Article Index

Names of the Book

THE WISE KING- Lars Justinen

English:  Ecclesiastes
Hebrew:  קהלת
Transliterated:  Qohelet
Other names:   

 

whoWho

Wrote the book:  Solomon
Are the key people:  Solomon
Is it written to:  The people of Israel

 

whatWhat

The Creation and the story of Adam (Genesis 1:1-5:32)
The Flood and the story of Noach (Genesis 6:1-11:32)
The Promise and the story of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov (Genesis 12:1-36:43)
The Salvation and the story of Yosef (Genesis 37:1-50:26)

 

whenWhen

Was it written:  c 970-961 BCE
Did the events occur:  c 1000-961 BCE
Was it canonized:  c 499-100 BCE
(see the Timeline of the Tanakh)

 

whereWhere

Was it written:  In Jerusalem
Did the events occur:  The Land of Israel

 

whyWhy

Ecclesiastes was written to inform us that: 
Life is meaningless apart from G-d.
We should fear G-d and keep His commandments (Ecc 12:13).

 

whyIntroduction

Ecclesiastes is the third book of what is generally categorized as wisdom literature. Traditionally attributed to Solomon, this book contains reflections of an old man, called "the Preacher". As he ponders the meaning of life, he looks back and is reminded of the futility of seeking even the good things that this life can offer such as wisdom, work, pleasure, and wealth. The satisfaction that even those good things can bring is certain to end at each person's death. The Preacher exhorts his readers to live in the fear of the Lord so they can enjoy G-d's good gifts. The writer ends the book succinctly with this: The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. (Eccl 12:13)

 

 

Torah Portion

unknown

 

 

or view this week's triennial cycle reading.

Today is

Yom Sh'lishi, 9 Adar II, 5784

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

 

Learn more about this date in history.