Excerpt from
The Wisdom Bird
by Sheldon Oberman


King Solomon could answer any question. He could solve any problem. Even the birds talked about his wisdom. They flew all the way to Africa, telling everyone, "King Solomon is the wisest man in the world!"
They even told the Queen of Sheba, who was also very wise. Some say she was the wisest woman in the world.
When the queen heard about King Solomon, she said "I want to meet tghis clever man." She called together her servants, her warriors, and her nobles. She told them, "We are going to Jerusalem."
 They sailed by ship across the red Sea, then they travelled by camel caravan through the Negev Desert. Finally, they reached the high gates of jerusalem.
Her servants sang and drummed. Her warriors danced and shook their spears. Her nobles brought forward gifts of gold and silver, spices and incense, and the many wonderful creatures of Africa, but the gates stayed shut.
Finally, the queen called out, "I am the Queen of Sheba. I have come to meet King Solomon!"
For a moment, everything was still and silent. Then, from inside the city, a hundred trumpets blew, the high gates of Jerusalem opened wide, and out came Solomon..
"Great Queen," he said, "you have travelled so far and you you have brought me so much. What can I give you in return?"
"Teach me something important," she replied, "something worth all these gifts and all my time and trouble."
King Solomon invited her to sit beside his throne. She watched as he solved every problem that his people brought him. She listened as he read to her from his book, The Song of Songs. She asked him many questions, and he answered every one.
"Now," said Solomon, "have I taught you something worth all your gifts and all your time and trouble?"
She shook her head. "No," she said. "You have great knowledge, but show me what you can do with it."
"Name anything," said Solomon, "If it can be done, I promise I will do it."
"Build a palace out of bird beaks," she said.
Everyone was shocked. That would take all the beaks of all the birds of the world.

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Date last modified: 27 March 2001