Komentaryo sa Eclesiastes 10:14: Tze'enah Ure'enah, Rashi & Kohelet Rabbah

“A fool multiplies words” [10:14]. Balaam the fool boasted about himself. He said that he knows the opinion of the Holy One. The person, who did not know what it is, went and received a payment from Midian and he did not know that he would be killed. Another explanation is: “A fool multiplies words” [10:14]. The person says to other people that he will do this tomorrow and he does not know what will be tomorrow and does not even know what is behind his back. Someone must tell him. He cannot know it himself.¹⁵⁰Rashi, Ecclesiastes, 10:14.

The fool multiplies words. For he [Bilam] was boasting that he, “knows the knowledge of the Most High.”²⁶Bamidbar 24:16.

“The fool will increase words; man does not know what will be, and what will be after him, who can tell him” (Ecclesiastes 10:14).
“The fool will increase words” – Rabbi Berekhya in the name of Rabbi Simon interpreted the verse regarding Moses. The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: I wrote in your regard that you are wise, but you are standing and speaking extensively, and you are not wise, “do not continue to speak to Me further about this matter” (Deuteronomy 3:26).

Man knows not what will be. To him in the future, for he went to take his pay in Midyan, but he did not know that he would be killed by the sword.

But according to its simple meaning: The fool multiplies words. He declares and says, “Tomorrow I will do this to so-and-so,” without knowing what will be tomorrow.²⁷Alternatively, although the fool multiplies his words, the listener nonetheless knows neither their meaning nor his intention. (Metsudas Dovid)

And what will be after him who can tell him. I.e., not only does he not know what will be after a time, but even what is presently now behind him, but is not in front of his eyes, only behind his back at a distance, he needs someone to tell him.