A royal journey from the edges of the known world to Jerusalem is driven not by politics or trade, but by a rare thirst for wisdom. The Queen of Sheba seeks to uncover the truth behind a leader whose superhuman intellect has become legendary. Her homeland of Sheba was located far south of Israel, in the region of modern-day Yemen, East Africa, or Ethiopia, and was famous for its wealth of gold and spices [ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל]. Stories of Solomon's greatness most likely reached her through his servants, whose ships passed through her territory on their way to Ophir [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. These reports arrived constantly, building a continuous picture of his extraordinary abilities [רד״ק, חומת אנך]. While some suggest her title might refer to the kingdom itself, she was clearly a sovereign ruler in her own right, governing independently rather than serving merely as the wife of a king [חומת אנך, אברבנאל].
The primary approach among commentators is that Solomon's intellect was not viewed as ordinary human intelligence. Instead, it was universally recognized as a miraculous gift from God. As a result, the fame and praise he garnered were ultimately directed toward Him rather than just the king himself. Another perspective suggests that Solomon's reputation stemmed from how he applied his knowledge. Unlike the magicians and sorcerers of his time who used their skills for ordinary or selfish goals, Solomon dedicated his wisdom entirely to God, focusing on justice and charity [רלב״ג, רד״ק].
Finding these spectacular claims difficult to believe, the queen decided to travel and examine him personally [חומת אנך]. She planned to challenge him with riddles, using obscure and complex questions as a strict test [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. Ordinary human intelligence cannot solve riddles that rely on hidden details or secret intentions. She reasoned that if Solomon could truly grasp her deepest thoughts and answer these mysteries, it would be undeniable proof that his wisdom was supernatural and that the spirit of God spoke directly through the king [מלבי״ם, רלב״ג, אברבנאל].