Ecclesiastes 10:5
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Solomon witnessed court politics firsthand—his own succession involved intrigue, rival claimants, and political maneuvering (1 Kings 1). Ancient Near Eastern courts regularly experienced incompetent appointments through nepotism, bribery, or political alliance. The phenomenon of fools in high places while worthy people languish in obscurity plagued every ancient society. Joseph experienced this: gifted administrator imprisoned while Pharaoh's officials blundered (Genesis 39-41). Mordecai experienced it: worthy Jew excluded while Haman the Agagite was promoted (Esther 3). Israel's later history confirmed the pattern: corrupt officials, false prophets in royal favor, faithful prophets persecuted. Post-exilic Jewish community under Persian rule saw this repeatedly. The Reformers experienced it: papal corruption, indulgence-sellers enriched, faithful preachers exiled. Church history repeatedly demonstrates that institutional leadership doesn't automatically correlate with spiritual competence or moral worthiness.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you respond when you see incompetent or immoral people elevated to positions of power and influence?
- What does this verse teach about maintaining faithfulness even when earthly systems promote the wrong people?
Analysis & Commentary
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler (יֵשׁ רָעָה רָאִיתִי תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ כִּשְׁגָגָה שֶׁיֹּצָא מִלִּפְנֵי הַשַּׁלִּיט)—the Preacher identifies a specific ra'ah (רָעָה, evil/calamity) he has personally observed (ra'iti, רָאִיתִי, I have seen). He characterizes it as shegagah (שְׁגָגָה, error/inadvertent wrong) proceeding from the shalit (שַׁלִּיט, ruler/one in power). The phrase "under the sun" signals this is empirical observation of earthly governance, not divine ideal. The "error" isn't necessarily the ruler's mistake but the systemic wrong that flows from flawed human authority.
This verse introduces the observation completed in 10:6-7: incompetent fools elevated to high positions while capable people demoted to low status. Such inversions produce social dysfunction, injustice, and instability. The Preacher recognizes that fallible human rulers make poor personnel decisions—whether from misjudgment, favoritism, or political necessity. This wasn't cynicism but realism: even well-intentioned governance suffers from human limitation. The observation anticipates Jesus's teaching that earthly rulers lord authority over subjects (Matthew 20:25-28), unlike kingdom leadership through humble service. Only Christ's perfect rule will establish true justice (Isaiah 11:1-5).