Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
Ver. 22. Without counsel purposes are disappointed.] The word here rendered "counsel" signifies ‘secret,' because counsel should be kept secret; which to signify, the old Romans, as Servius testifieth, built the temple of Consus, their god of counsel, sub tecto in circo, in a public place, but under a covert; and it grew to a proverb, Romani sedendo vincunt; The Romans, by sitting in council, conquer their enemies. But what a strange man was Xerxes, and it prospered with him accordingly, who, in his expedition against Greece, called his princes together, but gave them no freedom of speech nor liberty of counsel! Lest, said he to them, I should seem to follow mine own counsel, I have assembled you: and now, do you remember, that it becomes you rather to obey than to advise. a Such another was that James that reigned in Scotland in our Edward IV's time. He was too much wedded, saith the historian, b to his own opinion, and would not endure any man's advice, how good soever, that he fancied not. He would seldom ask counsel, but never follow any. See the note on Proverbs 11:14 .
a Val. Max., lib. ix. cap. 5.
b Daniel's Hist.