The Queen of Sheba: was Solomon visited by an Egyptian pharaoh?

Photo Charles Verrier. Released under GFDL

A carved Sphinx with the face of Hatshepsut–Located in the Cairo Museum

The identity of the Queen of Sheba has been a mystery to archaeological and historical scholars. Last year, David Down and John Ashton wrote Unwrapping the Pharaohs: How Egyptian Archaeology Confirms the Biblical Timeline, in which they propose a revised chronology that harmonizes Egyptian and Old Testament history. Correctly placed in a revised chronology, there is a significant amount of circumstantial evidence to identify the biblical Queen of Sheba as the most famous female pharaoh, Queen Hatshepsut (whose mummy may have just been found—see addendum added 28 June 2007.)

Down and Ashton are not the only scholars calling for a significant revision of Egyptian history. The secular archaeologist David Rohl, author of Test of Time, suggests ‘Ramses II should be dated to the tenth century BC—some three hundred and fifty years later than the date which had been assigned him in the orthodox chronology.’¹ Peter James and four other scholars published the book Centuries of Darkness.² They claim that the dates of Egyptian dynasties need to be reduced by hundreds of years, specifically Dynasties 21–24. Dr. Renfrew, professor of archaeology at Cambridge University, wrote in his foreword to this book:

‘This disquieting book draws attention … to a crucial period in world history, and to the very shaky nature of the dating, the whole chronological framework, upon which our current interpretations rest … the existing chronologies for that crucial phase in human history are in error by several centuries, and that, in consequence, history will have to be rewritten.’³

The historical reliability of the Bible, beginning with the Book of Genesis, is one of the most vital issues facing the Christian church today. If we cannot trust the Bible to be accurate in its historical documentation of real events in the past, then how can it be trusted in spiritual matters? The Lord Jesus Christ put the question to Nicodemus in John 3:12—‘If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?’

The Queen of Sheba can be accurately identified by cross referencing the historical records of ancient Egypt, the Old Testament, the first century historian Josephus, and the New Testament. Once all of the evidence is assessed, it is highly likely that the Queen of Sheba was Queen Hatshepsut, the most powerful woman to ever rule Egypt.

Hatshepsut’s family background

Photo Hajor. Released under GFDL

Memorial Temple of Pharaoh Hatshepsut, Deir el Bahari, West Thebes, Egypt

Hatshepsut, the daughter of Thutmosis I, reigned over a prosperous Egypt for possibly up to twenty-two years. In the traditional chronology, Hatshepsut lived during the 15th century BC, but in the revised chronology, she lived and reigned during the 10th century BC.⁴ Hatshepsut married her half-brother Thutmosis II, but this marriage produced no sons. However, Thutmosis II married a secondary wife who bore a son named Thutmosis III. When Thutmosis III was about twelve years old his father died, leaving his stepmother, Hatshepsut, regent of Egypt. In one of the most perplexing episodes of Egyptian history, Hatshepsut eventually proclaimed herself to be the Pharaoh of Egypt even though Thutmosis III was legally entitled to the throne. Gay Robins, an art history professor at Emory University, wrote ‘We can never be sure why Hatshepsut defied tradition and became king, nor why the male bureaucracy tolerated this aberration…’⁵ After a long and prosperous reign, Hatshepsut died and Thutmosis III became Pharaoh. Thutmosis III would eventually transform Egypt into one of the world’s most powerful empires.

Glory of Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut was depicted in statues as having ‘a slender build with an attractive oval face, a high forehead, almond shaped eyes, a delicate pointed chin … a certain feminine softness.’⁶ In typical royal vanity, she wrote about herself, ‘Exceeding good to look upon, with the form and spirit of a god … a beautiful maiden, fresh, serene of nature, altogether divine.’⁷

She erected two pairs of obelisks in the temple of Karnak. One of these is still standing in Egypt today at a record-breaking 29 metres (97 feet) tall. She also built an extraordinary temple at Deir el Bahri on the west bank of the Nile. On the wall of this magnificent temple, artists depicted Hatshepsut’s historic expedition to the ‘Land of Punt’. It is this expedition that leads us to the biblical record of the Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon (1 Kings 10:1–13, 2 Chronicles 9:1–12).

Mysteries of Punt and Sheba

Historians have long debated the exact location of Punt. Based on the animals and plants depicted in the temple relief at Deir el Bahri, many scholars believe Punt was a region or nation in East Africa. Likewise, scholars have debated the identity and location of Sheba. Some scholars believe that it was a kingdom located in either Ethiopia or Yemen. However, a few Egyptian inscriptions, the Old Testament, Josephus, and the New Testament give us greater clarity as to the locations of Punt and Sheba.

Mysteries solved

When given a chance, the Bible proves to be a remarkably accurate book of history.

In Hatshepsut’s inscriptions she refers to the land of Punt as ‘God’s Land.’⁸ At least one Egyptian inscription refers to Punt being north of Egypt,⁹ in Palestine. This is consistent with the biblical account in which she visited Solomon in Jerusalem. Josephus, the famous first-century historian, writes:

‘There was then a woman, queen of Egypt and Ethiopia … When this queen heard of the virtue and prudence of Solomon, she had a great mind to see him … Accordingly she came to Jerusalem with great splendor and rich furniture.’¹⁰

In Matthew 12:42, the Lord Jesus Christ says:

‘The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.’ (see also Luke 11:31).

Therefore, it is almost certain that the Queen of Sheba hailed from the land of Egypt.

African plants and animals

Many protest that Punt had to be an East African nation because of the native animals featured on Hatshepsut’s temple relief. Her relief shows trees being carried on poles, piles of frankincense, myrrh, gold, incense, ivory, ebony, and monkeys. How could Solomon give these precious African items and animals to the queen when he lived in Jerusalem? A closer look at the biblical text resolves this apparent discrepancy. Apparently, King Solomon had a naval fleet that imported gold, almug trees, precious stones, gold and silver, ivory, peacocks, and apes (monkeys in some translations) from outside of Israel (1 Kings 10:11,22). Some scholars believe Solomon imported these flora, fauna, and metals from the northeastern region of Africa. On Hatshepsut’s relief, scribes write ‘Never were brought such things to any king since the world was.’⁸ This corroborates 1 Kings 10:13 which states:

‘And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, whatever she asked besides what was given her by the bounty of King Solomon. So she turned and went back to her own land with her servants.’

Conclusion

When given a chance, the Bible proves to be a remarkably accurate book of history. Clifford Wilson, former director of the Australian Institute of Archaeology, once said, ‘The Bible is the most accurate history textbook the world has ever seen.’¹¹ Its historical reliability has often surprised historians and archaeologists. And the authority of Scripture begins with the book of Genesis. The historical accounts of a recent creation, the fall of man, the origin of death and suffering, the global flood, and the Tower of Babel are critical in understanding the true history of the world.

Addendum: Queen of Sheba’s mummy found?

Egyptian antiquities chief Zahi Hawass claims to have identified the mummy of Hatshepsut as a ‘fat woman in her 50s who probably died of cancer’, from a missing tooth and CAT scans. See Bad tooth solves mystery of Egypt’s pharaoh queen, as well as Dr Hawass’s own account, The Search for Hatshepsut and the Discovery of her Mummy. Return to top

Related Products

Unwrapping the Pharaohs: How Egyptian Archaeology Confirms The Biblical Timeline

by John Ashton & David Down

Adults and children alike have been fascinated with the Egyptian civilization for decades, but most modern archaeologists have lately tried to use Egyptian chronology to dispute the biblical record of Joseph, Moses and the Exodus. This exciting new Egyptian chronology gives remarkable evidence for the truth of the biblical accounts. Beautiful colour photographs and illustrations complement this intriguing new chronology and really give life to this ancient and advanced civilization whose skill in building the pyramids still mystifies architects and scientists. It is also an appealing and informative read for anyone who is interested in Egyptian civilization and the reign of the pharaohs.

References

Rohl, D., A Test of Time: The Bible: from Myth to History, Century Limited, London, UK, p. 128, 1995; see also review by Osgood, J., Journal of Creation 11(1):33–35, 1997. Return to Text
James, P., Centuries of Darkness, Pimlico, London, UK, pp. XV–XVI, 1992. Return to Text
James, ref. 2, p. 39. Return to Text
Ashton, J. and Down, D. Unwrapping the Pharaohs: How Egyptian Archaeology Confirms The Biblical Timeline, Master Books, Green Forest, AR, p. 116, 2006. Return to Text
Robins, G., Women in Ancient Egypt, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, p. 47, 1993. Return to Text
Tyldesley, Hatchepsut the Female Pharaoh, p. 130. Return to Text
Steindorff and Steele, When Egypt Ruled the East, p. 41. Return to Text
Ashton and Down, ref. 4, p. 122. Return to Text
Schott, P, Les chants d’amour dans l’Egypte ancien, p. 97. Return to Text
Whiston, Josephus’ Complete Works, Antiquities of the Jews, VIII, VI, p. 5. Return to Text
Wilson, C, Archaeologist Speaks Out, Creation 21(1):15, 1998. It needs to be stated however that Dr Wilson strongly disagrees with the identification of Hatshepsut as Sheba. He cites 'scriptural facts as well as archaeological dating to show that Hatshepsut was the foster mother of Moses, and the stepmother of Pharaoh Thuthmosis III, who I and many other conservative scholars accept as being the Pharaoh of the Exodus.' Return to Text