Dictionaries :: Sheba

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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 (1Ki 10:1-13). She is called by our Lord the "queen of the south" (Mat 12:42).

(5.) Heb. shebha', "seven" or "an oak." A town of Simeon (Jos 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 (2Sa 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.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Sheba:

captivity; old man; repose; oath

Nave's Topical Bible

Sheba: 1. Son of Raamah

Gen 10:7; 1Ch 1:9

Sheba: 2. Son of Joktan

Gen 10:28; 1Ch 1:22

Sheba: 3. Son of Jokshan

Gen 25:3; 1Ch 1:32

Sheba: 4. A Benjamite

Who led an insurrection against David,

2Sa 20.

Sheba: 5. A Gadite

1Ch 5:13

Sheba: 6. A City of the Tribe of Simeon

Jos 19:2

Sheba: 7. Queen Of

Visits Solomon,

1Ki 10:1; 13; 2Ch 9:1-12.

Kings of, bring gifts to Solomon,

Psa 72:10.

Rich in gold,

Psa 72:15;

incense,

Jer 6:20.

Merchandise of,

Eze 27:22, 23; 38:13.

Prophecies concerning the people of, coming into the kingdom of the Messiah,

Isa 60:6.

See SABEANS

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Sheba:

(seven, or an oath).

(1.) 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).

(2.)(a). A son of Raamah son of Cush (Genesis 10:7; 1 Chronicles 1:9).

(b). A son of Joktan (Genesis 10:28; 1 Chronicles 1:22).

(c). A son of Jokshan son of Keturah (Genesis 25:3; 1 Chronicles 1:32).

We shall consider, first, the history of the Joktanite Sheba; and secondly, the Cushite Sheba and the Keturahite Sheba together.

I. The Joktanites were among the early colonists of southern Arabia, and the kingdom which they there founded was for many centuries called the kingdom of Sheba, after one of the sons of Joktan. The visit of the queen of Sheba to King Solomon (1 Kings 10:1) is one of the familiar Bible incidents. The kingdom of Sheba embraced the greater part of the Yemen, or Arabia Felix. It bordered on the Red Sea, and was one of the most fertile districts of Arabia. Its chief cities, and probably successive capitals, were Seba, San'a (Uzal) and Zafar (Sephar.) Seba was probably the name of the city, and generally of the country and nation.

II. Sheba, son of Raamah son of Cush settled somewhere on the shores of the Persian Gulf. It was this Sheba that carried on the great Indian traffic with Palestine, in conjunction with, as we hold, the other Sheba, son of Jokshan son of Keturah, who like Dedan appears to have formed, with the Cushite of the same name, one tribe.

(3.)one of the towns of the allotment of Simeon (Joshua 19:2) probably the same as Shema (Joshua 15:26).