2 Chronicles 9:1-12

content/bible_journal/2chronicles/9:1-12.md

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+title = "2 Chronicles 9:1–12"
+date = "2024-11-29"
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2Chronicles9.1-12)
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+Solomon's fame spread to neighboring countries and beyond.
+The queen of Sheba made a state visit, bringing an appropriately large retinue in caravan.
+Unfortunately, we don't know exactly where Sheba was, because there are conflicting reports in history.
+Some scholars think Sheba (or Seba as it is sometimes called) is related to the Sabeans of the southern coast of Arabia.
+Others place it across the sea in the horn of Africa, as there is a medieval Ethiopian source that claims that land to be Sheba.
+Wherever she came from, the queen had heard fantastic tales about Solomon, and came to see for herself whether they were true.
+
+Her response is that they didn't tell her the half of it.
+She had heard he was fabulously wealthy and great in wisdom, but his God-given wisdom surpassed everything she had heard previously.
+Furthermore, she could tell that he employed his wisdom for the good of his people.
+It is said one can know a man's true character by how he treats those who serve him, and she observes that not only are Solomon's wives happy, but his servants are too.
+Solomon didn't become rich by oppressing his people and extracting wealth from them.
+Instead, they benefitted from his wise rule, and had it better than we would otherwise expect for their position.
+
+The queen of Sheba displays her own wisdom by attributing Solomon's success to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
+She realizes that he did not reach his current position on his own strength, and did not cultivate his own wisdom all by himself.
+Instead, it is the Lord who has blessed Israel through Solomon's wisdom and benevolent reign.
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+* * *
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+We long for Your perfect reign that will last forever, as we compare and contrast our good and bad human rulers You have appointed over us for a time.