Ecclesiastes

Composition

Ecclesiastes is a book found in both the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. The author of is unknown, but modern scholars commonly refer to him as Qohelet. This name is usually translated as either “preacher” or “teacher,” meaning that Qohelet held a position of authority within the religious community of his time.

Within Ecclesiastes, Qohelet is not expressing his own views but those of a son of David and the King of Jerusalem. Biblical scholars assert that Qohelet wrote in this way so he could present the views of the fabled King Solomon, the king of Israel. Some religious researchers argue that Qohelet was an invention of King Solomon, allowing the ruler to express his personal beliefs while distancing himself from them. Others take the text at face value, contending that Qohelet was recounting the ideas of the mythical figure. Still others believe that Qohelet lived during a much later time than King Solomon, and he is presenting an interpretation of the records of King Solomon’s teachings.

According to the Abrahamic faiths, Solomon has been the author of several famous books. He is said to have composed both the Song of Solomon and Proverbs in addition to Ecclesiastes. According to both Christian and Jewish tradition, Solomon’s views in Ecclesiastes were recorded during his old age, while the ruler was reflecting on his life and accomplishments. Because Abrahamic tradition states that Solomon was the wisest of the Jewish rulers and many Jews and Christians believe that Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon at his wisest age, many members of Abrahamic faiths consider the contents of Ecclesiastes to be especially significant.

Ecclesiastes is counted among the Ketuvim, the final third of the books of the Hebrew Bible. The Ketuvim is divided into four sections: the poetical books, the Scrolls, the books of prophecy, and the books of history. Ecclesiastes is believed to be one of the Scrolls, alongside the Song of Solomon, the Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ruth, and Esther. The Ketuvim were the last books accepted as canonical additions to the Hebrew Bible. Fragments of most books found in the Ketuvim were also found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, which have been dated to the second century BCE. However, these books were not grouped together in the same manner.

In some cases, Jewish scholars have protested the inclusion of Ecclesiastes in the Hebrew Bible. The tone of the work is uniquely pessimistic, and some scholars felt that it did not align with the other books. Additionally, scholars have argued that the views that Solomon expresses toward the pointlessness of human pursuits and his attitudes toward death are heretical when compared with traditional Jewish teachings. However, despite limited objections, Ecclesiastes has remained part of the Hebrew Bible since the formal introduction of the Ketuvim.

In the Christian Bible, Ecclesiastes is believed to be one of the Wisdom Books. These books are a subset of the Old Testament, which deals with the affairs of humanity before the birth of Jesus Christ. The Wisdom Books date from various time periods but deal with philosophical issues that are considered important to Christian theology. Other Wisdom Books include Song of Solomon, Job, Proverbs, Wisdom of Sirach, and the Book of Wisdom. Ecclesiastes is commonly placed between Proverbs and Song of Solomon, in recognition of their collective attribution to the Biblical figure.

Summary

Ecclesiastes begins with Qohelet identifying the following context as the views of the King of Israel and a son of David. Though Solomon is not explicitly named at this point, the Biblical scholars argue that this can refer to no one except the Biblical King Solomon. Solomon is a powerful figure in the Old Testament of the Bible, lending the following opinions more weight than those of a nameless monarch.

Solomon first observes that nothing is truly new on Earth. While the specifics of a situation might change, all feats, both sins and accomplishments, have been carried out before. He notes that life on Earth is both meaningless and endless. Solomon explains that contained within that endless cycle is the entirety of human existence. Though humans attribute meaning to their accomplishments on Earth, such as attaining power over others or amassing wealth, all humans die, and their accomplishments fade away. Because of this, Solomon, begins looking for other ways to draw meaning from the events in a human life.

Solomon believes that he has been tasked with seeking out and identifying wisdom during his Earthly life. However, he notes that the process has brought him little joy. Additionally, Solomon feels that he is unable to find eternal value in amassing of wisdom. He notes that both those who are wise and those who are foolish will eventually die.

Instead of seeking to amass power, wealth, prestige, or wisdom, Solomon urges readers to draw meaning from the simple pleasures of life. These include the enjoyable sensations of eating, drinking, and spending time with favorable company. He views these pleasures as gifts directly from God.

Solomon also counsels his readers to accept the risks that come with life. He notes that it is impossible for anyone other than God to know how risks will play out and all major life decisions come with a significant element of uncertainty. For this reason, Solomon advises his followers to trust in God instead of their own understanding of the universe. Human understanding is flawed, and people can make incorrect decisions even when presented with complete information. However, God is both omniscient and omnipotent. Solomon asserts that if people spend their time acting justly and have dedicated their lives to God, all events will eventually conform to God’s plan. Because humans are incapable of understanding the universe as God does, this plan may not be apparent to humans. However, Solomon urges his followers to continue to have faith in the divine.

Ecclesiastes also makes significant commentary on the necessity of the divine in everyday life. The author notes that people should enjoy their pleasures in relation to the divine, not in a purely secular manner. Solomon counsels that without the presence of God, all pleasures will eventually become hollow. He also asserts that God will eventually bring every deed to judgment, thus humans should continue to keep God’s commandments throughout their lives. To do otherwise is to risk angering God, potentially resulting in divine punishment.

Themes

Though Ecclesiastes is shorter than most other Biblical books, its contents address several important and consistent themes. Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon repeatedly expresses that he is concerned with the vanity of life. He believes that many matters with which humans concern themselves are of little importance and putting significant effort into pursuing these ends is a matter of vanity. He asserts that power, wealth, and beauty are all transient, eventually disappearing as humans die. Solomon includes his own pursuits, such as the study of wisdom, in this category. He notes that the more he struggles to understand the workings of the universe, the more mysterious the world appears.

Like many books of the Bible, Ecclesiastes is concerned with the nature and effects of sin. Solomon asserts that the introduction of sin into the world has tangibly damaged it. He relates sin and death, expressing his belief that death was a direct result of the introduction of sin. Solomon also notes that all people are sinners, and thus should seek redemption in God.

Because of these difficulties, Solomon asserts that suffering is an essential part of human existence. He argues that all people, both rich and poor, suffer from unique circumstances throughout their lives. The writer observes that old age, which can only be avoided by an early death, is full of pain and suffering. Additionally, because humans were flawed by the introduction of sin into the world, they contribute to their own suffering. Human society focuses on what Solomon considers to be vanities, drawing people away from the more important parts of life.

Though Solomon considers the world in which he lived to be flawed, he notes that it also contains great beauty. Solomon urges his followers to seek pleasure in the gifts left by God for humanity. These include the joys associated with eating and drinking, performing labor, and engaging in relationships. However, while these tasks are transitory and pursuing them excessively may be an expression of vanity, Solomon asserts that these gifts should be received humbly and greatly appreciated.

Finally, Ecclesiastes dwells on the limited nature of humanity. No matter how wise, powerful, or wealthy, all humans must die. Solomon argues that humans are also incapable of grasping the nature of eternity or the greatest mysteries of the universe. Because of this, as well as the vanity he associates with most Earthly pursuits, Solomon urges his followers to both fear and revere the divine. Through God, he believes that humanity may find salvation from death and other damages caused by sin.

Bibliography

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“Ecclesiastes Suffering.” Shmoop, 2022, www.shmoop.com/study-guides/bible/ecclesiastes/themes/suffering. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.

“Ecclesiastes Summary.” Shmoop, 2022, www.shmoop.com/study-guides/bible/ecclesiastes/summary. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.

Fairchild, Mary. “Poetry and Wisdom Books of the Bible.” Learn Religions, 25 Jun. 2019, www.learnreligions.com/poetry-and-wisdom-books-of-the-bible-700273. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.

“Introduction to Ecclesiastes.” ESV.org, 2022, www.esv.org/resources/esv-global-study-bible/introduction-to-ecclesiastes/. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.

“Ketuvim (Writings).” My Jewish Learning, 2022, www.myjewishlearning.com/article/ketuvim-writings/. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.

Newton, Cole. “Background on Ecclesiastes.” BCNewton.co, 3 Feb. 2018, bcnewton.co/2018/02/03/background-on-ecclesiastes/. Accessed 13 Apr. 2022.