Ecclesiates
EcclesiatesDo you remember ever sitting down on the front porch on a late summer evening with an older relative? Do you remember the stories that he or she told you? Chances are that through this person’s wisdom, your life was enriched, your views changed or maybe you just sat and smiled as you took it all in for later consideration of course. The Bible, in many ways, portrays that old soul full of wisdom and this is exemplified no better than by the Wisdom Books. The Wisdom literature found in the Bible is, for the most part, contained in 6 main books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song Of Songs, Ecclesiasticus (or Sirach), and Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes has been dubbed by many as one of the most difficult to read, yet most fascinating books of the Bible. What makes Ecclesiastes such a literary phenomena? Its author, its many modern connections, its relationship to the book of Proverbs and its message contribute greatly to the stature of this fine work of art.
The author of the book of Ecclesiastes is called Qoheleth (or Koheleth). That is the Hebrew word for teacher or philosopher. This name acts as a label of occupation but it doesn’t place a specific identity on the author. However, there are a number of clues in the book (and in others) that give us a pretty strong probability that the author was indeed King Solomon. First, the title “Son of David” (1:1) leads us to believe that Solomon could in fact be the author. Reading further in the same chapter, we find the quote “King of Jerusalem”. Solomon was king of Jerusalem at the time Ecclesiastes was written (971-931 BC). Earlier in the Bible, in 1Kings 3:12, we see that Solomon has bestowed upon him “a wise and understanding heart”. Obviously Qoheleth shares this trait with Solomon. Solomon is further shown to have great wisdom in 1Kings 4:29-34 and 10:23. Also, in 1Kings we find Solomon as an undertaker of great building projects. In Ecclesiastes 2:4-10, Qoheleth is said to have “inaugurated a great public works program”. Both Qoheleth of Ecclesiastes and Solomon of 1Kings are described as having great wealth. Clearly these common threads are too strong and too numerous to be mere coincidence. It is not far fetched to believe that Solomon could have written Ecclesiastes. He was responsible (in part or in full) for the Book of Proverbs and the Song of Songs. One main difference is evident between these books though: in Ecclesiastes he uses only his wisdom gained from experience and logic to examine things of this world. He bothers not with faith.
Many works of art have profound effects on society. Arguments over whether or not Pablo Picasso’s paintings are or are not Art have plagued society since the mid-1900s. The 1980’s court...
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