The Queen of the South is arguably the most mysterious woman in the bible. She was also known as the Queen of Sheba. The Queen of Sheba is known for her vast wealth, beauty, and knowledge. But most importantly, she’s known to be an ally of king Solomon who once made a long trip to visit and learn from the wise king.
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Where did the Queen of the South come from?
According to the scriptures, the Queen of Sheba, real name Makeda, hailed from Axum (present-day Ethiopia). Axum was a rich kingdom situated in East Africa. There have been claims from other factions that the Queen of the South hailed from Yemen. Unfortunately, such claims remain to be rumored as none of them have ever been substantiated.
It’s also believed that, even though the Queen of the South didn’t marry King Solomon, the two had sexual relations during her visit. And when she went back to her kingdom, she bore him a son whom she later named Menilek. Continue reading to find out more about this incredible ancient Queen.
What did Jesus have to say about the Queen of the South?
Jesus once spoke of the Queen of the South. He spoke about her rising and judging their generation and condemning it. In the book of Luke, Jesus talks about her rising and condemning the men (and not the entire generation). Either way, the biblical language has always been metaphorical and therefore open to interpretation.
Many scholars have debated whether or not Jesus was speaking about the queen of Sheba. Again, it’s open to interpretation. Feel free to read Luke 11:31 and Matthew 12:42 to find out more about what Jesus had to say about the Queen of Sheba.
Is the Queen of the South the same as the Queen of Heaven?
No. The Queen of Heaven is a title reversed for the Virgin Mary mother of Jesus. The term is usually adopted by Catholics. Mary isn’t just the Queen of Heaven but the Queen of Earth as well. She got that title because of the extremely important role she carried out by raising Jesus who redeemed the world through his blood.
In another context, the ancients often referred to several sky goddesses especially those that were worshipped in the ancient near east and ancient Mediterranean.
What’s the significance of the Queen of the South?
Christians can learn a great deal from the story of the Queen of Sheba. First and foremost, the queen was very inquisitive. When she came to seeking Solomon, she had a lot of questions for him. The latter just goes to show that, despite many seeing her as accomplished and wise, she still wasn’t ashamed to ask questions. That’s how she came to learn an awful lot from King Solomon, who was said to be the wisest man of that era.
The Queen of Sheba was also very humble. Despite having so much wealth, power and influence, she still found time to seek out one that she deemed wiser than her. Most royals, especially during that time, wouldn’t accept the fact that another was better than them. But that was never the case with the Queen of the South.
Another vital lesson Christians can learn from the Queen of the South was the importance of choosing wisdom over wealth. Just like I had stated before, the Queen of the South had lots of money and power. But, she chose to visit king Solomon to learn.
Christians should never be ashamed to ask for help. Just like the Queen of the South, we all tend to fall short time and again. If the latter seems to be the case, then the most important thing ought to be seeking help. Even the bible says that those who ask will have the answers that they seek.
Being appreciative is yet another trait we can all learn from the Queen of the South. According to the scriptures, the Queen of the South brought a caravan filled with lots of gifts for King Solomon. Among the things that she brought included gold, spices, and precious stones.
The latter not only showed how much she appreciated him as an ally but also showed gratitude for granting her an audience. Learning how to show appreciation is what opens many doors in life.
Finally, we can all learn from the queen of the south that we shouldn’t believe rumors. She made it clear in 1st Kings 10:8 that she’d been told so much about King Solomon’s court but had to come and see for herself. She also said the same thing about the King’s wisdom.
And after her visit came to an end, the Queen of the South also admitted that his wisdom supposed everything that she’d heard about him. Christians can also learn of the importance of seeking knowledge themselves instead of relying on others to give their interpretation.
