Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes or Hebrew: קֹהֶלֶת, qōheleṯ, KufHeyLamedTav) is one of 24 books of the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible. It is among the canonical Wisdom Books in the Old Testament.
“The Words of Qoheleth, the Son of David, King in Jerusalem,” suggest that the author is identified as Solomon. The title Ecclesiastes is a Latin transliteration of the Greek translation of the Hebrew Kohelet which means "Gatherer", but traditionally translated as "Teacher" or "Preacher"), the pseudonym used by the author of the book.
Gather in faith
Understanding the letters in Hebrew tells us the word suggests that we are to gather in faith.
The book dates from c.450–180 BC and is from the Middle Eastern tradition of the mythical autobiography, in which a character, describing himself as a king, relates his experiences and draws lessons from them, often self-critical. The author, introducing himself as "son of David, king in Jerusalem" (i.e., Solomon) discusses the meaning of life and the best way to live. He proclaims all the actions of man to be inherently evel, meaning "vain" or "futile".
Meaning
Ecclesiastes teaches that life is uncontrollable where good hard things happen to the good and the bad, to the wise and the foolish.
How do we live well under these circumstances?
Any attempt to try and control our lives with our own wisdom is pointless. But life itself is not.
Ecclesiastes provides instruction on how to live meaningfully, purposefully and joyfully within the theocratic design of creation.
It is not our wisdom or desire but that of God's will at the center of our life, work and endeavor, by patiently accepting one's divinely appointed lot in life, and by reverently trusting in and obeying the Creator.
Outline
Chapter 1: Vanity is empty and all things that are empty remain empty.
Introduction (1:1-11)
a. Introduction to The Teacher (1:1)
b. Everything is Futile (1:2-11)
2. The Teacher’s Investigation (1:12-6:12)
a. With Wisdom Comes Sorrow (1:12-18)
Chapter 2: The "fool walketh in darkness" which leads to a "vexation of spirit" and asks shall we be "a wise man or a fool?" Shall a "soul enjoy good in his labour" or another "man that hath not laboured therein"?
b. The Futility of Pleasure (2:1-11)
c. The Wise and the Foolish (2:12-17)
d. The Futility of Labor and Reward (2:18-6:12)
i. The Futility of Work (2:18-26)
Chapter 3: Addressing "wickedness was there; and ... iniquity" we see it repeated that everyman's labor belongs to himself by the endowment of God. The question is asked what is the spirit that leads a man upward, and the spirit that goeth downwardwhich brings man down to dust.
ii. To Everything There Is a Season (3:1-8)
iii. God’s Works Remain Forever (3:9-15)
iv. From Dust to Dust (3:16-22)
Chapter 4: There is a warning in that if a man cares only for himself or chooses to oppress others" he may become a "fool who foldeth his hands together, and ends up where he eateth his own flesh.
v. The Evil of Oppression (4:1-12)
vi. The Futility of Power (4:13-16)
Chapter 5: Beginning with the sacrifice of fools, careful with your foot and the "rash... mouth" and you should "not vow" so that you can enjoy your labour as God intended.
vii. Approaching God with Awe (5:1-7)
viii. The Futility of Wealth (5:8-20)
Chapter 6: But a man can covet his riches kept as the owners thereof to their hurt which is an evil[1] common among men and an evil disease.
ix. The Futility of Life (6:1-12)
Chapter 7: The song of fools who make the sacrifice of fools verses the Song of the Lamb and the Corban of Christ. The gifts that destroy and keeps wisdom far off as there is a woman whose heart is a snare and a net. We need to know ourself which results from the wisdom of God which comes if we please God.
- The Teacher’s Conclusions and The Value of Wisdom
- Precious ointment comes to the solemn heart
- Heart of the wise and the fool
- Song of fools
- The gift that destroys
- The bosom of fools
- True wisdom gives life
- Just men give their life
- Ten men
- Know thyself
- Wisdom far off
- The woman whose heart is a snare
- The Limits of Human Wisdom (7:15-29)
- The Wise Man Keeps the King's Command (8:1-17)
- Those Who Fear God Will Do Well (8:10-13)
- Ways of God Are Mysterious (8:14-17)
d. Life Is Fleeting (9:1-11:10)
i. Death Comes to Good and Bad (9:1-6)
ii. Enjoy Your Portion in This Life (9:7-12)
iii. Wisdom Is Better than Strength (9:13-18)
iv. Wisdom and Folly (10:1-20)
v. Cast Your Bread upon the Waters (11:1-6)
vi. Enjoy Your years (11:7-10)
- Final Conclusions (12:1-14)
- Remember Your Creator (12:1-14)
- i. The Whole Duty of Man (12:9-14)
Influence in culture
Ecclesiastes has had a deep influence on Western literature. It contains several phrases that have resonated in British and American culture, and was quoted by Abraham Lincoln addressing Congress in 1862. American novelist Thomas Wolfe wrote: "[O]f all I have ever seen or learned, that book seems to me the noblest, the wisest, and the most powerful expression of man's life upon this earth—and also the highest flower of poetry, eloquence, and truth. I am not given to dogmatic judgments in the matter of literary creation, but if I had to make one I could say that Ecclesiastes is the greatest single piece of writing I have ever known, and the wisdom expressed in it the most lasting and profound."
All is vanity if we are those who vow to make the sacrifice of fools.
In our study on Exodus we show that the “actual” corvée system under Solomon was a return to the bondage of Egypt. This again is why Christ condemned the Pharisees because their Corban, meaning sacrifice made the word of God to none effect because it was the sacrifice of fools.
Ecclesiastes | Ecclesiastes 1 | Ecclesiastes 2 | Ecclesiastes 3 | Ecclesiastes 4 | Ecclesiastes 5 | Ecclesiastes 6 | Ecclesiastes 7 | Ecclesiastes 8 | Ecclesiastes 9 | Ecclesiastes 10 | Ecclesiastes 11 | Ecclesiastes 12
Preceded by: Proverbs - Followed by: Song of Songs
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Footnotes
- ↑ 07451 ^ער^ ra‘ ReishAyin \@rah\@ or fem. ^הער^ ra‘ah from 07489 the verb 07490 (Aramic)ReishAyinAyin evil (to crush); AV-evil 442, wickedness 59, wicked 25, mischief 21, hurt 20, bad 13, trouble 10, sore 9, affliction 6, ill 5, adversity 4, favoured 3, harm 3, naught 3, noisome 2, grievous 2, sad 2, misc 34; 663
- adj
- 1) bad, evil
- 1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant
- 1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)
- 1c) evil, displeasing
- 1d) bad (of its kind-land, water, etc)
- 1e) bad (of value)
- 1f) worse than, worst (comparison)
- 1g) sad, unhappy
- 1h) evil (hurtful)
- 1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)
- 1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)
- 1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts
- 1j2) deeds, actions
- n m
- 2) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity
- 2a) evil, distress, adversity
- 2b) evil, injury, wrong
- 2c) evil (ethical)
- n f
- 3) evil, misery, distress, injury
- 3a) evil, misery, distress
- 3b) evil, injury, wrong
- 3c) evil (ethical)
- ר Reish Process of Clarification The "head" or "beginning". Life's revelation. [Head... Person head highest] (Numeric value: 200)
- ע Ayin also U. Divine Providence "eye" or "fountain" of five states of kindness or severity. AlefYodNun or nothingness as opposed to AlefShin something [eye, watch] (Numeric value: 70)