MPV Commentary

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon; She Admires His Wisdom

When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon, she was intrigued (see 1 Kings 10:1-13). Among the things that impressed her in Jerusalem was "his ascent by which he went up into the house of the Lord." This refers to a remarkable arched viaduct that spanned the valley from Mount Zion to the opposite hill.

Recent archaeological discoveries have confirmed the existence of this impressive structure. In the southwest corner of the area now occupied by the mosque, archaeologists found several large stones protruding from the western wall. Initially, they thought these stones were a result of an earthquake or some other catastrophic event. However, upon closer inspection, it became clear that these stones had once been part of a massive arch.

The discovery was made by a British explorer who visited the site and noticed the stones' regular curve and precise fit together. He realized that these stones formed the base of a massive arch that once spanned the valley. This arch would have connected the temple to the Xystus, a covered colonnade on Mount Zion.

The distance from this point to the steep rock of Zion is estimated to be around 350 feet, suggesting that the viaduct was quite long. Another account estimates that the center arch of this bridge would have been about 60 feet in diameter and supported by five massive pillars, with piers reaching heights of over 130 feet. The entire structure must have been an awe-inspiring sight when viewed from the southern end of the Tyropoeon valley, especially considering its proximity to the grand temple buildings on Mount Zion.