seba Summary and Overview

(1.) One of the sons of Cush (Gen. 10:7). (2.) The name of a country and nation (Isa. 43:3; 45:14) mentioned along with Egypt and Ethiopia, and therefore probably in NEern Africa. The ancient name of Meroe. The kings of Sheba and Seba are mentioned together in Ps. 72:10.

(pl. Sebaim; in Authorized Version incorrectly rendered Sabeans) heads the list of the sons of Cush. Besides the mention of Seba in the lists of the pens of Cush, #Ge 10:7; 1Ch 1:9| there are but three notices of the nation -- #Ps 72:10; Isa 43:3; 45:14| These passages seem to show that Seba was a nation of Africa bordering on or included in Cush, and in Solomon's time independent and of political importance. It may perhaps be identified with the island of Meroe. Josephus says that Saba was the ancient name of the Ethiopian island and city of Meroe, but he writes Seba, in the notice of the Noachian settlements, Sabas. The island of Meroe lay between the Astaboras, the Atbara, the most northern tributary of the Nile, and the Astapus, the Bahr el-Azrak, "Blue River," the eastern of its two great confluents.

SE'BA (man ?), a wealthy and commercial region of Ethiopia, Ps 72:10; Isa 43:3; Isa 45:14; Eze 23:42. Seba appears to have corresponded to the northern portion of Abyssinia. Josephus placed the original Seba at Meroe, but the name seems, in later times, to have included a region of considerable importance on the south-western coast of the Red Sea. Its inhabitants are mentioned with Sheba, Ps 72:10, the trading-people of the other side of the sea. The inhabitants of both Sheba and Seba were called Sabreans by Greek and Latin writers, but the Hebrew words are distinct. Meroe lay between the river Astaboras, the northern tributary of the Nile, and the Astapus or "Blue River." The capital city was about 90 miles south of the junction of the Astaboras and the Nile. Extensive ruins 20 miles northeast of Shendy, in Nubia, near the Nile, may indicate the site. See Sabaeus.

frontSHEBA (1).) Son of Cush, i.e. Ethiopia (Genesis 10:7). A commercial and wealthy region of Ethiopia (Psalm 72:10; Isaiah 43:3; Isaiah 45:14 "men of stature".) The Macrobian Ethiopians were reported to be the tallest and comeliest of men (Herodotus 3:20). Meroe, at the confluence of the Astaboras and Astapus, was called Seba, until Cambyses called it Meroe from his sister (Josephus, Ant. 2:10). Seba is distinct from Sheba, which is Semitic; Seba is Hamitic. The Sebaeans were an Ethiopian, ruling race, which dwelt about Meroe the capital, and were physically superior to the rest of the people. Shebek, or Sabacho or So, founded here an Ethiopian kingdom which ruled Egypt. Meru means "an island" in Egyptian; Meru-pet is "the island of Pet," the "bow", or else "Phut." The Astaboras is the Atbara, the most northern tributary of the Nile, and the Astapus and Astasobas unite to form the Blue river; these bound the island Meroe.