Ecc 10:4 | KingComments | STEP | In man is advised not to rise up against a ruler if his temper rises against him. It is wiser to remain submissive. One should not answer foolishness with foolishness. The best thing to do is to remain calm, for that has a calming effect on the temper, it “allays”. A positive ‘side-effect’ of this “allayment” is that it prevents a wrong reaction, which could make the case even worse. An attitude of submission and calmness will calm down the anger ( ; ). By a submissive attitude he will prevent committing a greater sin ( ). The Preacher has “seen an evil under the sun”, of which he says that it is “like an error” ( ). This error goes forth from a ruler who is a fool. This foolish ruler shows his foolishness in two ways ( ): 1. He promotes a person who has never achieved anything and gives him a leading position in his government. 2. He degrades people who generally are respectable, and he gives them a low position. We often see these kind of errors in government circles. Important posts in the government are given to family members and friends who have no idea about how to rule. In society we see that generally respected scholars proclaim the greatest follies, for example the foolish evolution theory, and are therefore set in exalted places. People in exalted places are people with influence, but they lack spiritual sources to take up their position with dignity. Rich men are people with material sources, but because of the foolish ruler they are not given the opportunity to make good use of it. Foolish men bring no order, but cause disorder. They turn all things upside down. The picture of “slaves [riding] on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land”, enlivens the teaching of the Preacher ( ; ; ). The Lord Jesus, the Prince, was walking on the land as Slave. He will soon come back on a white horse and will execute judgment on all unrighteousness ( ).

‏ Ecclesiastes 10:4

The Attitude Toward a Foolish Ruler

In Ecc 10:4 man is advised not to rise up against a ruler if his temper rises against him. It is wiser to remain submissive. One should not answer foolishness with foolishness. The best thing to do is to remain calm, for that has a calming effect on the temper, it “allays”.

A positive ‘side-effect’ of this “allayment” is that it prevents a wrong reaction, which could make the case even worse. An attitude of submission and calmness will calm down the anger (Jdg 8:3; Pro 15:1a). By a submissive attitude he will prevent committing a greater sin (Pro 15:1b).

The Preacher has “seen an evil under the sun”, of which he says that it is “like an error” (Ecc 10:5). This error goes forth from a ruler who is a fool. This foolish ruler shows his foolishness in two ways (Ecc 10:6):

1. He promotes a person who has never achieved anything and gives him a leading position in his government.

2. He degrades people who generally are respectable, and he gives them a low position.

We often see these kind of errors in government circles. Important posts in the government are given to family members and friends who have no idea about how to rule.

In society we see that generally respected scholars proclaim the greatest follies, for example the foolish evolution theory, and are therefore set in exalted places. People in exalted places are people with influence, but they lack spiritual sources to take up their position with dignity. Rich men are people with material sources, but because of the foolish ruler they are not given the opportunity to make good use of it. Foolish men bring no order, but cause disorder. They turn all things upside down. The picture of “slaves [riding] on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land”, enlivens the teaching of the Preacher (Ecc 10:7; Pro 30:22a; 2Sam 15:1 ; 16-17).

The Lord Jesus, the Prince, was walking on the land as Slave. He will soon come back on a white horse and will execute judgment on all unrighteousness (Rev 19:11).