Rulers are Often Fools

Observable folly in places of dignity. There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: The Preacher speaks of an evil, a calamity, a harmful thing that results from a ruler that makes an error in judgement. We might ask how does an error in judgement become the cause of some great calamity? In the case of a ruler, a bad decision, an error in judgement affects all that he rules over. It could lead to economic ruin; it might be the cause of war. A ruler must be clothed with wisdom and be surrounded by wise counsel or risk being a fool. Jeroboam forsook sound advice be wise men and took the advice of fools and split the kingdom of Israel...