Ecclesiastes 9:14
Good News Translation
There was a little town without many people in it. A powerful king attacked it. He surrounded it and prepared to break through the walls.

New Revised Standard Version
There was a little city with few people in it. A great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.

Contemporary English Version
It happened when a powerful ruler surrounded and attacked a small city where only a few people lived. The enemy army was getting ready to break through the city walls.

New American Bible
Against a small city with few inhabitants advanced a mighty king, who surrounded it and threw up great siegeworks about it.

Douay-Rheims Bible
A little city, and few men in it: there came against it a great king, and invested it, and built bulwarks round about it, and the siege was perfect.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

A little city, and few men in it: there came against it a great king, and invested it, and built bulwarks round about it, and the siege was perfect.

there was

2 Samuel 20:15-22 And they came, and besieged him in Abela, and in Bethmaacha, and they cast up works round the city, and the city was besieged: and all the people that were with Joab, laboured to throw down the walls. . . .

2 Kings 6:24-33 And it came to pass, after these things, that Benadad, king of Syria, gathered together all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria. . . .

2 Kings 7:1 And Eliseus said: Hear ye the word of the Lord: Thus saith the Lord: Tomorrow, about this time, a bushel of fine flour shall be sold for a stater, and two bushels of barley for a stater, in the gate of Samaria.

Context
Wisdom is Better than Strength
13This wisdom also I have seen under the sun, and it seemed to me to be very great: 14A little city, and few men in it: there came against it a great king, and invested it, and built bulwarks round about it, and the siege was perfect.15Now there was found in it a man poor and wise, and he delivered the city by his wisdom, and no man afterward remembered that poor man.…
Cross References
Luke 19:43
For the days shall come upon thee: and thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee and compass thee round and straiten thee on every side,

Deuteronomy 20:20
But if there be any trees that are not fruitful, but wild, and fit for other uses, cut them down, and make engines, until thou take the city, which fighteth against thee.

2 Samuel 20:16
And a wise woman cried out from the city: Hear, hear, and say to Joab: Come near hither, and I will speak with thee.

Ecclesiastes 9:13
This wisdom also I have seen under the sun, and it seemed to me to be very great:

Ecclesiastes 9:13
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