David’s servants were eating eggs. One had eaten his, and was ashamed to sit with the others. So he borrowed an egg and promised to return, when asked, all that might come from one egg. After a time the man was brought by his creditor before King David, who condemned him to pay an enormous amount, as it was claimed that from the egg a chicken could be hatched which would lay 18 eggs, from which 18 chickens would be hatched and then again 18 etc. The man is met by Solomon who being told of the judgment advised him to sow boiled peas in the
field. When seen by David and asked how he could expect these to grow, he was to reply; “How can a boiled egg be hatched and produce chickens?” [v. below No. 342].