus Christ. By waiting and prayer, by diligently searching the Scriptures, by consulting wise and experienced Christians, and by practising what we have learned, we shall be delivered from difficulties. Solomon's wisdom made more impression upon the queen of Sheba than all his prosperity and grandeur. There is a spiritual excellence in heavenly things, and in consistent Christians, to which no reports can do justice. Here the truth exceeded; and all who, through grace, are brought to commune with God, will say the one half was not told them of the pleasures and the advantages of wisdom's ways. Glorified saints, much more, will say of heaven, that the thousandth part was...

Verse 1 Kings 10:2. _SHE CAME TO JERUSALEM WITH - SPICES, C._] Those who contend that she was _queen_ of the Sabaeans, a people of Arabia Felix, towards the southern extremity of the Red Sea, find several proofs of their opinion: 1. That the Sabaeans abounded in riches and spices. _India mittit ebur, molles sua_ thura Sabaei "India furnishes ivory, and the effeminate _Sabaeans_ their _frankincense_." VIRG. _Geor_. i., ver. 57. And again: - _Divisae arboribus patriae: sola India nigrum_...

See 1 Kings 10:10 note....

EXPOSITION THE VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA.—The last words of the preceding chapter spoke of Solomon's fleet, of its voyages, and the treasures it brought home. The historian now proceeds to tell of one result to which these voyages led. The fame of the king and his great undertakings was so widely diffused, and excited so much wonder and curiosity, that a queen of Arabia came, among others, to see the temple and the palaces and the many marvels of Solomon's city and court. The prediction of Solomon's prayer (1 Kings 8:42) has soon had a fulfilment. 1 KINGS 10:1 AND WHEN THE QUEEN OF SHEBA [There is no good ground for doubting that

AND SHE CAME TO JERUSALEM WITH A VERY GREAT TRAIN,.... With many of her courtiers and principal men, as well as with a large retinue of servants: WITH CAMELS THAT BARE SPICES; her country abounded both with camels and spices; Isaiah 60:6, Jeremiah 6:20, and as Pliny f observes, who says their spices used to be carried on camels, particularly frankincense, for which Sheba was famous, and is therefore called by him "regio thurifera", the frankincense country g, being to be had nowhere else; and Strabo h speaks of "cinamon, cassia", and other spices here in such plenty, that the inhabitants burnt the wood of them for fuel; and Diodorus Siculus i represents this country as exceeding odoriferous, and as having besides the above spices, balsam, myrrh, calamus, costus, and others, in

6. SOLOMON AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA: HIS GREAT RICHES AND SPLENDOUR CHAPTER 10 _ 1. The visit of the Queen (1 Kings 10:1)_ 2. Solomon's enormous wealth (1 Kings 10:14) 3. the targets and shields (1 Kings 10:16) 4. The ivory throne (1 Kings 10:18) 5. The abundance of gold and the depreciation of silver (1 Kings 10:21) 6. The greatest living monarch (1 Kings 10:23) 7. His chariots and hors

1 KINGS 10. VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA. By Sheba or Saba a district in S. Arabia is meant. The Sabæ ans were known to the Israelites as exporters of gold (Isaiah 60:6; Psalms 72:15); Ezekiel (Ezekiel 27:23) says that they dealt extensively with Tyre. In Job (Job 1:15; Job 6:19), they are represented as marauders. The civilisation of Arabia was considerable, and much light has been thrown on it by scholars like Hommel and Glaser. Our Lord calls the queen of Sheba the queen of the south (Mat

SHE CAME. Note the use of this made by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 12:42.Luke 11:31. SOLOMON. Some codices, with four early printed editions, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "King Solomon"....

_spices_ For which Arabia has always been famous....