The writer seems to have included this event here to support his claim that Solomon"s reign was so glorious that rulers came from all over the world to meet him ( 1 Kings 4:34; cf. 1 Kings 3:16-18). It also shows that some of Solomon"s wealth came to him as voluntary gifts from admirers. Jesus used this queen"s example to challenge His hearers to listen to God"s wisdom through someone greater than Song of Solomon , namely, Himself ( Matthew 12:42). [source][source][source]
The site of Sheba was about1 ,200 miles southeast of Israel (present Yemen and or Oman). A traditional site of the Queen of Sheba"s castle is Salalah, in southern Oman. This country had come to dominate the spice and incense trade that had made that region of Arabia famous. [1] The queen"s primary purpose in visiting Solomon seems to have been to make a treaty with him. Before she did so she wanted to make sure that he really was as wise and rich as she had heard. Testing with questions was a challenging activity among ancient Near Eastern monarchs. [2][source]
"The hard ("enigmatic", REB) questions (hidot) were not just "riddles", as in Judges 14:12, but included difficult diplomatic and ethical questions. According to Josephus, Hiram had made similar approaches. The test was not an academic exercise but to see if he would be a trustworthy business partner and a reliable ally capable of giving help." [3][source]
She noted that God had made Solomon a blessing to those around him ( 1 Kings 10:8), as God had promised He would do for those who obeyed His covenant. She also blessed Yahweh ( 1 Kings 10:9), the God under whom Solomon reigned. Her gifts, which included four and one-half tons of gold, appear to have been part of a covenant treaty she negotiated with Solomon for her country (cf. 1 Kings 10:13). In her visit we see Israel fulfilling its God-given purpose of bringing the Gentiles to Yahweh. The name of this queen in Arabian history is Balkir. [source][source][source]
"The royal family of Ethiopia claimed descent from Solomon and the queen of Sheba. It was asserted that the queen gave birth, as a result of her visit, to Menelik I, the traditional founder of the Ethiopian royal line. This is difficult to prove, but it is also difficult to disprove. Though the queen of Sheba did not come from Ethiopia, it is quite clear that Ethiopia was colonized by Sabeans from South Arabia, crossing the Red Sea. Her descendants could have gone to Ethiopia, and Arabic legends give details regarding the queen who married Solomon. It may be added that Josephus speaks of a relationship which the queen of Sheba had with Ethiopia (Antiq. II:102; VI:56)." [4][source]
Other scholars are less sure of this connection. [5] Josephus called her "the queen of Egypt and Ethiopia," but that identification is probably incorrect. [6][source]