WHO WROTE:  King Solomon.  In regards to authorship, I am convinced that Solomon fills that roll.  However, later scribes may have helped with supplied or changed words of composition around the time of the exile (B.C. 607).  The reasoning behind this statement is because certain Hebrew words are never found in Hebrew writings until the Babylonian captivity such as, “zimaan,” meaning “set time,” in which the Hebrew word “moed” is usually used (see Ecc. 3:1; compared to Neh. 2:6; Est. 9:27, 31).  Another Hebrew word used would be “pithgam,” meaning “sentence,” Ecclesiastes 8:11.  Still others are, “madang” and “illuw,” meaning, “thought” (see Ecc. 6:6).  Also “bikeen,” meaning, “so,” Ecclesiastes 8:10.  These words are found in the Book of Esther, approximating this Book most closely to Ecclesiastes in idioms.

 

Another indication is that we have words that are not found in the later Hebrew writings, but only in the Aramaic sections of Daniel and Ezra.  Words such as, “yithron,” meaning, “profit;” compare to “yuthran” in the Aramaic targums.  Other words are “kibaar,” meaning “already,” or “long ago;” and “taaqam,” meaning, “make straight.” (see Ecc. 1:15; 7:13; Dan. 4:33; Dan. 4:36, “established”).  Also, “ruwth,” meaning “desire,” is also found in the Aramaic parts of Ezra.  Words of the “stem,” i.e., “taken,” appear in Ecclesiastes (Ecc. 1:15; 7:13; 12:9) and in the Aramaic of Daniel (Dan. 4:36), and not elsewhere in the Bible.

 

 

WHAT TIME PERIOD IS COVERED:  B.C. 1039 - B.C. 999?

 

 

WHEN WRITTEN:  B.C. 1039 - B.C. 999?

 

 

INTRODUCTION:  The Hebrew word for Ecclesiastes, is “Qoheleth,” meaning, “the convener of, and preacher to, assemblies.”  The title of this Book in Hebrew is, “Koheleth,” signifying, “one who speaks publicly in an assembly.”  “Koheleth” is translated in our English versions as, “The Preacher,” Ecclesiates 1:1, and is the name by which Solomon determines to go by in this Book.  From PK:79 we read:  Solomon “recorded for after generations the history of his wasted years with their lessons of warning.”

 

In regards to the Hebrew title “Koheleth,” meaning in part, “assembly,” the Greek word for “assembly” is “Ekklesia,” and thus the Septuagint version gives us the English title of the Book, “Ecclesiastes.”  But “The Preacher” did more than call an “assembly” and give an “oration.”  The word “Koheleth” carries with it the idea of “debating,” not so much with the listeners as with himself.  He would present a topic, discuss it from many viewpoints, and then come to a practical conclusion.  This is one way to meditate upon God’s Word.

 

The name of God occurs in the Book of Ecclesiastes no fewer than thirty-eight times (2:24 & 26; 3:10 & 11 & 13 & 14 [twice] & 15 & 17 & 18; 5:1 & 2 [twice] & 3 & 5 & 6 & 17 & 18 & 19 & 20; 6:2 [twice]; 7:13 & 14 & 18 & 26 & 29; 8:15 & 17; 8:2 & 13; 9:1 & 7; 11:5 & 9; 12:7 & 13 & 14).  And although the Book is generally thought to contain the negative sides of life, i.e., “Vanity of vanities. . . all is vanity,” Ecclesiastes 1:8, Job made the same expressions during his time of trial (Job 7:16).  Solomon does place the command, “Fear Thou God,” Ecclesiastes 5:6 & 7; 12:13, in the foremost rank as a fundamental moral duty; that makes Ecclesiastes 8:12, the happiness of man, to be dependent thereon.  Solomon also makes one’s final destiny conditioned upon ones fearing God:  Ecclesiastes 7:18; 11:9; 12:14.

 

Ecclesiastes is included in the “Megilloth,” which is the five miscellaneous “rolls,” or “scrolls.”  The “Megilloth Scrolls,” would include the Books, “Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther.”  In addition, Ecclesiastes is one of the last five Books as they stood in the Hebrew Canon, i.e., Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra & Nehemiah as one Book, and Chronicles.

 

“The Five Scrolls” are part of the third major section of the “Tanakh,” or “Hebrew Bible,” which is called the “Ketuvim,” meaning, “The Writings.”  They are five Books that are grouped together and known collectively in the Jewish tradition as “The Five Scrolls.”  They are traditionally read publicly in the Synagogue over the course of the year in many Jewish communities even today.  In common printed editions of the “Tanakh,” they appear in the order in which they are read in the Synagogue on holidays; beginning with Passover.  When read in the Synagogue, these five Books are sung, with, in most Jewish communities, the Book of Esther being the only Book accompanied by blessings before and after.

 

In a side note, the Solomonic authorship was first ever questioned by Martin Luther in his book titled, “Table Talk.”  He erroneously supposed that this Book was merely a collection of the diverse sayings of the wise.  However, according to Ecclesiastes 1:12, this person was “king of Israel in Jerusalem.”  And if we check Second Kings 23:13and Second Chronicles 35:3, we find that Solomon is listed as the “king of Israel,” also being the “son of David,” of which in Ecc. 1:1, this personage lists himself as being.  Although Solomon calls himself, “the Preacher,” Ecclesiastes 1:1 & 2 & 12, David only had one king descend to the throne immediately after him, which was Solomon, who put down the rebellion of his brother for the throne.

 

My favorite Bible Commentator confirms the authorship of the Book of Ecclesiastes with her statement in PK:85: “Though the king confessed his sin and wrote out for the benefit of after generations a record of his folly and repentance, he could never hope entirely to destroy the baleful influence of his wrong deeds.  Emboldened by his apostasy, many continued to do evil, and evil only.  And in the downward course of many of the rulers who followed him may be traced the sad influence of the prostitution of his God-given powers.

 

“In the anguish of bitter reflection on the evil of his course, Solomon was constrained to declare, ‘Wisdom is better than weapons of war:  but one sinner destroyeth much good.’  ‘There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:  folly is set in great dignity.’

 

“ ‘Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor:  so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.’  Ecclesiastes 9:18; 10:5, 6, 1.

 

“Among the many lessons taught by Solomon’s life, none is more strongly emphasized than the power of influence for good or for ill.  However contracted may be our sphere, we still exert an influence for weal or woe.  Beyond our knowledge or control, it tells upon others in blessing or cursing.  It may be heavy with the gloom of discontent and selfishness, or poisonous with the deadly taint of some cherished sin; or it may be charged with the life-giving power of faith, courage, and hope, and sweet with the fragrance of love.  But potent for good or for ill it will surely be.”

 

Ecclesiastes 12:9 also tells us that this writer was as well the writer of the Book of Proverbs.  And surprisingly, many allusions to Ecclesiastes occur in the New Testament:

 

Ecclesiastes 5:1 = First Timothy 3:15 & James 1:19;

Ecclesiastes 5:2 = Matthew 6:7;

Ecclesiastes 5:6 = First Corinthians 11:10;

Ecclesiastes 6:2 = Matthew 6:19-34 & Luke 12:20;

Ecclesiastes 7:2 = Matthew 5:3-4;

Ecclesiastes 11:5 = John 3:8;

Ecclesiastes 9:10 = John 9:4;

Ecclesiastes 10:12 = Colossians 4:6;

Ecclesiastes 12:14 = Second Corinthians 5:10.

 

Solomon does conclude with the whole meaning of life in his final statement.  In this statement, he has acknowledged that he has found the secret to a productive and happy life.  It is found near the end of his Book, in Ecclesiastes 12:13: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:  Fear God, and keep His Commandments:  for this is the whole duty of man.”  In studying the Book of Ecclesiastes, it is therefore most important to differentiate between the subtle, perverted reasoning to which Solomon refers, and the clearer insight that came with his repentance.

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