Solomon and the Queen of Sheba
When it became known at court that King Solomon intended to invite the Queen of Sheba for an extended visit, the whole palace was in a turmoil of excitement. “The Ladies of the Harem as well as the Members of the Council are greatly displeased,” reported the King’s faithful Vizier. “Would it not be better to abandon the whole project?”
“No,” said Solomon, “I want Bilkis here with me. But I am going to speak to my ladies and to my councillors and I shall pacify them.”
“But what will you tell them, O King?” asked the Vizier.
“I shall tell them the truth,” said the wise King with a smile.
When Solomon entered the Harem all his beautiful wives were assembled, and the lovely Sulamith herself spoke for them all.
“O Lord and Master,” she pleaded, “are we not all comely to look upon and eager to please you? Why should you search for further loveliness?”
“Why should I, indeed, O Rose of Sharon,” said the King, stroking the silken hair of the delightful petitioner. “But this Bilkis, you see, this Queen of Sheba, she is very, very clever. She has a mind sharp as steel.”
“Clever?” exclaimed Sulamith with a sigh of relief and “Clever?” said the ladies, echoing word and sigh. “Oh, is that all?”
And then the lovely wives of Solomon exchanged knowing glances and declared that as long as their King wished this strange Queen to come to court, they, his dutiful and obedient wives, would be glad to make her welcome.
And then the King went to the Council Chamber where the Eldest of the Councillors addressed him and said: “Have we not studied day and night to serve you with wise counsel? Are we not learned in the Law and have you ever found us wanting in perspicacity? Why should you search for further wisdom?”
“Why indeed?” said the King kindly, “but then, this Billds, you see, this Queen of Sheba, she is extremely beautiful. She has all the loveliness and the seduction of a fragrant summer night.”
“Oh, is that it?” said the Eldest of the Councillors, and then he stroked his long white beard with a pleased smile. And the other councillors did likewise and exchanged knowing glances and declared that as long as the King wished this strange Queen to come to court, they, his dutiful and obedient servants, would be glad to make her welcome.
The faithful Vizier, who had been present at both interviews, was not yet satisfied.
“When Bilkis comes, O King, he said, “what will happen?”
“She will gain the friendship of my ladies,” said the King, “and the admiration of my councillors. She will be clever where others desire to display their beauty, and she will be beautiful where others desire to display their cleverness. For a truly wise woman never competes but always complements.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
