Reflections on Government. These verses are in the strain of Ecclesiastes 10:4-7.
Ecclesiastes 10:16. whose king is a child: e.g. like Ptolemy Epiphanes, who became king of Egypt (205 B.C.) at the age of five. Such a one is often in the hands of unworthy regents. The word may be also translated servant (contrast Ecclesiastes 10:17) or even young man; hence some see a reference to Herod the Great, who was of ignoble birth, or to Alexander Balas (1Ma_10:47). Feasting in the morning is a sure sign of decadence (cf. Isaiah 5:11; Acts 2:15).
Ecclesiastes 10:17. It is just possible that Qoheleth is eulogising Antiochus III, whose accession in 198 B.C. was well received by the Jews (p. 62).
Ecclesiastes 10:18 is the writer's way of saying that when the rulers of a state do not attend to business the structure of government falls to pieces. Feasting means revelry instead of serious attention to state affairs those who indulge in it have only to spend money, perhaps from the public funds (Ecclesiastes 10:19).
Ecclesiastes 10:20 recalls Ecclesiastes 10:4 f.; the courtiers must be cautious, walls have ears. Kings and lords get to hear things in mysterious ways.