IV. SHEBA, the Queen of Sheba, of whom mention is made in the Book of Kings1, and who in the Gospel is call’d2 Queen of the South, was, according to some3, a Queen of Arabia; according to others4 a Queen of Ethiopia. Josephus says, that Sheba was the ancient Name of the City of Meroe, before Cambyses gave it that of his Sister; and that it was from thence the Queen came, of whom we are speaking. This Opinion has much prevail’d. The Ethiopians at this Day maintain, that this Princess was of their Country, and that her Posterity reign’d there for a long time5. They preserve the Catalogue of them, their Names, and Successions. The Eunuch of Queen Candace, who was converted and Acts viii. 27.baptized by Saint Philip, was an Officer belonging to a Princess of the same Country. The Antients acknowledge, that Women are us’d to govern in this Country6. The Isle of Meroe is sometimes comprehended in Ethiopia; and this Country, as well as Egypt, is to the South of Palestine.
Those who would have this Princess to come from Arabia, rely, First, upon the general Consent of all the World, that there are Sabeans and Cushims, or Ethiopians, in Arabia. This Princess was Queen of Sheba, or of Cush, and Ethiopia. Secondly, Arabia is to the South from Judea. Thirdly, This Country, I mean Arabia Fælix, may very well be said to be at the uttermost Parts of the World; as it is said, that Matth. xii. 42.the Queen of Sheba came from the uttermost Parts of the Earth, to hear the Wisdom of Solomon; because Arabia the Happy borders upon the Ocean to the South, and formerly they knew no Land beyond it: Tacit. l. 5. hist.Terra, finesque, quæ ad orientem vergunt, Arabiâ terminantur, says Tacitus. Fourthly, Arabia abounds in Gold, Silver, Spices, and Precious-stones, which are the Presents that this Princess made to Solomon; which cannot be conveniently said of the Island of Meroe. Lastly, several understand these Verses of Claudian, of the Sabeans in Arabia Fælix, where, he says, the Women are us’d to govern:
Claudian. in Eutrop. l. ii. v. 321.Medis, levibusque Sabæis Barbariæ pars magna jacet.
And if popular Traditions may be any thing rely’d on, that of the Arabians may be produced, who think that Queen Balkis came out of the City of Sheba, otherwise call’d Marib or Mareb, situated in Yemen, to visit Solomon.
The Reader may see what has been said in the Article of Candaule, which is the Name that Josephus and several others give to the Queen of Sheba: She came to see Solomon about the Year of the World 3012, before Christ 988, before the Vulgar Era 992.
Read this article in its place on the printed pages