Albert Barnes Commentary Ecclesiastes 4:13-16

"Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more. For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor. I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead. There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind." — Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 (ASV)

These verses set forth the vanity of earthly prosperity, even on a throne. Opinion as to their application is chiefly divided: some consider them a parable or fiction, like that of the childless man in Ecclesiastes 4:8; others interpret them as first setting forth the vicissitudes of royal life in two proverbial sayings (Ecclesiastes 4:13–14), and then, in Ecclesiastes 4:15-16, the vicissitudes or procession of the whole human race, one generation giving place to another, which in its turn will be forgotten by its successor. On the whole, the first interpretation appears to have the better claim.

Concerning Ecclesiastes 4:13: The word Child should rather be understood as "young man."

Regarding Ecclesiastes 4:14: Rather, For out of the house of bondage he goes forth to be a king; although he was born poor in his kingdom, that is, in the country over which he became king.

In Ecclesiastes 4:15, the phrase I considered ... literally means, "I saw all the population of the young man’s kingdom."

Still in Ecclesiastes 4:15: The second child—this second youth is generally understood to be identical with the one mentioned in Ecclesiastes 4:13.

Regarding Ecclesiastes 4:16: There is—rather, There was.

Further in Ecclesiastes 4:16: That have been before them—rather, before whom he was, that is, at the head of whom the young king was. .

And also in Ecclesiastes 4:16: They also that ... him—that is, the next generation will forget this chosen king.