Ecclesiastes 4:13-16

¹³ Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.

¹⁴ For he comes out of prison to be king, although he was born poor in his kingdom.

¹⁵ I saw all the living who walk under the sun; they were with the second youth who stands in his place.

¹⁶ There was no end of all the people ^[e]over whom he was made king; yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Some of my commentaries suggest that verse 14 refers to an actual historical event in which a poor man ended up in prison but then was released and became king. Williams has an interesting take on it, although most of what he suggests happened after Solomon’s death, it would have to be prophetical, so I’m not totally convinced.

The facts which Solomon verified “under the sun,” and records in verses 13-16, proved a prophecy of what would happen to himself, to his son Rehoboam, and to his servant Jeroboam. He [Solomon] became the “old and foolish king” who refused to listen to the Divine admonition (1 Kings 3:14, 9:3-9; and 11:9-40); Jeroboam was the poor but clever youth who came out of prison and was made king; and whilst Rehoboam, the second youth, reigned in his father’s stead, and for a time was accepted by all the people, yet they did not continue “to rejoice in him” but followed Jeroboam. Thus Rehoboam, though born to the kingdom and wealth of his father, became poor: for the king of Egypt took from him the wealth, and Jeroboam took from him the kingdom. Thus there is no stability nor satisfying happiness guaranteed even to a throne: and the multitude who applaud a prince today will strike off his head tomorrow. — Williams, page 442.

with (v.15) — siding with

the second youth (v.15) — the wise youth of verses 13-14

his (v.15) — the foolish king of v.13

Even though there initially was “no end” of all the people who followed the young king (v.14), those who came along later would not be happy with him. People are fickle. Consider how the Jews went from shouting “Hosanna” to Jesus Christ one day to “Crucify Him!” the next (Mark 11:9; 15:13). — Grace, page 1173.