10
4. In the verse, "...than an old and foolish king" (Kohelet 4:13), "king" refers to the Evil Inclination which is called a 'king' and 'ruler of people in the world.' It is certainly "old," and "foolish," because as soon as man is born and comes into the world, it lives with him. Hence, it is an "old and foolish king."
4. מִמֶּלֶךְ זָקֵן וּכְסִיל, מִמֶּלֶךְ: דָּא הוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע, דְּאִיהוּ אִקְרֵי מֶלֶךְ, וְשַׁלִּיט בְּעַלְמָא עַל בְּנֵי נָשָׁא. זָקֵן וּכְסִיל, דְּאִיהוּ זָקֵן וַדַּאי, כְּמָה דְאוֹקְמוּהָ, דְּכַד אִתְיְלֵיד בַּר נָשׁ וְנָפֵיק לַאֲוִירָא דְעַלְמָא, אִיהוּ אִזְדַּמַּן עִמֵּיהּ דְּבַּר נָשׁ, וְע"ד אִיהוּ מֶלֶךְ זָקֵן וּכְסִיל.
10