Sheba
“Uncertain, possibly related to 'oath' or 'seven'”
Summary
A name with multiple referents in Scripture: an ancient Arabian kingdom famous for its wealth and the visit of its queen to Solomon, several patriarchal ancestors, a Benjamite rebel against David, and a town in Simeon.
☩The Kingdom and Its Queen
The most famous reference to Sheba is the wealthy Arabian kingdom whose queen visited Solomon, having heard of his wisdom and the fame of his temple. She came with a vast retinue bearing camels loaded with spices, gold (120 talents), and precious stones—the largest recorded gift of spices in Scripture. The kingdom of Sheba occupied the Yemen region of Arabia Felix, a fertile district bordering the Red Sea known for frankincense, spices, gold, and precious stones. Its successive capitals included Seba, San'a (the biblical Uzal), and Zafar (Sephar).
☩Origins and Genealogy
Three men named Sheba appear in the patriarchal genealogies, representing different lines of settlement. The first was a son of Raamah, grandson of Cush, who settled near the Persian Gulf and engaged in Indian trade. The second, son of Joktan through Eber (a Semitic line), founded the South Arabian kingdom. The third was a son of Jokshan, grandson of Abraham through Keturah, whose descendants apparently merged with the Cushite Sheba for trading purposes.
☩Sheba Son of Bichri
A Benjamite named Sheba, son of Bichri, led the last serious revolt against David following Absalom's rebellion. Exploiting tribal jealousy between Israel and Judah, he proclaimed 'We have no portion in David,' and drew all Israel except Judah after him. David considered Sheba more dangerous than Absalom. After traversing the country gathering support, Sheba fortified himself in Abel Beth-maacah, where a wise woman arranged his death, casting his head over the wall to Joab to save her city.
☩Other References
Additional individuals include a Gadite chief and a town in Simeon's allotment, possibly identical with Shema. The Sabeans, people of Sheba, appear elsewhere as traders in gold and spices, as slave-traders, and even as desert raiders who attacked Job's livestock.
Related Verses74 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Sheba," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Sheba (1)," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Sheba," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).