Sheba

QUEEN OF SHEBA AND BIBLICAL SCHOLARSHIP 89
in Judah itself. The tradition of the Queen of Sheba is strongest in Ethiopia,
but the evidence suggests her first realm was in southern Arabia. It is
possible that the increase in trade reflected in the prosperity of Sabaea and
the need for close relations with Solomon also had implications for
northeastern Africa, where the Sabaeans had some political control, as
attested by the plateau Sabaean inscriptions. If it is true that the queen lost
control of Yemen to Solomon, she still held royal rank in Ethiopia. In order
to consolidate her rule there, however, she may have agreed to concessions,
including Solomon’s designation of Menelik as future Israelite ruler in
order to be accepted by a Hebrew or Israelite population on the Ethiopian
plateau. Conversely, the sections of the Sheba-Menelik Cycle stating that
only men should rule thereafter may be politically motivated interpolations
of the fourteenth-century tradition for reasons that will be explained when
discussing the third part of the Kebra Nagast.
Solomon, in fact, did not want this son to return to Ethiopia. At that
time he only had one son, Rehoboam, still a child. Menelik’s parentage
gave him indubitable dynastic advantages. Solomon entreated his son to
stay on in Jerusalem, but the young man insisted on returning to his mother,
respecting to an oath he had given her. Reluctantly Solomon acceded to his
request but decided to strengthen his ties with the queen’s realm. Menelik
had told him:
“My mother the Queen has kept her word to you and has already done
away with the worship of idols. She has brought our people to Zion [the
Israelite religion] and the Torah.”
(Chapter 37)
Solomon gave some thought to the matter and then came to a decision,
which he announced to the kingdom’s leaders:
“I have not been able to convince this young man to stay here so this is
what I’ve decided to do. We will make him the king of Ethiopia along
with your own first born children serving him in the same capacity as
you serve me.”
(Chapter 38)
Menelik’s coronation followed. Zadok, the temple high priest, lectured
him on the need to follow the God of Israel and to obey the Torah, listing
the terrors and misfortunes that would strike if he erred (chapters 39 - 42).
The twenty-one first-born males of the kingdom were extremely fearful
of the dismal prospects. Their leader was Azariah, son of Zadok. The