THE BOOK OF …LEARNING TRUTHS ABOUT LIFE FROM

The Prologue and the Epilogue: :1-2; :9-14

Prologue: Ecclesiastes 1:1-2 The Prologue is the introduction to all the words that come after, therefore a clear interpretation of the words used in the prologue are important to gain a right understanding of the text. The words of the Preacher (Qoholeth), the son of , king of . “ Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”

Solomon, the Qoheleth

Jewish tradition makes Solomon the writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes and its date as the later years of his life, the years after Solomon was removed from the throne and his ring taken from his hand, when he “went about the provincial towns and cities in the land of Israel, weeping and lamenting, and saying, ‘I am Qoheleth, whose name was formerly called Solomon, who was King over Israel in Jerusalem.’” (The on Ecclesiastes 1:2) If Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon after he lost his ability to rule, his access to pleasures, riches, and power, then these are the words are very valuable for they are his final words of , his reflections on what is truly valuable in life and why.

Consider and discuss: What advice or instruction do you think you would receive from someone who is with the Lord in heaven? …or from someone who has died and is not in heaven with the Lord?

How do you think they would view life and all the things they pursued on earth?

Epilogue: Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 The Epilogue is the summary, the conclusion of all the words spoken before.

“In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.” (12:9-10)

What does Qoheleth see as his greatest achievement? (Ecclesiastes 12:9-10)

“The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well- driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. But, beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.” (12:11-12)

Why are words valuable? (Ecclesiastes 12:11) …How are words limited in their value?

Let’s examine two of the words chosen by Solomon that have been used to interpret the book of Ecclesiastes. If we go back to their original meaning, we can see how the interpretations passed down through scripture have limited and even misrepresented Solomon’s intent. One of the words chosen by Solomon is Qoheleth, which is translated “preacher”, and the other is hebel, which is translated “vanity”.

Qoheleth The word qoheleth is translated preacher, but would be more accurately interpreted as one who gathers people together, one who assembles for the purpose of giving instruction.

Hebel hebelim, everything is hebel. “Vanity of vanities (hebel hebelim)”, says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”

Hebrew was the language of the Jewish people until the sixth century B.C. and remained the tongue used to study and interpret the Torah and other religious books and documents. They adopted Aramaic as the common language during the reign of the Persians and Greek as the language of trade and commerce during the conquests of Alexander the Great. In the fourth century B.C., a group of seventy Jewish scholars came together in Alexandria, Egypt to translate the Hebrew scripture into the Greek language, because so many could not speak or read Hebrew. These documents are called the LXX or the . In the third century A.D., a priest by the name of Jerome translated the scriptures and the gospels and letters of the “New Testament” into the Latin language in an effort to make the word of God readily available to the every man. It was Jerome who translated the Hebrew word hebel- hebelim as “vanity, vanities” which is translated as futility, emptiness, or nothingness. A more correct interpretation is “transitory, transitory, always changing, always changing.” Most interpretations of Ecclesiastes use Jerome’s definition of hebel: futile, empty, of no value, and come to the conclusion life is futile, empty and of no value, but that interpretation is not consistent with the premise of God’s word and demands a fatalistic view of life. If we interpret hebel hebelim as changing, always changing, we discover Solomon’s viewed life on earth as changing, always changing and came to the conclusion that man should enjoy life (food, drink, work), but fear God who is eternal.

What conclusions did Qoheleth make? …What should be the focus of life?

“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” (12:13-14)