John Gill Commentary Proverbs 21:22

"A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof." — Proverbs 21:22 (ASV)

A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty
Which makes good what is elsewhere said, that "wisdom is better than strength", (Ecclesiastes 9:16) ; and sometimes more is done by prudence and wisdom, by art and cunning, by schemes and stratagems, than by power and force; especially in military affairs, and particularly in besieging and taking fortified cities; when one wise man, by his wisdom, may so order and manage things, as to be able, with a few under his command, to mount the walls of a city and take it, though defended by a mighty garrison in it. This may be applied to, our Lord Jesus Christ entering into the city of a man's heart, possessed by the strong man armed; overcoming him, taking from him his armour, and dividing his spoil, (Luke 11:21Luke 11:22) ; compare with this (Ecclesiastes 9:14Ecclesiastes 9:15) ; and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof ;
the strong walls, bulwarks, and such fortifications, in which the mighty in the city placed their confidence: and the like does Christ, when he enters into the heart of a sinner by his word and spirit; he destroys all its former strong confidences, and brings it into subjection to himself, (2 Corinthians 10:4 2 Corinthians 10:5) .