Seba

Seba is borne in two senses across the canon. The first is a son of Cush in the Table of Nations and its Chronicles parallel. The second is a region named alongside Egypt and Ethiopia, addressed as a tribute-bringer in the royal psalm and as a ransom-substitute in the prophet Isaiah.

Son of Cush

The Table of Nations places Seba first among the sons of Cush. "And the sons of Cush: Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah: Sheba, and Dedan" (Gen 10:7). The Chronicles parallel keeps Seba in the same opening slot of the Cush-list. "And the sons of Cush: Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raama, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba, and Dedan" (1Ch 1:9). In both lists Seba stands first of five sons, and Sheba is named separately as a grandson through Raamah — the two names are distinct and held apart by the genealogy.

A Tribute-Bringing Region

In the royal psalm of the messianic king, Seba is paired with Sheba in the list of distant kings bringing gifts. "The kings of Tarshish and of the isles will render tribute: The kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts" (Ps 72:10). Tarshish-and-isles and Sheba-and-Seba stand as the two paired ends of the tribute-list, and Seba supplies the second of the two named gift-bringing kingdoms.

Ransom-Substitute in Isaiah

Isaiah's word of consolation sets Seba alongside Egypt and Ethiopia as nations Yahweh gives in Israel's place. "For I am Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your stead" (Isa 43:3). The Egypt / Ethiopia / Seba triplet is set against the addressed people as their ransom-substitutes, and the speaker is identified as Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, the Savior.