should be sacrificed, and his head be cast over the wall. She then " went to all the people, in her wisdom," and prevailed on them to execute her project ; and thus effected by her wisdom the deli- verance of the city, and the preservation of all its inhabitants'". The minute resemblance which there is between this history and the event mentioned in the text, renders it highly probable, that the passage before us is a parable, founded upon the very fact which is here recorded.
But, whether it be a fact, or a parable, with what view is it mentioned ? Some think that it is intended to represent the work of redemption by our Lord Jesus Christ, and the sad neglect with which he is treated, notwithstanding the benefits he has conferred. According to these persons, the interpretation is this. The little city, with a small garrison, is the Church, which confessedly consists of but " a little flock." The great king who comes against it, and besieges it, is Satan, with all his hosts, even all the principalities and powers of hell. The poor wise man is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the counsels of eternal Wisdom, has devised a way for the deliverance of his people ; yet after the deliverance he has wrought out for them, is by the generality most grievously neglected.
Now though there are parts of this which do not exactly accord with such an interpretation, yet we should not have altogether disapproved of the inter- pretation, provided Solomon himself had not given us any clew whereby to discover his real meaning : for it is not necessary that a parable should be applicable in all its parts : it is suflftcient if in its main scope it be fitted to illustrate the point which it is intended to shadow forth. But we are precluded from affixing to this passage the sense which we have now sug- gested, because Solomon's own reflection upon the supposed event determines beyond all controversy its precise import. Solomon intended to commend wisdom, as he frequently does in other parts of this book: in one place he exalts wisdom above folly'';
a 2 Sam. XX. 1, 2, 6, 1.5—22. ^ Eccl. ii. 13.