Priest to the nations

When Sheba visits Solomon, she brings spices.  1 Kings 10 uses the word besem four times (vv. 2, 10 [2x], 25), suggesting that the spices come from the four points of the compass.  Spices are exotic in Israel, a sign of the Gentiles flowing to the mountain of God.

What were the spices used for?  Kings doesn’t tell us, but from the information in Exodus and Chronicles, spices were used for temple service – added to the anointing oil for priests, mixed with frankincense in the aromatic incense.  That is, the treasures of the nations are brought to the house of Yahweh and offered up in worship to Him.  Or, the spices of the nations are brought to Jerusalem and used to anoint the High Priest as a priest not only to Israel but to the nations.

There is a circular movement here: Nations bring spices, which make Israel a perfumed bride, which in turn draws the nations.