MAKEDA,
Or, as she is called by the Arabians, Balkis, Queen of Sheba famous for her visit to Solomon, was probably Queen of Abyssinia, or of that part of Arabia Felix which was inhabited by the Sabeans, where women were admitted to govern. Josephus says that she reigned over Egypt and Ethiopia. According to the Abyssinian historians, Balkis was a pagan when she undertook the journey; but, struck by the grandeur and wisdom of Solomon, she became a convert to the true religion. They also state that she had a son by Solomon, named David by his father, but called Menilek, that is, another self, by his mother. This son was sent to the court of Solomon to be educated, and returned to his own country accompanied by many doctors of the law, who introduced the Jewish religion into Abyssinia, where it continued till the introduction of Christianity.
The compilers of the "Universal History" are of opinion, and so is Mr. Bruce, that the Queen of Sheba was really sovereign of Ethiopia. They say that Ethiopia is more to the south of Judea than the territory of Saba, in Arabia Felix; consequently had a better claim than that country to be the dominions of the princess whom our Saviour calls "the Queen of the South." One thing is certain—a queen came from a far country to "hear the wisdom of Solomon;" while there is no record that any king sought to be instructed in the truths of his philosophy, or to be enlightened by his wisdom. Why was this, unless the mind of the woman were more in harmony with this wisdom than were the minds of ordinary men? So it should be, if our theory of the intuitive faculty of woman's soul be true; for Solomon's wisdom was thus intuitive—the gift of God, not the result of patient reflection and logical reasoning. The mind of the queen was undoubtedly gifted with that refined sensibility for the high subjects discussed which stood to her in place of the learning of the schools. And as she came to prove Solomon with "hard questions," she might have been also a scholar. She has left proof of her genius and delicate tact in her beautiful address before presenting her offering to the wise king. (See I. Kings, chapter x.)