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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - Proverbs 21:22 - 21:22
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22 A wise man scaleth a city of the mighty;
And casteth down the fortress in which they trusted.
Ecc 9:14. is a side-piece to this, according to which a single wise man, although poor, may become the deliverer of a city besieged by a great army, and destitute of the means of defence. עָלָה, seq. acc., means to climb up, Joe 2:7; here, of the scaling of a fortified town, viz., its fortress. עֹז is that which makes it עִיר עֹז, Isa 26:1 : its armour of protection, which is designated by the genit. מבטחה, as the object and ground of their confidence. The vocalization מִבְטֶחָה, for mibtachcha (cf. Jer 48:13 with Job 18:14), follows the rule Gesen. §27, Anm. 2b. The suff., as in לְאֶתְנַנָּה, Isa 23:17, is lightened, because if its mappik, Michlol 30b; vid., regarding the various grounds of these formae raphatae pro mappicatis, Böttcher, §418. If a city is defended by ever so many valiant men, the wise man knows the point where it may be overcome, and knows how to organize the assault so as to destroy the proud fortress. With וַיֹּרֶד, he brings to ruin, cf. עַד רִדְתָּהּ, Deu 20:20.