Bible Dictionaries
Kue

Holman Bible Dictionary

(kew' eh) Believed by many to be an ancient name for Cilicia. The name occurs in 1 Kings 10:28 and 2 Chronicles 1:16 . The Masoretes (the Hebrew scholars who added the vowels to the Hebrew text which had been written only with consonants) did not seem to understand the reference and added vowels to the consonants which gave the reading now found in the KJV—”linen yarn.” By adding different vowels to the consonants of the Hebrew text, modern Bible students read “from Kue.” If the Masoretes and the KJV are correct, then Solomon imported horses and linen yarn from Egypt. If the NRSV, NAS, NIV, REB, and TEV are correct (which in all likelihood they are), then Solomon imported horses from Egypt and Kue—that is, Cilicia in southeast Asia Minor (see NEB which has the spelling Coa). Many think, further, that the Hebrew word translated as “Egypt” (Mizraim) should be translated as “Musri,” a country in Asia Minor near Cilicia. From Egypt, Solomon acquired chariots (1 Kings 10:29 ). Thus, Solomon acted as the middle man, putting horses with chariots and exporting them to other kingdoms. This proved to be a very lucrative arrangement for Solomon. See Cilicia; Mizraim; Musri; Solomon .

Phil Logan