Albert Barnes Commentary Ecclesiastes 10

This verse is by its meaning so closely connected with (Ecclesiastes 9:18) that the selection of it for the beginning of a new chapter seems unfortunate.

Apothecary – Rather: a dealer in spices and perfumes . The swarms of flies in the East very soon corrupt and destroy any moist ointment or mixture left uncovered, and pollute a dish of food in a few minutes.

So doth... – literally, more weighty than wisdom, than honor, is a little folly.

The metaphor perhaps means, “A wise man’s sense is in its place, ready to help and protect him; but a fool’s sense is missing when it is needed, and so is useless.”

“Way” may be understood either literally , or figuratively, as the course of action which he follows.

He saith ... — He exposes his folly to everyone he meets.

If the spirit ... - that is, if he is angry.

Leave not thy place - that is, do not lose your self-control and quit his presence. Gentleness on your part will calm both yourself and him, and prevent great wrongs being committed by either.

The evil (Ecclesiastes 10:5) is here specified as that caprice of a king by which an unworthy favorite of humble origins is promoted to successive high positions, while a noble person is demoted or neglected.