Bible Commentaries
Ecclesiastes

XXV

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES

"Ecclesiastes" is derived from the Septuagint version which translates the Hebrew word, Koheleth, "Ekklesiastes." Koheleth means "master of assemblies," or one who addresses an assembly; "Ekklesiastes" means the preacher. So this book was named from this characteristic of its author, viz: master of assemblies, or the preacher.

The book of Ecclesiastes was undoubtedly written by Solomon and the proof that Solomon wrote it is that all Jewish and Christian tradition says that Solomon was the author. This was first disputed in the time of Luther. Since that time some critics have claimed that someone wrote it much later and attributed it to Solomon for the effect. But Solomon wrote it, which is shown by the following considerations:

1. The book purports to be the product of Solomon.

2. History compared with the book itself proves it. 1 Kings 3:12; 1 Kings 4:29-34 speaks of Solomon’s wisdom. The author claims to have the wisdom he has spoken of (Ecclesiastes 1:16). 1 Kings 4:20-28 and 1 Kings 10:23-27 tell of Solomon’s riches. Compare Ecclesiastes 2:1-11.

3. Whoever reads this book and the Song of Solomon can see clearly that the author of one of these books is the author of the other also.

4. There is no historical evidence of any Jew living in the time assigned by the radical critics that fills the place.

5. There is nothing in the style to contradict the authorship of Solomon.

The objections to the commonly accepted date and authorship urged by the radical critics are:

1. The tense of the verb in Ecclesiastes 1:12 is past and therefore could not refer to Solomon because he reigned in Jerusalem until his death. The reply to this objection is that it is in the past tense because he is now about to give his past experience during his long reign as king in Jerusalem.

2. In the same verse is a reference to Jerusalem which indicates a divided kingdom and therefore must be later than Solomon’s time. The reply to this is that Jerusalem is here specified, as opposed to David who reigned both in Hebron and Jerusalem. "King of Israel in Jerusalem" implies that he reigned over Israel and Judah combined; whereas David, at Hebron, reigned only over Judah and not until he was settled in Jerusalem, over both Israel and Judah.

3. The words used in the book belong to a later date than the time of Solomon. The reply to this is that the roots of these words have all been found in Genesis and other Hebrew writings before the time of Solomon.

4. The condition of the people was incompatible with the time of Solomon, the reply to which is, "Not so."

5. The difference in the style in this book and Proverbs and the Song of Solomon. But the difference in subject matter justifies the difference in style. Also it must be remembered that Proverbs and the Song were written while Solomon was young, and this book when he was old and wearied with life (Ecclesiastes 2:17).

So Solomon wrote this book when he was an old man, from the viewpoint of experience, old age, and penitence; it is a formal discourse, or sermon, the text of which is "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity" (Ecclesiastes 1:2) and the object of it was to search out what good thing the sons of men should do all the days of their life (Ecclesiastes 2:3). The whole book is given to this one thought.

Some of the various ideas of the author of this book are as follows: Some say that he was an Epicurean; others that he was a dyspeptic; yet others, that he was a skeptic, a Stoic, or an atheist; but to the closer student the plan of the book becomes plain.

The book, as a philosophical treatise, contains a discussion of every perplexing question of today. This book fairly represents the struggles of every schoolboy who thinks. Its teaching is that in this life there is but one true philosophy and shows that we are living in a world which is under a curse. Compare Romans 8:20 ff.

There is one caution as to its interpretation, viz: Withhold your verdict till the evidence is all in, because in it all theories are tried and the conclusion explains these results. In connection with this book, the book of Job and Psalm 73 should be studied. The author adopts wisdom as the means to try out all the theories of life.

A complete outline of the book is as follows:

The Title (Ecclesiastes 1:1)

The Prologue (Ecclesiastes 1:2-11)

(1) His text (Ecclesiastes 1:2)

(2) His introductory interrogatory (Ecclesiastes 1:3)

(3) The passing of the generations (Ecclesiastes 1:4)

(4) The material world (Ecclesiastes 1:5-7)

(5) The monotony of it all (Ecclesiastes 1:8)

(6) There is nothing new (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10)

(7) There is no remembrance (Ecclesiastes 1:11)

I. The Pursuit of Wisdom (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18)

II. The Pursuit of Pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1-3)

III. The Pursuit of Great Works (Ecclesiastes 2:4-25)

1. Great works enumerated (Ecclesiastes 2:4-11)

2. A comparison between wisdom and folly, or pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:12-17)

3. He hated his labor because he had to die and leave it to another (Ecclesiastes 2:18-23) therefore conclusion No. I (Ecclesiastes 2:24 a) but the God thought knocks it over (Ecclesiastes 2:24 b; Ecclesiastes 2:25 f)

IV. Elements that limit (Ecclesiastes 3:1-5:9)
1. Divine elements:

(1) Law of opportunes (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

(2) Eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:9-11 a)

(3) Finiteness of man’s nature limits him (Ecclesiastes 3:11 b) then conclusion No. 2 (Ecclesiastes 3:12) but the God thought knocks it over (Ecclesiastes 3:13)

(4) The laws of God are infrangible (Ecclesiastes 3:14 f)

2. Human elements:

(1) Iniquity in the place of justice (Ecclesiastes 3:16) but modified by a divine element (Ecclesiastes 3:17) and the divine purpose, since man dies like beasts (Ecclesiastes 3:18-21) therefore, conclusion No. 3 (Ecclesiastes 3:22)

(2) Oppression of the poor (Ecclesiastes 4:1) therefore the dead or unborn are better off (Ecclesiastes 4:2-3)

(3) Labor and skill actuated only by rivalry with his neighbor (Ecclesiastes 4:4) therefore the fool folds his hands (Ecclesiastes 4:5 f) and then two examples (Ecclesiastes 4:7-12; and Ecclesiastes:13-16)

(4) Elements of weakness in human worship (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)

(5) Some further observations (Ecclesiastes 5:8-9) V. Riches tried (Ecclesiastes 5:10-6:12) and found insufficient, because,

1. They cannot satisfy (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

2. Consumers of wealth increase with wealth (Ecclesiastes 5:11 a)

3. The owner can only, look at it (Ecclesiastes 5:11 b)

4. He cannot sleep as a laborer (Ecclesiastes 5:12)

5. Riches may hurt the owner (Ecclesiastes 5:13)

6. They may perish in an unlucky venture (Ecclesiastes 5:14 a)

7. The owner begets a son when he is bankrupt (Ecclesiastes 5:14 b)

8. In any event, he is stripped of all at death (Ecclesiastes 5:15)

9. He leads a worried life (Ecclesiastes 5:16 f) therefore, conclusion No. 4, (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20)

10. The care of a rich man who could not enjoy it (Ecclesiastes 6:1-12) because,

(1) He cannot eat it (Ecclesiastes 6:1-6)

(2) All his labor is for his mouth (Ecclesiastes 6:7-9)

(3) The greatest is but a man and cannot contend against God (Ecclesiastes 6:10-12)

VI. The golden mean tried (Ecclesiastes 7:1-8:15)
1. Value of a good name (Ecclesiastes 7:1) 2. House of mourning better than the house of feasting (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4)

3. Listen to the reproof of the wise, rather than the laughter of fools (Ecclesiastes 7:5-7)

4. Do not yield to anger (Ecclesiastes 7:8 f)

5. Do not talk of the good old days as better than these (Ecclesiastes 7:10)

6. Consider the advantage of wisdom over wealth Ecclesiastes (7:11f)

7. Don’t try to straighten all the crooked things (Ecclesiastes 7:13)

8. If prosperous, be content (Ecclesiastes 7:14 a)

9. In adversity remember it, too, comes from God (Ecclesiastes 7:14 b)

10. Since it sometimes happens that the righteous die while the wicked live, be not righteous over much, nor too wise, nor too wicked, nor too foolish; hold somewhat to both (Ecclesiastes 7:15-18) this golden mean plan is great because there is not a righteous man in the earth that sinneth not (Ecclesiastes 7:19 f)

11. Don’t try to find out all that people say about you (Ecclesiastes 7:21 f)

12. The result is unsatisfactory (Ecclesiastes 7:23-8:15) it fails because,

(1) Things are too deep for the human mind (Ecclesiastes 7:23-25)

(2) Woman is more bitter than death (Ecclesiastes 7:26-28)

(3) Man one of a thousand though fallen (Ecclesiastes 7:29)

(4) When applied to public affairs that say,

(a) Do not rebel (Ecclesiastes 8:1-2)

(b) Do not resent oppression (Ecclesiastes 8:3 f)

(c) Leave the case to God’s restitution (Ecclesiastes 8:5-7)

(d) The evil ruler will die; there is no furlough in that war (Ecclesiastes 8:8)

(5) There are rulers who rule over men to their hurt (Ecclesiastes 8:9 f).

(6) The mills of the gods grind too slow for the correction of this evil (Ecclesiastes 8:11-13)

(7) Though ultimately it is well with the righteous and evil with the wicked, yet here and now we do see wicked men get the crown of the righteous and vice versa (Ecclesiastes 8:14) therefore, conclusion No. 5, (Ecclesiastes 8:15)

VII. The means used to solve the problem condemned (Ecclesiastes 8:16-10:20) because,

1. It is too wearisome (Ecclesiastes 8:16)

2. Finite wisdom cannot fathom it (Ecclesiastes 8:17-9:1)

3. Death comes alike to all (Ecclesiastes 9:2-6) therefore, conclusion No. 6, (Ecclesiastes 9:7-10)

4. The race is not to the swift (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12) illustrated (Ecclesiastes 9:13-15)

5. One fool can destroy much good (Ecclesiastes 9:16-10:4)

6. Passive resistance to the ruler tends to promote fools (Ecclesiastes 10:5-15)

7. The king may be a child (Ecclesiastes 10:16-20)

VIII. If the means of solution be discarded, what then? (Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:14)
1. Cast thy bread upon the waters (Ecclesiastes 11:1)

2. Give a portion to all (Ecclesiastes 11:2)

3. Don’t watch the wind and the cloud (Ecclesiastes 11:3-5)

4. Work all seasons (Ecclesiastes 11:6-8)

5. Let the young in their joys remember the judgment (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10)

6. Remember God in youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

7. Lest death itself come (Ecclesiastes 12:2-8)

8. The real good thing to do (Ecclesiastes 12:9-13)

9. Why? The judgment is before us (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

QUESTIONS

1. What is the meaning of the title of the book of Ecclesiastes?

2. Who wrote the book?

3. What the proof is there that Solomon wrote it?

4. What are the objections to the commonly accepted date and authorship urged by the radical critics and what is the reply to each, seriatim?

5. When did Solomon write this book?

6. From what point of view?

7. What is the character of the book?

8. What was his text?

9. What was his object?

10. What are some of the various ideas of the author of this book?

11. What can you say of the book as a philosophical treatise?

12. What caution is there as to its interpretation?

13. What scriptures should be studied in connection with this book?

14. What means did the author adopt?

15. Give a complete outline of the book?