2 Chronicles 9:1-12

2 CHRONICLES—NOTE ON 2 Chronicles 9:1, 2 Chronicles 9:12 Sheba, or Saba, covers about the same area as modern Yemen. Sheba traded in luxury goods from East Africa and India. The queen may have come to Israel to discuss trade (vv. 2 Chronicles 9:1, 2 Chronicles 9:9), but her visit was primarily a quest for wisdom (vv. 2 Chronicles 9:1, 2 Chronicles 9:6). This Gentile queen recognizes that Solomon sits on God’s throne as his chosen king. She also recognizes that God himself is the true King of Israel (v. 2 Chronicles 9:8; compare 2 Chronicles 2:12). This would have been a great encouragement to the first readers of Chronicles, living after the exile, since no descendant of David was currently on the throne.