Proverbs 11:10 Commentary and Bible Study

The illustration is of a city state with its own local rulers, or city fathers. In the time of Solomon, cities had their own elders. Prominent people, usually the most wealthy landlords, rose to positions of prominence, and sat in the place of honour dispensing justice and making and applying the city rules. Solomon's proverb pictures two alternative regimes which might be dominant in a city. 'When it goeth well with the righteous,' suggests that decent, fair-minded people have prospered and come to office. Favour has been shown to them in terms of their personal prosperity and their advancement to honour in the city. They have become the city fathers, and sit as magistrates in the gate. They have an enormous influence on life in the city, and therefore when they are good men who have integrity all the inhabitants rejoice in their happy situation. There is recourse to justice and fairness in the way people are treated; honest trade is promoted and men are elevated to positions of responsibility in the city on the basis of merit and good character, for integrity begets integrity. Even a fallen world recognises the advantage of just and righteous rulers. But there is another kind of regime possible. A despot or tyrant may arise, or the city fathers may be mean and greedy people, who treat their servants as slaves and keep them down. People are appointed on the basis of favouritism and the payment of bribes. Factions gather power to themselves, and justice cannot be obtained for the judges are corrupt. They may do nothing for the social good or fabric of the city, and accept bribes in the seat of judgement. They may decide disputes in favour of their friends and business associates. So it may be that crooks rule the city, enriching themselves. The proverb says that the city may be overthrown by 'the mouth of the wicked', which means that it will collapse into squalor and misery as the result of the corrupt, cruel decrees and judgements of the wicked regime. The people live in a state of oppression, and therefore when finally these wicked rulers are brought down or die, the people rejoice because their nightmare has come to an end. Not surprisingly, should such rulers be deposed, or their lands and estates fail so that they become too impoverished to hold on to power, and better people take control of the city, there will be a great shout of happiness. 'When the wicked perish [lit: wander away], there is shouting' (verse 10).