1 Kings 10:1

Authorized King James Version

And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּמַֽלְכַּת
And when the queen
a queen
#2
שְׁבָ֗א
of Sheba
sheba, the name of three early progenitors of tribes and of an ethiopian district
#3
שֹׁמַ֛עַת
heard
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
#4
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#5
שֵׁ֥מַע
of the fame
something heard, i.e., a sound, rumor, announcement; abstractly, audience
#6
שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה
of Solomon
shelomah, david's successor
#7
לְשֵׁ֣ם
concerning the ~
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
#8
יְהוָ֑ה
of the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#9
וַתָּבֹ֥א
she came
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#10
לְנַסֹּת֖וֹ
to prove
to test; by implication, to attempt
#11
בְּחִידֽוֹת׃
him with hard questions
a puzzle, hence, a trick, conundrum, sententious maxim

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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