John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train , etc.] 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; (see Gill on “ Isaiah 60:6”), (see Gill on “ Jeremiah 6:20”), and as Pliny 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 f211 , being to be had nowhere else; and Strabo speaks of “cinamon, cassia”, and other spices here in such plenty, that the inhabitants burnt the wood of them for fuel; and Diodorus Siculus represents this country as exceeding odoriferous, and as having besides the above spices, balsam, myrrh, calamus, costus, and others, in such abundance that they heated their ovens with them: and very much gold ; (see 1 Kings 10:10), the gold of Sheba is spoken of in ( Psalm 72:15) and Pliny observes, that the Sabeans are exceeding rich, as in other things, so in gold; and Diodorus Siculus and Strabo speak of gold found here in large lumps, very pure, and of a fine colour: and precious stones ; as crystals, emeralds, beryls, and chrysolites, mentioned by Diodorus as in those parts; and a late traveller says f218 , that Arabia Felix abounds with balsam, myrrh, cassia, manna, dates, gold, frankincense, and pearl: and when she was come to Solomon ; unto his palace, and admitted into his presence: she communed with him of all that was in her heart ; which she had in her mind to discourse with him about, and which she had laid up in her memory for that purpose; and some things which she had kept to herself, and had never imparted to any before, as some think; all which she had full liberty from Solomon to propound unto him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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 diligentl searching the Scriptures, by consulting wise and experience Christians, and by practising what we have learned, we shall be delivered from difficulties. Solomon's wisdom made more impression upo the queen of Sheba than all his prosperity and grandeur. There is 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 on half was not told them of the pleasures and the advantages of wisdom' ways. Glorified saints, much more, will say of heaven, that the thousandth part was not told them, 1Co 2:9. She pronounced them happ that constantly attended Solomon. With much more reason may we say of Christ's servants, Blessed are they that dwell in his house; they wil be still praising him. She made a noble present to Solomon. What we present to Christ, he needs not, but will have us do so to express ou gratitude. The believer who has been with Jesus, will return to his station, discharge his duties with readiness, and from better motives looking forward to the day when, being absent from the body, he shal be present with the Lord.
Original Hebrew ותבא935 ירושׁלמה3389 בחיל2428 כבד3515 מאד3966 גמלים1581 נשׂאים5375 בשׂמים1314 וזהב2091 רב7227 מאד3966 ואבן68 יקרה3368 ותבא935 אל413 שׁלמה8010 ותדבר1696 אליו413 את853 כל3605 אשׁר834 היה1961 עם5973 לבבה׃3824
