Seba
“Uncertain, possibly related to drinking or old man”
Summary
The eldest son of Cush and the African nation descended from him, associated with the wealthy Ethiopian region around Meroe.
☩Genealogy
Seba was the firstborn son of Cush, making him a grandson of Ham and great-grandson of Noah. His brothers were Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtecha. As a Cushite people, the Sebaeans were ethnically Hamitic, distinct from the Semitic Sheba (from which the Queen of Sheba came).
☩Location and Characteristics
Seba is consistently mentioned with Egypt and Ethiopia, indicating a southern African location. The nation was wealthy and commercially significant in Solomon's time. Isaiah describes the Sebaeans as 'men of stature'—the Macrobian Ethiopians were reported by Herodotus to be the tallest and most handsome of men. Their merchandise, along with that of Egypt and Ethiopia, would come to acknowledge God's servant.
☩Identification with Meroe
Josephus identifies Seba with the ancient city and island of Meroe, situated between the Atbara and Blue Nile rivers in what is now Sudan. The city was once called Saba until Cambyses renamed it Meroe after his sister. This island kingdom was the center of Ethiopian civilization and ruled Egypt for a time under Shebek (biblical 'So').
Related Verses4 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Seba," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Seba," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Seba," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).