Ecclesiastes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
What is the book of Ecclesiastes?
This is a book included in the wisdom literature section of the Bible. Sometimes it is referred to as Qoheleth. It is a book unlike any of the other books of the Bible.
Who wrote this book?
Apparently, the book is by Solomon or at least someone who brings the wisdom of Solomon. All we are told, as to the author, is given us in the very first verse:
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. (Ecclesiastes 1:1)
Why is the book sometimes called Qoheleth?
This is the word קֹהֶלֶת which is translated preacher in Ecclesiastes 1:1; see here.
Previously, you said this book was unlike any of the other books in the Bible. How so?
In this book, Solomon gives us the reasoning of a man who does not know or follow divine revelation. The reasoning is that of a deist. Solomon teaches the same lesson as Paul when he wrote the second chapter of his first letter to the church at Corinth.
Why do you say this?
You can see this most clearly in the repeated expression “under the sun” or תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ. This phrase occurs 27 times in the book.
What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:3)
What does this expression mean?
Under the sun refers to the world as purely human, unassisted and unguided by anything supernatural.
Luther: In this way [using the phrase “under the sun”] he seeks to exclude the works of God, which God Himself either works in us or has commanded us to work; these are above the sun and beyond the efforts of men. vol 15; p14.
This is the perspective which Solomon presents in this book. Using his own reason, he tries to understand and explain the universe.
Why do you say this?
Consider the thoughts contained in the first chapter:
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” What advantage does man have in all his work Which he does under the sun? A generation goes and a generation comes, But the earth remains forever. Also, the sun rises and the sun sets; And hastening to its place it rises there again. Blowing toward the south, Then turning toward the north, The wind continues swirling along; And on its circular courses the wind returns. All the rivers flow into the sea, Yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, There they flow again. All things are wearisome; Man is not able to tell. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing. That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one might say, “See this, it is new”? Already it has existed for ages Which were before us. There is no remembrance of earlier things; And also of the later things which will occur, There will be for them no remembrance Among those who will come later still. (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11)
We know that Solomon himself did not believe this. He did not believe that everything was vanity or that history was cyclical and utterly pointless. This so clearly contradicts the Bible’s teaching that God created the earth and is directing it to His own preordained end. Nevertheless, these are the conclusions to which we would come if we do not accept the light of divine revelation.
What is the central theme of this book?
The central theme is the answer to the central question which is given us right at the beginning: What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:3; 2:22; 3:9; 5:16) This question is then answered by Solomon from the perspective of the natural man. The idea is parallel to what Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 2 where he contrasts the wisdom of men with the power of God, (1 Corinthians 2:5, 13) and the spirit of the world with the Spirit who comes from God. (1 Corinthians 2:12) Also in Colossians:
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. (Colossians 2:6-8)
The word vanity occurs a lot in this book. How should we understand it?
The word is הֶבֶל; see here. The repeated use of this word reflects the larger theme of the book. The word shows the futility of finding any meaning in our existence if our perspective never rises above that of “under the sun.” Then everything is just vanity and futility. Eve gave this name to her second son; was this because his life would soon come to an end? (Genesis 4:8) We find a similar idea in the mouth of Lamech: Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and became the father of a son. Now he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed.” (Genesis 5:28-29) Jacob answered Pharoah’s question, “The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life…” (Genesis 47:9) Moses writes: “As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; for soon it is gone and we fly away.” (Psalm 90:10) David: “Surely every man walks about as a phantom; surely they make an uproar for nothing; he amasses riches and does not know who will gather them. (Psalm 39:6)
Author
What leads some scholars to believe that this book was not written by Solomon?
Delitszch insisted (p190) that the language of Ecclesiastes could not possibly be from the time of Solomon. Wilson refutes this (p105).
Who else but Solomon could be the son of David and king in Jerusalem?
This is a fair question, but others have pointed to Ecclesiastes 1:12 which implies that the author was once king but is not any longer. (Ecclesiastes 1:12)
IN my opinion, the title Ecclesiastes, or Preacher, should be applied to the name of the book itself rather than to that of the author, so that you understand that these are words that Solomon spoke publicly in some address to his princes and others. For since he was a king, it was not part of his duty or office to teach; this belonged to the priests and Levites. Therefore I think that these words were spoken by Solomon in some assembly of his retinue, perhaps after dinner or even during dinner to some great and prominent men who were present. He spoke this way after he had thought long and hard to himself about the condition and the vanity of human affairs, or rather of human affections. Then he poured this out to those who were present, as usually happens, and afterwards what he said was put down and assembled by the leaders of the community or of the church. Therefore they also acknowledge at the end (Ecclesiastes 12:11) that they have received and gathered these things from one Shepherd. In the same way it could happen that one of us would discourse about human affairs while seated at table and others would take it down. This is, then, a public sermon which they heard from Solomon, on the basis of which it seemed appropriate to call this book Koheleth—not in the sense that Solomon himself was a preacher but that this book was preached as though it had been a public sermon. Works vol 15.12