Another matter: “The wise man, his eyes are in his head” (Ecclesiastes 2:14) – this is David, king of Israel; “but the fool walks in darkness” (Ecclesiastes 2:14) – this is the wicked Nebuchadnezzar. “I also know that one event will happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes 2:14), and then, “I said in my heart…for there is no remembrance of the wise man with the fool forever; with the passage of the coming days everything is forgotten.”
This one [David] built the Temple49David laid the foundations for the Temple and prepared materials for its construction (Etz Yosef). and ruled for forty years, and that one destroyed it and ruled for forty years. If so, “why did I become wiser?” Why did I devote my life to the construction of the Temple? Then I said: “For there is no remembrance of the wise man with the fool forever…everything is forgotten.”
Tomorrow, Solomon will stand and build the Temple, and will say: “Remember the kindnesses of David, Your servant” (II Chronicles 6:42). Will Evil Merodakh50Evil Merodakh was the son of Nebuchadnezzar. He is mentioned in II Kings 25:27. stand and say: Remember the kindnesses of Nebuchadnezzar, Your servant? That is what is written: “How can the wise man die like the fool?”