מלכים א, פרק ה׳, פסוק י׳

Solomon's intellectual greatness is measured against the great powers of knowledge in the ancient world. During his time, the eastern nations and Egypt possessed highly developed traditions and considered themselves the center of human culture [רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Yet, Solomon's wisdom grew to be far greater than the collective knowledge of these empires [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The commentators agree that each of these nations had its own unique area of expertise. The people of the East were characterized by their extensive knowledge of astronomy and the study of the stars. Additionally, they were experts in understanding the speech of birds for the purpose of divination, a skill known in rabbinic and Arabic traditions as "Tayir" [רד״ק, מצודת דוד].

In contrast, the primary approach among commentators is that the wisdom of Egypt focused heavily on the natural sciences. The Egyptians possessed a deep understanding of natural laws, the composition of materials, and the blending of different elements. This profound knowledge of the physical world formed the foundation of the Egyptian sorcerers' abilities, allowing them to perform highly sophisticated acts that appeared as magic and illusions. Ultimately, Solomon's wisdom encompassed and surpassed all of these unique fields of knowledge combined.