John Gill Commentary Proverbs 30:22

"For a servant when he is king; And a fool when he is filled with food;" — Proverbs 30:22 (ASV)

For a servant, when he reigneth - Being unfit for it through his education, not having been trained up in and learned the arts of government and maxims of it; and through the disposition of his mind, which is mean, abject, and servile; and as he has been used himself when a servant, so he will use others ^F3 and through his circumstances, being poor, he will take oppressive methods to become rich; and being raised from a low estate, he is the more imperious, proud, and haughty ^F4; all which and more make his reign intolerable; see (Proverbs 19:10) (28:3) .

This may be applied to antichrist, the "servus servorum", who in a haughty, tyrannical, and insolent manner, exalts himself above all that is called God: and reigns over the kings of the earth, at least has done so, and that in such a manner as was unbearable; deposing kings at pleasure, disposing of their kingdoms, and trampling upon their necks, and making their subjects his vassals; see (2 Thessalonians 2:4) (Revelation 17:12Revelation 17:13Revelation 17:17Revelation 17:18) .

and a fool, when he is filled with meat; as Nabal at his feast, when he behaved so intolerably in his cups towards David and his messengers, that he determined on his destruction, had not Abigail interposed, (1 Samuel 25:10 1 Samuel 25:11 1 Samuel 25:36) .

And there are many such fools, who having their bellies full of food, and their heads full of liquor, are very overbearing in company, and give their tongues such a loose as is very disturbing: or this may intend such fools, or wicked men, who are full of wealth and riches, and being purse proud, are exceeding haughty and insolent; set their mouths against the heaven, and blaspheme God that is in it; and their tongues walk through the earth, and spare none, but lash all in an insufferable manner. These disquiet families, neighbourhoods, communities, and commonwealths; see (Psalms 73:7–9) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F3: "Nec bellua tetrior ulla est, quam servi rabies in libera colla furentis", Claudian. in Eutrop. l. 1. v. 183, 184.
• F4: "Asperius nihil est humili, cum surgit in altum", Claudian. ib. v. 181.