Proverbs 16:10 - Exposition

A Divine sentence is in the lips of the king. קֶסֶם ( quesem ) is "divination," "soothsaying," oracular utterance. Septuagint, μαντεῖον . The king's words have, in people's minds, the certainty and importance of a Divine oracle, putting an end to all controversy or division of opinion. It seems to be a general maxim, not especially referring to Solomon or the theocratic kingdom, but rather indicating the traditional view of the absolute monarchy. The custom of deifying kings and invoking them as gods was usual in Egypt and Eastern countries, and made its way to the West. "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man," cried the people, when Herod addressed them in the amphitheatre at Caesarea ( Acts 12:22 ). The Greeks could say—

εἰκὼν δὲ βασιλεύς ἐστιν ἔμψυχος θεοῦ .

"God's very living image is the king."

And thus his utterances were regarded as irrefragably true and decisive. His month transgresseth not in judgment. The decisions which he gives are infallible, and, at any rate, irresistible. We may refer to Solomon's famous verdict concerning the two mothers ( 1 Kings 3:16 , etc.), and such sentences as Proverbs 8:15 , "By me (wisdom) kings reign, and princes decree justice" (see below on Proverbs 8:12 ; Proverbs 21:1 ); and David's words ( 2 Samuel 23:4 ), "He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God" (Wis. 9:4, 10, 12). Delitzsch regards the second hemistich as giving a warning (consequent on the former clause), and not stating a fact, "In the judgment his mouth should not err." The present chapter contains many admonitions to kings which a wise father like Solomon may have uttered and recorded for the benefit of his son. If this is the case, it is as strange as it is true that Rehoboam made little use of the counsels, and that Solomon's latter days gave the lie to many of them.