hnd equnlled her expectations-fancy had not deceived; (3) it had far exceeded both the roport of it and her own expectations regarding it (ver. 6)-her sense of wonder was more than sn.tisfier.; (4) it was so overpowering that it left no spirit in her (ver. 4)-her hope of rivalling it was gone. 4. The sentiments she expres.~ed. (1) She pronounced happy Solomon's courtiers and attendants because of their proximity to his throne and person, which enabled them to hear his wisdom. In so doing she took for granted both that Solomon would never discourse otherwise than wisely, and that Solomon's servants and ministers would always feel disposed to listen to and profit by their master's speech; in both of which she reckoned before the mark. (2) She praised Jehovah for his goodness to Solomon in giving him such a throne, i.e. for making Solomon his vicegerent in Israel, and for his favour to Israel in furnishing them with such a king-in her eyes a proof that Jehovah loved them and purposed to establish them for ever (ver. 8). In neither of these utterances did she err. Stable thrones and good kings are of God's making. (3) She instructed Solomon as to the kingly work such a one as he was raised up to do, viz. to execute.judgment and justice (Ps. lxxii. 2). If from these utterances it cannot be inferred that she was either assisted by inspiration or converted to Jehovah's relipon, it is open to conclude she was a deeply reflecting and far-seeing woman, second only to Solomon in wisdom and sagacity. 6. The presents she made. (1) "A hundred and twenty talents of gold"- equivalent to £657,000, valuing the talent at £5475. (2) "Spices in great abundance," and of unsurpassed excellence, the principal of which was probably the Arabic bab,1m Josephus (' Ant.,' viii. 6. 6) says his countrymen derived from this queen. (3) "Precious stones," the names unknown. 6. The gifts she received. Besides the solu- tion of her qaestions, she obtained handsome and valuable presents from Solomon, partly in compliance with her own request (ver. 12), partly in payment of the costly gifts brought to him by her, and partly over and above out of his own royal liberality (1 Kings x. 13). III. HER RETURN TO SHEBA. (Ver. 12.) 1. The terminatim of her visit. How long this visit continued is not recorded, but at length the queen departed on her homeward journey, attended by her servants and accompanied by her train of camels. 2. The spoils of her visit. Besides carrying home the presents given by Solomon, she bore with her, what was of greater moment for herself and her subjects, the impressions she had received upon her travels and the lessons of earthly and heavenly wisdom she had derived from her interview with the king. 3. The historicity of her visit. That the preceding narrative is no fable is guaranteed by Christ's use of it in the First Gospel (Matt. xii. 42), and by recent archieological research (see 'Ancient Arabia,' by Professor Sayce, in Contemporary Review, December, 1889). LESSONS. 1. The privilege of Christians in having as King a greater than Solo- mon-him "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. ii. 3). 2. The obligation of the world to hear the wisdom of him who, besides being greater, is also nearer to them than was he to the Queen of Sheba (Matt. xii. 42). 3. The blessedness of such as hear Christ's wisdom, waiting at his throne and standing in his presence, first on earth and afterwards in heaven (Prov. viii. 34). 4. The certainty that Christ will give to them who seek his wisdom all that they ask and more of his royal bounty (Epb. iii. 17). 6. The duty of those who come to know Christ's wisdom to carry the tidings of it back to their own country (Matt. v.19, 20).-W.
Vers. 13-31.-The glory of Solomm. I. TBE VASTNESS OF ms WEALTH. (Vers. 13, 14, 21, 24.) 1. Its sources. (1) The contributions of merchants and traders towards the imperial revenues (ver. 14); (2) the presents of kings and governors in Arabia and elsewhere; and (3) the cargoes brought by his fleets from Ophir yearly (ver. 10), and from Tartessus, or Tarsus, in Spain, every three years (ver. 21). 2. Its amount. 666 talents of gold per annum, not reckoning the silver as abundant as stones (ver. 27). Estimating a talent at £5475 sterling, the gold would reach the imm&1se total of £3,646,350 sterling per annum. 3. Its -use. It was employed: (1) In making state shields-200 larger, to each of which 600 shekels of gold were devoted; and 300 smaller, to each of which 300 shekels were assigned. The shields, probably made of wood and covered with gold instead of leather, were hung in Solomon's palace, "the houso of the forest of Lebanon" (1 Kings vii. 2), where they remained 118 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [en. rx. 1-31.