The queen of Sheba was likely from the area of Yemen in the southwest corner of Arabia. Her appearance in chapter nine helps to cap off the section on Solomon, which began with a reference to his greatness (note the mention of horses in chapter one and here) and ends that way here.
Of course, what is absent here is the observation about Solomon’s wives – how many he had and that they drew his heart away from God.
Why is it missing?
The Chronicler is interested in providing returning exiles a guide for successful leadership in Israel. He doesn’t refuse to list the negatives (remember David’s fiasco with the Ark of the Covenant and Solomon’s horses), but he elects to focus on the positives.
David and Solomon, like us, wrestled with the commandments, but they did not turn against God. This is what will make the story of Rehoboam in chapter 12 such a turning point in the book. He abandons “the Law of the Lord.”
God understands spiritual struggle. He can be kind and patient in His discipline. But outright rebellion doesn’t play well with the Lord, as those who are reading the book for the first time will come to understand. Life with God is a struggle (remember Jacob?), but that’s not a problem. The problem comes when there is no longer a struggle.