Publication date
8/15/46
Volume
67
Number
16
Publication page
255
The WatchTower
The Harvest, the End of the World
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1946/16/1946-16-15.html
QUEEN 
OF 
SHEBA 
CONDEMNS 
WORLDLY 
WISE 
L 
IFE 
comes 
through 
wisdom. 
Hence 
no 
expenditure 
of 
queen 
of 
Sheba 
heard 
of 
the 
fame 
of 
Solomon 
concerning 
moneJ', 
time 
or 
energy 
could 
be 
so 
great 
as 
to 
make 
the 
name 
of 
Jehovah, 
she 
came 
to 
prove 
him 
with 
hard 
the 
search 
for 
wisdom 
unprofitable. 
Nevertheless, 
few 
questions. 
And 
she 
came 
to 
Jerusalem 
with 
a 
very 
great 
are 
the 
seekers 
of 
the 
wisdom 
that 
brings 
life. 
True, 
this 
train, 
with 
camels 
that 
bare 
spices, 
and 
very 
much 
gold, 
modern 
world 
seems 
to 
place 
a 
high 
value 
on 
wisdom 
and 
and 
precious 
stones; 
and 
when 
she 
was 
come 
to 
Solomon, 
squnnders 
fabulous 
sums 
of 
money 
and 
time 
and 
energy 
in 
she 
communed 
with 
him 
of 
all 
that 
was 
in 
her 
heart." 
pursuit 
of 
knowledge. 
That 
it 
has 
climbed 
to 
dizzy 
heights 
(1 
Ki. 
10: 
1, 
2, 
Am. 
Stan. 
Ver.) 
Was 
her 
hazardous 
journey 
heretofore 
undreamed 
of 
in 
many 
branches 
of 
knowledge 
is 
worth 
\vhileY 
Was 
Solomon's 
fame 
deserved? 
or 
was 
his 
God­ 
also 
true. 
Yet 
it 
draws 
with 
quickening 
pace 
to 
its 
death 
at 
given 
wisdom 
exaggerated 
and 
overrated 
Y 
Could 
he 
fathom 
Armageddon. 
To 
its 
own 
hurt 
it 
has 
been 
choosy 
in 
its 
her 
riddles, 
answer 
her 
questions' 
quest 
for 
wisdom, 
embracing 
many 
fables 
and 
vanities 
"And 
Solomon 
told 
her 
all 
her 
questions: 
there 
was 
not 
while 
shunning 
the 
wisdom 
of 
life. 
This 
world, 
wise 
in 
its 
any 
thing 
hid 
from 
the 
king, 
which 
he 
told 
her 
not. 
And 
own 
conceit, 
has 
been 
spoiled 
by 
its 
yain 
philosophies 
and 
when 
the 
queen 
of 
Sheba 
had 
seen 
all 
Solomon's 
wisdom, 
deceiying 
traditions. 
Its 
head 
has 
been 
swelled 
by 
its 
0\''0 
and 
the 
house 
that 
he 
had 
built, 
and 
the 
meat 
of 
his 
table, 
accomplishments 
and 
self-sufficiency 
to 
a 
point 
where 
it 
does 
and 
the 
sitting 
of 
his 
servants, 
and 
the 
attendance 
[stand­ 
not 
allow 
any 
room 
for 
the 
wisdom 
from 
above, 
from 
Jeho- 
ing] 
of 
his 
ministers, 
and 
their 
apparel, 
and 
his 
cupbearers, 
vah 
God. 
Though 
the 
King 
Christ 
Jesus 
through 
his 
wit- 
and 
his 
ascent 
by 
which 
he 
went 
up 
unto 
the 
house 
of 
the 
nesses 
stands 
at 
the 
doors 
of 
this 
wise 
world 
and 
knocks 
to 
LORD; 
there 
was 
no 
more 
spirit 
in 
her. 
And 
she 
said 
to 
the 
extend 
true 
wisdom, 
it 
foolishly 
slams 
its 
doors 
tight 
against 
king, 
It 
was 
a 
true 
report 
that 
I 
heard 
in 
mine 
own 
land 
divine 
wisdom. 
It 
says, 
No 
time, 
no 
energy, 
no 
money 
for 
of 
thy 
acts 
and 
of 
thy 
wisdom. 
Howbeit 
I 
believed 
not 
the 
that. 
Clinging 
to 
that 
which 
is 
foolishness 
with 
God, 
it 
words, 
until 
I 
came, 
and 
mine 
eyes 
had 
seen 
it: 
and, 
behold, 
rejects 
life-gjying 
wisdom. 
It 
stands 
condemned 
before 
the 
half 
was 
not 
told 
me: 
thy 
wisdom 
and 
prosperity 
Jehoyah, 
and 
hastens 
on 
toward 
de 
at 
h.-John 
17: 
3; 
Col. 
exeeedeth 
the 
fame 
which 
I 
heard."-1 
Ki. 
10: 
3-7. 
2: 
8; 
1 
Cor. 
3: 
19; 
Hos. 
4: 
6. 
The 
wisdom 
Jehovah 
had 
given 
his 
king 
was 
true 
wisdom. 
This 
"present 
evil 
world" 
is 
the 
same 
world 
that 
Christ 
Not 
only 
had 
she 
heard 
it 
in 
the 
full 
ans\yering 
of 
her 
Jesus 
came 
to 
personally 
as 
a 
man 
nineteen 
centuries 
ago. 
catchy 
questions 
and 
heart 
ponderings, 
but 
she 
had 
seen 
it. 
Then 
he 
tramped 
from 
city 
to 
city, 
knocking 
on 
the 
doors 
Wherever 
she 
looked, 
there 
was 
wisdom 
applied. 
The 
inani. 
of 
private 
dwellings 
and 
preaching 
to 
multitudes 
in 
public 
mate 
buildings, 
the 
table 
provisions, 
the 
wearing 
apparel, 
places, 
all 
the 
while 
extending 
divine 
wisdom 
unto 
eternal 
all 
proclaimed 
it. 
In 
the 
"sitting 
of 
his 
servants" 
and 
the 
life. 
The 
world 
organization 
of 
that 
day 
reacted 
exactly 
as 
"standinl7 
of 
his 
ministers" 
she 
noted 
the 
order 
and 
distinc­ 
does 
the 
world 
organization 
of 
today. 
Hence 
to 
both 
these 
tion 
and 
"'placing 
of 
servants 
and 
officers 
in 
Solomon's 
king­ 
widely 
separated 
generations 
of 
worldly-wise 
ones 
Jesus' 
dom 
organization, 
and 
she 
marveled. 
She 
came 
not 
expect­ 
words 
of 
condemnation 
apply: 
"The 
queen 
of 
the 
south 
ing 
to 
see 
as 
much 
as 
reports 
had 
proclaimed; 
in 
actuality 
shall 
rIse 
up 
in 
the 
judgment 
with 
this 
generation, 
and 
shall 
she 
saw 
more 
than 
twice 
as 
much! 
No 
exaggeration, 
no 
condemn 
it: 
for 
she 
came 
from 
the 
uttermost 
parts 
of 
the 
over~ating; 
rather, 
words 
of 
the 
reported 
fame 
had 
fallen 
earth 
to 
heal' 
the 
wisdom 
of 
Solomon; 
and, 
behold, 
a 
greater 
far 
short 
of 
painting 
a 
picture 
so 
glowing 
as 
the 
reality. 
than 
Solomon 
is 
here." 
(Matt. 
12: 
42) 
Just 
how 
condemning 
The 
half 
had 
not 
been 
told. 
Gone 
was 
any 
disposition 
to 
is 
the 
light 
cast 
upon 
these 
hl"o 
generations 
by 
Jesus' 
com- 
doubt 
or 
question 
for 
proof. 
She 
was 
breathless. 
There 
was 
parative 
reference? 
Examination 
of 
the 
course 
taken 
by 
no 
more 
spirit 
in 
her. 
the 
"queen 
of 
the 
south" 
reveals 
it 
forcefully. 
"0 
the 
happiness 
of 
thy 
men, 
0 
the 
happiness 
of 
thy 
This 
queen 
Jesus 
spoke 
of 
as 
being 
from 
the 
south 
is 
servants-these-who 
are 
standing 
before 
thee 
continually, 
called 
the 
"queen 
of 
Sheba" 
in 
the 
Hebrew 
Scriptures. 
The 
who 
are 
hearing 
thy 
wisdom!" 
she 
cries 
out 
in 
sheer 
ecstasy. 
weight 
of 
evidence 
locates 
Sheba 
far 
to 
the 
south 
of 
J 
eru- 
(1 
Ki. 
10: 
8, 
Young) 
Then: 
''Blessed 
be 
Jehovah 
thy 
God, 
salem, 
on 
the 
southernmost 
part 
of 
the 
Arabian 
peninsula. 
who 
delighted 
in 
thee, 
to 
set 
thee 
on 
the 
throne 
of 
Israel: 
Its 
distance 
from 
Jerusalem 
in 
a 
straight 
line 
could 
hardly 
because 
Jehovah 
loved 
Israel 
for 
ever, 
therefore 
made 
he 
be 
less 
than 
a 
thousand 
miles, 
and 
was 
on 
the 
outer 
fringe 
thee 
king, 
to 
do 
justice 
and 
righteousness." 
(1 
!G. 
10: 
D, 
of 
the 
then-known 
earth. 
Hence 
Jesus 
referred 
to 
it 
as 
"the 
Am. 
Stan. 
Ver.) 
The 
queen 
of 
Sheba 
praised 
Jehovah 
God; 
uttermost 
parts 
of 
the 
earth". 
This 
distant 
kingdom 
seems 
she 
recognized 
Israel 
to 
be 
a 
Theocracy. 
Here 
could 
be 
to 
haye 
been 
founded 
by 
the 
great-great-grandson 
of 
Shem. 
heard 
continually 
wisdom 
from 
God 
through 
the 
king; 
here 
namely, 
Sheba. 
(Gen. 
10: 
21-28) 
The 
Sabeans 
were 
traders, 
could 
be 
enjoyed 
an 
administration 
of 
justice 
and 
right­ 
and 
their 
land 
was 
rich 
in 
spices, 
frankincense, 
gold, 
and 
eousness. 
What 
joy, 
what 
happiness 
for 
the 
subjects 
of 
precious 
stones 
valuable 
to 
them 
in 
bartering.-Isa. 
60: 
6; 
such 
rule! 
Jer. 
6: 
20; 
Ezek. 
27: 
22,23; 
Joel 
3: 
8. 
She 
was 
moved 
to 
bulwark 
her 
verbal 
confession 
by 
From 
this 
land 
came 
the 
queen 
of 
Sheba 
to 
hear 
wisdom. 
action:" 
And 
she 
gave 
the 
king 
an 
hundred 
and 
twenty 
Worldl:r 
wisdom 
Y 
No; 
the 
thousand-mile 
journey 
along 
the 
talents 
of 
gold, 
and 
of 
spices 
very 
great 
store, 
and 
precious 
eastern 
shore 
of 
the 
Red 
sea 
and 
thence 
on 
up 
into 
Jeru- 
stones: 
there 
came 
no 
more 
such 
abundance 
of 
spices 
as 
salem 
was 
not 
undertaken 
for 
such 
vanity. 
She 
had 
heard 
these 
which 
the 
queen 
of 
Sheba 
gave 
to 
king 
Solomon." 
of 
Solomon's 
fame 
"concerning 
the 
name 
of 
Jehovah"; 
evi- 
(1 
Ki. 
10: 
10) 
The 
value 
of 
the 
gold 
alone 
would 
today 
soar 
dcntly 
she 
sought 
knowledge 
of 
Israel's 
God. 
''When 
the 
far 
beyond 
the 
three-million-dollar 
mark; 
the 
precious 
2:1:1 
QUEEN OF SHEBA CONDEMNS WORLDLY WISE money, time or energy could be so great as to make the search for wisdom unprofitable. Nevertheless, few are the seekers of the wisdom that brings life. True, this modern world seems to place a high value on wisdom and squanders fabulous sums of money and time and energy in pursuit of knowledge. That it has climbed to dizzy heights heretofore undreamed of in many branches of knowledge is also true. Yet it draws with quickening pace to its death at Armageddon. To its own hurt it has been choosy in its quest for wisdom, embracing many fables and vanities while shunning the wisdom of life. This world, wise in its own conceit, has been spoiled by its vain philosophies and deceiving traditions. Its head has been swelled by its own accomplishments and self-sufficiency to a point where it does not allow any room for the wisdom from above, from Jehovah God. Though the King Christ Jesus through his witnesses stands at the doors of this wise world and knocks to extend true wisdom, it foolishly slams its doors tight against divine wisdom. It says, No time, no energy, no money for that. Clinging to that which is foolishness with God, it rejects life-giving wisdom, It stands condemned before Jehovah, and hastens on toward death.—John 17:3; Col. 2:8; 1 Cor. 3:19; Hos. 4:6. This “present evil world” is the same world that Christ Jesus came to personally as a mau nineteen centuries ago. Then he tramped from city to city, knocking on the doors of private dwellings and preaching to multitudes in public places, all the while extending divine wisdom unto eternal life. The world organization of that day reacted exactly as does the wor!d organization of today. Hence to both these widely separated generations of worldly-wise ones Jesus’ words of condemnation apply: “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.” (Matt. 12:42) Just how condemning is the light cast upon these two generations by Jesus’ comparative reference? Examination of the course taken by the “queen of the south” reveals it forcefully. This queen Jesus spoke of as being from the south is called the “queen of Sheba” in the Hebrew Seriptures. The weight of evidence locates Sheba far to the south of Jerusalem, on the southernmost part of the Arabian peninsula. Its distance from Jerusalem in a straight line could hardly be less than a thousand miles, and was on the outer fringe of the then-known earth. Hence Jesus referred to it as “the uttermost parts of the earth”. This distant kingdom seems to have been founded by the great-great-grandson of Shem, namely, Sheba. (Gen. 10: 21-28) The Sabeans were traders, and their land was rich in spices, frankincense, gold, and precious stones valuable to them in bartering.—lIsa. 60: 6; Jer. 6:20; Ezek. 27: 22, 28; Joel 3:8. From this land eame the queen of Sheba to hear wisdom. Worldly wisdom? No; the thousand-mile journey along the eastern shore of the Red sea and thence on up into Jerusalem was not undertaken for such vanity. She had heard of Solomon’s fame “concerning the name of Jehovah”; evidently she sought knowledge of Israel’s God. “When the | IFE comes through wisdom. Hence no expenditure of queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Jehovah, she came to prove him with hard questions. And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.” (1 Ki. 10:1, 2, Am. Stan. Ver.) Was her hazardous journey worth while? Was Solomon’s fame deserved? or was his Godgiven wisdom exaggerated and overrated? Could he fathom her riddles, answer her questions? “And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, and the house that he had built, and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance [standing] of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lorp; there was no more spirit in her. And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.”—1 Ki. 10: 3-7. The wisdom Jehovah had given his king was true wisdom. Not only had she heard it in the full answering of her eatchy questions and heart ponderings, but she had seen it. Wherever she looked, there was wisdom applied. The inanimate buildings, the table provisions, the wearing apparel, all proclaimed it. In the “sitting of his servants’ and the “standing of his ministers” she noted the order and distinetion and placing of servants and officers in Solomon’s kingdom organization, and she marveled. She came not expecting to see as much as reports had proclaimed; in actuality she saw more than twice as much! No exaggeration, no overrating; rather, words of the reported fame had fallen far short of painting a picture so glowing as the reality, The half had not been told. Gone was any disposition to doubt or question for proof. She was breathless. There was no more spirit in her. “O the happiness of thy men, O the happiness of thy servants—these—who are standing before thee continually, who are hearing thy wisdom!” she cries out in sheer eestasy. (1 Ki. 10:8, Young) Then: “Blessed be Jehovah thy God, who delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because Jehovah loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do justice and righteousness.” (1 Ki. 10:9, Am. Stan. Ver.) The queen of Sheba praised Jehovah God; she recognized Israel to be a Theocracy. Here could be heard continually wisdom from God through the king; here could be enjoyed an administration of justice and righteousness. What joy, what happiness for the subjects of such rule! She was moved to bulwark her verbal confession by action: “And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.” (1 Ki. 10:10) The value of the gold alone would today soar far beyond the three-million-dollar mark; the precious 255

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