Although there is only one chapter about her in the Bible, the legend of the Queen of Sheba is compelling enough to have been influential for nearly 3,000 years. The Queen of Sheba was a graceful queen, a powerful politician and an expert theologian. She was also the first representative of female leaders who held their own destiny.
It is very difficult to talk about the stories of women who had political, social and spiritual authority in the period when the Bible was sent down from the sky. However, we cannot ignore the existing ones.
Take Deborah, for example. She is a radical and military commander who established an army of 10,000 men and brought 40 years of peace to the Israeli people. Second, there is the prophetess Miriam, one of the three leaders sent to save Israel from Egypt. Next, we can mention the prophetess Huldah, who was an advisor to some of the most prestigious men in Judea and approved the canon writings that would form the core of the scriptures for Judaism and Christianity.
The Queen of Sheba and King Solomon
But perhaps the most prominent female leader is the Queen of Sheba, who embarked on a 1,400-kilometer journey through the deserts of Arabia, along the shores of the Red Sea and over the Jordan River to satisfy the King of Israel’s curiosity about his fame and faith.
One day, Solomon was angry when he could not see the Hoopoe, one of the birds under his command, but the Hoopoe came soon and said that a queen lived in the country of Sheba and that her people worshiped the sun. Thereupon, Solomon wrote a letter inviting this queen to the religion of one God and sent her back with the bird (An-Naml 20-29).
The Queen of Sheba, who received a letter from this powerful ruler, consulted with her advisors and believed that it was necessary to get along well with this ruler and sent him valuable gifts. However, Solomon, who sees these as worthless worldly things, rejects the gifts and invites the Queen of Sheba to his palace.
While the queen was about to set out upon invitation, Solomon brought the throne from the queen’s palace to his own palace through a wise person next to him. When the queen reached Solomon’s office, she recognized her own throne and was astonished. Moreover, when she sees the floor of Solomon’s palace made of polished glass, she mistakes it for water and gathers her skirts to avoid getting wet, while experiencing another surprise, she says that from now on she surrenders to God together with Solomon. (Neml p.29- 44).
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