The Preacher, to illustrate his point that wisdom is better than physical strength, declared (Eccl. 9:14), "There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it."
Faced with this imminently dangerous situation, comparable in a degree to the problems facing individuals and nations today, what could be done? Was it sufficient for the city either to stand inactively by, awaiting what was believed to be inevitable, or to ignore the threatened onslaught? No, wisdom would certainly direct the strengthening of defenses. But against overpowering odds, one might query, What good would a few material barricades do?
The Preacher points out that fortunately for the besieged city the defenders "found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city." And the account concludes, "Wisdom is better than strength."
