But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
Solomon had a large soul (Kg1 4:29) and it appeared by this, among other things, that he had a very tender concern for the miserable part of mankind and took cognizance of the afflictions of the afflicted. He had taken the oppressors to task (Ecc 3:16, Ecc 3:17) and put them in mind of the judgment to come, to be a curb to their insolence...
Commenting on Ecclesiastes 4:1-3
Yea, better is he than both they which hath not yet been,.... That is, an unborn person; who is preferred both to the dead that have seen oppression, and to the living that are under it; see Job 3:10. This supposes a person to be that never was, a mere nonentity; and the judgment made is according to sense, and regards the dead purely as...
Yea, better [is he] than both they, who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. (c) He speaks according to the judgment of the flesh which cannot abide to feel or see troubles.