ECCLESIASTES 10.5-6

5-6. There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler: Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones.

7.I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.

The theme continues as Solomon speaks of errors that arise from a ruler – in particular the error of them then putting fools into high positions in their administration. The implication may also be that the error in the previous parable was actually the fault of the ruler although the man who resigned may have been blamed for it. Even more reason for him to react in a more positive and calm fashion.

Once again Solomon seems to be addressing people who have achieved some measure of success in their lives, perhaps having been promoted to a management position, or running their own business, for example, and employing other people.

Whatever a person’s position, they can still make mistakes, perhaps much more serious ones – particularly, in this case, in the selection and promotion of personnel. Just as suitably qualified management team can magnify the effectiveness of a leader, so an incompetent one can undermine it, promoting inefficiency, destroying morale and spreading chaos.

Solomon seemed to speak earlier about discerning attitudes and character from people’s words and actions, in both formal and informal situations, and such discernment is clearly critically important for managers – with the result that the poor manager, who probably should not have been promoted himself, now promotes other incompetent and unqualified people to assist him! As a result, fools are put in many high positions, but those rich in talent continue to occupy the low ones. This is common, he says.

Another fundamental mistake when assessing potential leaders Solomon seems to be saying, is that of judging by appearances – of failing to realize that the people making an immediate impression with their high profile may actually be Solomon’s slaves on horseback, and that the ones with real ability and dedication, the potential future princes, may be those who are quietly plodding along, leading the horses and doing the real work.

A related lesson may be the need to get the true facts of a situation, to take time to probe and investigate more carefully, and find out what is really going on around you. Mistakes are often made, for example, in assessing the financial health of a company by accepting “creative accounting” figures at face value and failing to question the assumptions on which they are based.