John Trapp Complete Commentary
Ecclesiastes 9:18
Wisdom [is] better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
Ver. 18. Wisdom is better than weapons of war.] As David found it in his encounter with Goliath, Gideon in his stratagem against the Midianites, and our renowned Drake in dissipating that Invincible Armada, which being three years in preparing with incredible cost, was by his wisdom within a month overthrown and confounded, with the loss of one English ship only, and not a hundred persons. Romani sedendo vincunt. This was the glory of the Romans, that they conquered the world by wisdom, not by weapons.
“ Unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem. ”
Not Achilles, but Ulysses is termed πολιοπορθος, the sacker of cities; a Cyneas took mere towns by his policy than Pyrrhus by his prowess.
But one sinner destroyeth much good.] He may be as an Achan in the army, as a Jonah in the ship, a trouble-town, a common mischief, a traitor to the state; especially if he be an eminent man, as Jeroboam, that ringleader of rebellion, and Manasseh, who "made Judah also to sin," 2Ki 21:11 and so brought such evil upon them, that whosoever heard of it, "both his ears tingled." Ecc 9:12 Great men's sins do more hurt (1.) By imitation; for Regis ad exemplnm, &c.; (2.) By imputation, for plectuntur Achivi; the poor people pay for such men's faults, as they did for David's. 2Sa 24:15-17 I shall close up this chapter with that memorable passage of a reverend writer, yet alive: If England's fears were greater, thy reformation may save it. Jer 5:1 If our hopes were greater, thy sin and security might undo it. Ecc 9:18 One sinner destroys much good. I only add, how much more a rabble of rebels, conspiring to provoke God. Sure I am, we have great cause to wish for our country, as Ferus did for the Romish synagogue; I would we had some Moses, said he, to take away the evils, Non enim unum tantum vitulum, sed multos habemus, for we have not only one golden calf, but many among us.
a Plutarch.