Dictionary Summary: Heb. 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](/1kgs#1Kgs.10.1)). She is called by our Lord the “queen of the south” ([Matt. 12:42](/matt#Matt.12.42)). ²