You asked

what did 'counselors' mean for an ancient israelite leader compared to today's advisors?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Proverbs 11:14

“Where there is no wise guidance, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”

This verse comes from the book of Proverbs, a collection of wisdom sayings compiled over centuries, primarily for young men in ancient Israel. It offers practical advice for living a good and successful life, rooted in a fear of God. This particular proverb speaks to the importance of seeking advice when making decisions.

what kind of voices do we seek out for guidance in our own complex decisions?

Keep thinking

Behind the textwhat social structures or roles typically provided 'counsel' in ancient israelite society?
Across the Biblehow does this proverbs teaching about 'multitude of counselors' relate to jesus's emphasis on seeking god's wisdom?
For todayhow can we discern between a 'multitude of counselors' and simply too many conflicting opinions today?

Read alongside it

Proverbs 15:22
Emphasizes that plans fail without counsel, but succeed with many advisers.
Judges 20:7
Shows an example of leaders asking for advice from the assembly before making a crucial decision.

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