Single lesson
The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon
1 Kings 10:1–13; 2 Chronicles 9:1–12
Today the children will trace how the queen of Sheba came to Solomon, what she saw and heard, and how her words pointed to Yahweh. They will practise putting the account in order and noticing the outcomes of each choice.
Before you teach
In both 1 Kings 10:1–13 and 2 Chronicles 9:1–12, the queen of Sheba hears about Solomon’s fame and comes to Jerusalem with hard questions and rich gifts. Solomon answers her, she sees his wisdom and household, blesses Yahweh, gives gifts, and returns home after receiving from Solomon.
Students will be able to sequence the visit of the queen of Sheba and name two things this passage shows about Solomon’s wisdom and Yahweh’s role in his kingship.
Welcome: What do we do when we hear something amazing?
4 minAsk the children to think about the first step in the passage. The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame and came to test him with hard questions. Explain that hard questions are difficult questions. Tell the group they will listen for the order of events and for what the queen says after she sees Solomon for herself.
1 Kings 10:1, 2 Chronicles 9:1
Read and explain: Hearing, coming, asking, answering
7 minRead 1 Kings 10:1–3 or 2 Chronicles 9:1–2 aloud. Point out the sequence: she heard, she came, she talked with Solomon, and Solomon answered all her questions. Notice that she brought spices, gold and precious stones. Explain that the story shows a real visit with conversation, testing and answers, not just a quick greeting.
1 Kings 10:1, 1 Kings 10:2, 1 Kings 10:3, 2 Chronicles 9:1, 2 Chronicles 9:2
Discuss: What changed when she saw it herself?
7 minRead the verses about what the queen saw. She saw Solomon’s wisdom, the house he built, the food of his table, the seating or sitting of servants, the attendance of officials or ministers, their clothing, and his ascent to Yahweh’s house. Help children notice that she moved from hearing reports to seeing with her own eyes and saying the report was true.
1 Kings 10:4, 1 Kings 10:5, 1 Kings 10:6, 1 Kings 10:7, 2 Chronicles 9:3, 2 Chronicles 9:4, 2 Chronicles 9:5, 2 Chronicles 9:6
Make and respond: Sequence cards of the visit
8 minGive small groups mixed cards or slips with key moments from the passage: heard of Solomon, came with gifts, asked hard questions, received answers, saw Solomon’s wisdom and household, blessed Yahweh, gave gifts, received gifts, returned home. Children place them in order, then retell the story using the words of the passage where possible. Remind them that the queen also says Yahweh made Solomon king to do justice and righteousness.
1 Kings 10:1, 1 Kings 10:2, 1 Kings 10:3, 1 Kings 10:4, 1 Kings 10:9, 1 Kings 10:10, 1 Kings 10:13, 2 Chronicles 9:8, 2 Chronicles 9:9, 2 Chronicles 9:12
Closing: What does the passage teach about God and people?
4 minSummarise with the children. The queen chose to come and ask. Solomon answered. After seeing and hearing, the queen said the report was true and blessed Yahweh. She said Yahweh set Solomon on the throne and made him king to do justice and righteousness. Finish by inviting each child to say one event in order from the account.
1 Kings 10:6, 1 Kings 10:7, 1 Kings 10:9, 2 Chronicles 9:6, 2 Chronicles 9:8
Questions to explore
Why did the queen of Sheba come to Solomon in the first place?
Look for the reason at the beginning of the account: she heard of Solomon’s fame and came to test him with hard questions.
1 Kings 10:1, 2 Chronicles 9:1
What are some of the things the queen saw that showed her Solomon’s wisdom and greatness?
Use the list in the middle of the passage, such as the house, the food, the servants, their clothing and his ascent to Yahweh’s house.
1 Kings 10:4, 1 Kings 10:5, 2 Chronicles 9:3, 2 Chronicles 9:4
What did the queen say about Yahweh’s part in Solomon’s kingship?
Her words say Yahweh delighted in Solomon, set him on the throne, loved Israel, and made him king to do justice and righteousness.
1 Kings 10:9, 2 Chronicles 9:8
Make, think or respond
Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or pens
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Write or draw eight key moments from the passage on separate cards.
- Mix the cards and give them to pairs or small groups.
- Ask children to place the cards in the order the passage gives.
- Have each group retell the account using the ordered cards and one verse-backed detail.
- Check the order together by rereading selected verses.
This activity helps children follow the sequence of the queen’s visit and notice how hearing, seeing, speaking and giving unfold in the passage.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, use simple picture cards with only four main steps: came, asked, saw, returned.
- For older or confident readers, compare one wording from 1 Kings 10 with one wording from 2 Chronicles 9 and discuss what each account emphasises from its own verses.
An optional closing prayer
“God, thank you for this account. Please help us listen carefully, speak truthfully, and value wisdom, justice and righteousness. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
1 Kings 10
1 When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning Yahweh’s name, she came to test him with hard questions.
2 She came to Jerusalem with a very great caravan, with camels that bore spices, very much gold, and precious stones; and when she had come to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was in her heart.
3 Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from the king which he didn’t tell her.
4 When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
5 the food of his table, the sitting of his servants, the attendance of his officials, their clothing, his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to Yahweh’s house, there was no more spirit in her.
6 She said to the king, “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.
7 However, I didn’t believe the words until I came and my eyes had seen it. Behold, not even half was told me! Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.
8 Happy are your men, happy are these your servants who stand continually before you, who hear your wisdom.
9 Blessed is Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel. Because Yahweh loved Israel forever, therefore he made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”
10 She gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again was there such an abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
11 The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought in from Ophir great quantities of almug trees and precious stones.
12 The king made of the almug trees pillars for Yahweh’s house and for the king’s house, harps also and stringed instruments for the singers; no such almug trees came or were seen to this day.
13 King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, in addition to that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants.
2 Chronicles 9
1 When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to test Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great caravan, including camels that bore spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones. When she had come to Solomon, she talked with him about all that was in her heart.
2 Solomon answered all her questions. There wasn’t anything hidden from Solomon which he didn’t tell her.
3 When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,
4 the food of his table, the seating of his servants, the attendance of his ministers, their clothing, his cup bearers and their clothing, and his ascent by which he went up to Yahweh’s house, there was no more spirit in her.
5 She said to the king, “It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.
6 However I didn’t believe their words until I came, and my eyes had seen it; and behold half of the greatness of your wisdom wasn’t told me. You exceed the fame that I heard!
7 Happy are your men, and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom.
8 Blessed be Yahweh your God, who delighted in you and set you on his throne to be king for Yahweh your God, because your God loved Israel, to establish them forever. Therefore he made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.”
9 She gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones. There was never before such spice as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
10 The servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, also brought algum trees and precious stones.
11 The king used algum tree wood to make terraces for Yahweh’s house and for the king’s house, and harps and stringed instruments for the singers. There were none like these seen before in the land of Judah.
12 King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, more than that which she had brought to the king. So she turned and went to her own land, she and her servants.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.