Sheba

An oath, seven. (1.) Heb. shebha, the son of Raamah (Gen. 10:7), whose descendants settled with those of Dedan on the Persian Gulf. (2.) Heb. id. A son of Joktan (Gen. 10:28), probably the founder of the Sabeans. (3.) Heb. id. A son of Jokshan, who was a son of Abraham by Keturah (Gen. 25:3). (4.) Heb. id. A kingdom in Arabia Felix. Sheba, in fact, was Saba in Southern Arabia, the Sabaeans of classical geography, who carried on the trade in spices with the other peoples of the ancient world. They were Semites, speaking one of the two main dialects of Himyaritic or South Arabic. Sheba had become a monarchy before the days of Solomon. Its queen brought him gold, spices, and precious stones (1 Kings 10:1-13). She is called by our Lord the “queen of the south” (Matt. 12:42). (5.) Heb. shebha’, “seven” or “an oak.” A town of Simeon (Josh. 19:2). (6.) Heb. id. A “son of Bichri,” of the family of Becher, the son of Benjamin, and thus of the stem from which Saul was descended (2 Sam. 20:1-22). When David was returning to Jerusalem after the defeat of Absalom, a strife arose between the ten tribes and the tribe of Judah, because the latter took the lead in bringing back the king. Sheba took advantage of this state of things, and raised the standard of revolt, proclaiming, “We have no part in David.” With his followers he proceeded northward. David seeing it necessary to check this revolt, ordered Abishai to take the gibborim, “mighty men,” and the body-guard and such troops as he could gather, and pursue Sheba. Joab joined the expedition, and having treacherously put Amasa to death, assumed the command of the army. Sheba took refuge in Abel-Bethmaachah, a fortified town some miles north of Lake Merom. While Joab was engaged in laying siege to this city, Sheba’s head was, at the instigation of a “wise woman” who had held a parley with him from the city walls, thrown over the wall to the besiegers, and thus the revolt came to an end.

one of the towns of the allotment of Simeon, (Joshua 19:2) probably the same as Shema. (Joshua 15:26) (seven, or all oath). (on oath), the son of Bichri, a Benjamite, (2 Samuel 20:1-22) the last chief of the Absalom insurrection. The occasion seized by Sheba was the emulation between the northern and southern tribes on David’s return. (2 Samuel 20:1,2) Sheba traversed the whole of Palestine apparently rousing the population, Joab following in full pursuit to the fortress Abel Beth-maachah, where Sheba was beheaded. (2 Samuel 20:3-22)

SHE'BA (an oath). The son of Bichri, a Benjamite who revolted from David, was pursued by Joab and beheaded in the fortress of Abel-beth-maachah. 2 Sam 20:1-22. A Gadite chief. 1 Chr 5:13.

SHE'BA (man ?). One of Ham's descendants. Gen 10:7; 1 Chr 1:9. One of Shem's descendants. Gen 10:28; 1 Chr 1:22. One of Abraham's descendants by Keturah. Gen 25:3; 1 Chr 1:32. These were all founders of tribes.

SHE'BA (seven, or an oath), a name for a region in Arabia and a town in Palestine. A wealthy region in Arabia bordering on the Red Sea. It included the most fertile districts of that country. The queen of Sheba visited Solomon, coming "to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bear spices, and very much gold, and precious stones." 1 Kgs 10:1-13; 2 Chr 9:1-12. Many ancient writers noted the abundance of spices in the Yemen, or Sabaean country. Herodotus says that the whole tract exhaled an odor of marvellous sweetness, and Diodorus relates that the perfume extended far out to sea; while Strabo asserts that the enormous profits of the spice trade made the Sabaeans one of the wealthiest nations on the face of the earth. They used gold and silver most lavishly in their furniture, their utensils, and even on the doors and roofs of their houses. Precious stones also abounded there. Its chief cities were Seba (Sana) and Sephar (Zafar). A town in Simeon, mentioned between Beer-sheba and Moladah. Josh 19:2. Shema is named next to Moladah in Josh 15:26, and is probably identical with this Sheba. Two miles east of Beer-sheba, on the road to Moladah, is a mound called el-Seba, which may mark the site of ancient Sheba. It has a well separate from those at Beer-sheba.

captivity; old man; repose; oath

SHE'BA (seven, or an oath), a name for a region in Arabia and a town in Palestine. A wealthy region in Arabia bordering on the Red Sea. It included the most fertile districts of that country. The queen of Sheba visited Solomon, coming "to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bear spices, and very much gold, and precious stones." 1 Kgs 10:1-13; 2 Chr 9:1-12. Many ancient writers noted the abundance of spices in the Yemen, or Sabaean country. Herodotus says that the whole tract exhaled an odor of marvellous sweetness, and Diodorus relates that the perfume extended far out to sea; while Strabo asserts that the enormous profits of the spice trade made the Sabaeans one of the wealthiest nations on the face of the earth. They used gold and silver most lavishly in their furniture, their utensils, and even on the doors and roofs of their houses. Precious stones also abounded there. Its chief cities were Seba (Sana) and Sephar (Zafar). A town in Simeon, mentioned between Beer-sheba and Moladah. Josh 19:2. Shema is named next to Moladah in Josh 15:26, and is probably identical with this Sheba. Two miles east of Beer-sheba, on the road to Moladah, is a mound called el-Seba, which may mark the site of ancient Sheba. It has a well separate from those at Beer-sheba.