- SHEBA an oath, seven. (1.) Hebrews shebha, the son of Raamah (Genesis
10:7), whose descendants settled with those of Dedan on the Persian Gulf.
(2.) Hebrews id. A son of Joktan (Genesis 10:28), probably the founder of
the Sabeans.
(3.) Hebrews id. A son of Jokshan, who was a son of Abraham by Keturah
(Genesis 25:3).
(4.) Hebrews 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 (1 Kings 10:1-13). She
is called by our Lord the “queen of the south” (Matthew 12:42).
(5.) Hebrews shebha’, “seven” or “an oak.” A town of Simeon (Joshua
19:2).
(6.) Hebrews id. A “son of Bichri,” of the family of Becher, the son of
Benjamin, and thus of the stem from which Saul was descended (2 Samuel
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.
- SHEBANIAH whom Jehovah hides, or has made grow up. (1.) A Levite
appointed to blow the trumpet before the ark of God (1 Chronicles 15:24).
(2.) Another Levite (Nehemiah 9:4, 5).
(3.) A priest (Nehemiah 10:12).