Bibliography

 

·         Dillard, RB, and T Longman III. An Introduction to the Old Testament. Leicester: Apollos, 1995.

·         Dumbrell, W. The Faith of Israel. Michigan: Baker Publishing, 2006.

·         Eaton, Michael A. Ecclesiastes. Leicester: IVP, 1983.

·         Fee, G D, and D Stuart. How to read the bible book by book. Michigan: Zondervan, 2002.

·         Gale, Stanley D. Making sanity out of vanity. Darlington: EP Book, 2011.

·         Harris, LR; (Editor). Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press, 1980.

·         Keddie, Gordon J. The Guide: Ecclesiates. Darlington: EP, 2002.

·         Kidner, Derek. The Message of Ecclesiastes. Leicester: IVP, 2005.

·         —. The wisdom of Proverbs, Job & Ecclesiastes. Leicester: IVP, 1985.

Observations under the sun reveal the “Meaninglessness” of life

 

The Teacher is quick to introduce the word “Hebel” (Meaningless in the NIV) to us. This word literally means the blowing of the wind or a mere breath. The word is used in Ecclesiastes to show how transient, fleeting and meaningless life without God is.

Some of the 36 references are shown below.

·         Ecc 1:2       Everything

·         Ecc 1:14     All things

·         Ecc 2:1       Pleasure

·         Ecc 2:11     Toil

·         Ecc 2:15     Wisdom

·         Ecc 2:17     Work

·         Ecc 2:21     Work

·         Ecc 2:23     Work

·         Ecc 3:19     Life, since man has no advantage over the animals, both will die

·         Ecc 4:4       Labour and achievements

·         Ecc 5:7       Dreaming and speaking

·         Ecc 5:10     Money

·         Ecc 6:2       Wealth, possessions  and honour

·         Ecc 7:6       The laughter of fools

·         Ecc 7:15     Seeing the righteous die young and the wicked living long

·         Ecc 8:14     When the righteous get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked get what the righteous deserve

·         Ecc 9:9       Life

·         Ecc 11:8     Everything to come

·         Ecc 11:10   Youth and vigour

·         Ecc 12:8     Everything

 

Who is the teacher in Ecclesiastes?

            The author of the book writes under the title of Teacher, the Hebrew for which is ‘Qohelet’ (pronounced ‘ko-heh'-leth’). Writers have explained this title as follows:

“He is called Qohelet, which is not his given name, but rather a pseudonym. The verbal root of the name means “to assemble,” thus his name… is literally translated “assembler.” Common English translations, “Preacher” or “Teacher,” are a result of guessing what type of group Qohelet is gathering to instruct.”[1]

The ‘Teacher’ is writing with the style and wisdom of a “super-Solomon”.[2] The author is unlikely to be Solomon for the following reasons;[3]

1.     It’s unlikely that Solomon would hide his identity.

2.     It would be strange for Solomon to say "…I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me…" (Ecclesiastes 1:16), when his only predecessor was David.

3.     It would also be strange for Solomon to use past-tense in Ecclesiastes 1:12, since he was king over Israel till his death (cf 1 Kings 11:41-43).

4.     The background to the book doesn’t fit the prosperous and peaceful age of Solomon. The background to the book describes “…a time of misery and vanity (1:2-11); the splendour of Solomon’s age was gone (1:12-2:26); a time of death had begun for Israel (3:1-15); injustice and violence were present (4:1-3); there was heathen tyranny (5:7, 9-19); death was preferred to life (7:1); “one man ruled over other men to their hurt” (8:9).”[4]

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[1] (Dillard and Longman III 1995, 248), see also (Eaton 1983, 23f), (Fee and Stuart 2002, 154)

[2] (Kidner, The Message of Ecclesiastes 2005, 22)

[3] (Dillard and Longman III 1995, 249f)

[4] (Dillard and Longman III 1995, 250)

Bibliography: http://theworldunderthemicroscope.blogspot.co.uk/#!/2012/09/bibliography.html