What is the significance of a small city and few men?
Rashi citing Nedarim 32b: The city is a Mashal for the human body; the few men are the (R. Avigdor - 248) limbs.
Rashbam: If the city was strong, even if it had few people, or it was weak, but it had many people to guard it, or a simple king without great troops besieged it, it would not be so astounding if a Chacham saved it. However, a weak city, with few people to guard it, and a great esteemed king with many great troops besieged it, and built fortresses around it, and a poor Chacham saved it with his Chachmah - this astounds me, how was he forgotten?!
Ri Kara: It is easy to conquer it [Metzudas David - because it is easy to surround it].
Malbim (Mishlei 21:22): This discusses the war that the Yetzer and desire fight against the Nefesh. It depicts the Nefesh as one who sits in a small city with few people, for the powers of the Nefesh are few.
Why did the king surround the city?
Rav Sadya Gaon: He besieged it.
Why does it say that a great king came and surrounded the city?
Nedarim 32b: This is a Mashal for the Yetzer Ra (evil inclination). Rashi - all his limbs feel it. R. Avigdor - he is Gadol, i.e. 13 years older than the Yetzer Tov.
Ri Kara: He was able to surround it in all four directions. Metzudas David - "Gadol" means that he had a great multitude with him.
Malbim (Mishlei 21:22): This discusses the Yetzer and desire fighting against the Nefesh. The powers of the flesh are many. Nature and the senses help them.
Why does it say that he built fortresses around it?
Nedarim 32b: This is a Mashal for sins.
Ibn Ezra: The city was low. The king built fortresses higher than the city 1 . Surely he will conquer it, and no one can save it! The initial Mem in "Metzodim" is from the root; this is like "la'Metzad l'David" (Divrei ha'Yamim I, 12:17), "Metzudas Tziyon" (Shmuel II, 5:7).
Metzudas David: This enables him to cast onto it rocks and Kelim that destroy.
